Immigration Health Surcharge

UK Immigration Health Surcharge Calculator | IHS Cost for Your Visa
DeyWithMe How it works ↓

UK Immigration Health Surcharge Calculator

See exactly how much IHS you owe before submitting your UK visa application. Covers all routes, durations, and dependants.

Total IHS Due £3,105.00

Some routes are exempt from IHS entirely.

Enter the length of the visa you are applying for. Most Skilled Worker visas are up to 5 years.

3 yrs
6 months 5.5 years

Include yourself plus any adult dependants. Each pays IHS separately.

1

Children pay the same IHS rate as adults. Enter 0 if none.

0

Cost Breakdown

IHS rate (per person / year)£1,035.00
Visa duration3 years
Total applicants1 person
IHS per person£3,105.00

Total IHS (all applicants)

Paid upfront with visa application

£3,105.00

Approximate Naira equivalent

Based on ~₦2,100 per £1. Illustrative only.

₦6,520,500

What IHS gives you access to

✓NHS treatment at the same cost as a UK resident (most services free at point of use)
✓GP registration and appointments
✓Emergency care at A&E and maternity services
✗Prescription charges still apply in England (£9.90 per item, 2024). Free in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Common IHS Mistakes Nigerian Applicants Make

✗

Budgeting only for the visa fee and ignoring the IHS

For a family of four on a 3-year visa, the IHS alone exceeds £12,000. That is often more than flights and first month rent combined.

✗

Assuming children are covered for free

Every person on the application, regardless of age, pays the full per-person IHS rate. There is no child discount.

✗

NHS workers not claiming their IHS reimbursement

NHS employers are legally required to reimburse IHS for overseas staff. Many Nigerian healthcare workers do not know this and leave over £1,000 per year unclaimed.

✗

Applying for a longer visa than needed and overpaying IHS

IHS is calculated on the duration you apply for. A 5-year visa for a family of four costs £8,280 more in IHS than a 3-year visa.

Do Not Miss This Step:  UK ILR Eligibility and Countdown

How the IHS Calculator Works

The Immigration Health Surcharge is a fixed fee charged per person for each year of visa duration. The rate is set by the Home Office and reviewed periodically. From January 2024, the standard rate is £1,035 per person per year for most visa routes.

The total you pay depends on three things: how many people are on the application (main applicant plus all dependants), the duration of the visa in years, and whether the route carries an exemption.

Total IHS = Rate x Duration x Number of Applicants Where: Rate (2024 standard) = £1,035 per person per year Duration = Visa length in years (e.g. 3.0, 2.5, 0.5) Applicants = Adults + children (all pay the same rate) Example: family of 3, 3-year Skilled Worker visa £1,035 x 3 x 3 = £9,315
When is IHS paid? The IHS is paid online through the UK Visas and Immigration portal at gov.uk before your biometric appointment. It is a separate payment from the visa application fee. Both must be paid before your application is complete.

The 2024 IHS Rate Increase

The IHS rate rose from £624 per person per year to £1,035 per person per year in January 2024, an increase of around 66%. For context, the original rate when IHS launched in 2015 was £200. For a family of four on a 3-year visa, the 2024 increase alone added over £4,900 to the upfront cost compared to the previous rate.

The trend is consistently upward. Applicants planning applications in future years should budget conservatively and expect further rate increases at renewal time.

The rate at application date applies. If you delay your application and the rate increases before you submit, you pay the higher rate. There is no grandfathering or price lock.

Table of Truth: Common IHS Scenarios (2024 Rates)

ProfileDurationPersonsTotal IHS~NGN
Single adult, Skilled Worker3 yrs1£3,105~₦6.5M
Single adult, Student Visa1 yr1£1,035~₦2.2M
Adult plus spouse3 yrs2£6,210~₦13M
Adult plus spouse plus 1 child3 yrs3£9,315~₦19.6M
Adult plus spouse plus 2 children3 yrs4£12,420~₦26.1M
Adult plus spouse plus 2 children5 yrs4£20,700~₦43.5M
NHS nurse (HCW route, main applicant)3 yrs1£0Exempt
ILR applicantN/AAny£0Exempt

NGN figures use an illustrative rate of ₦2,100 per £1. Actual transfer rates vary by provider and date.

Who Is Exempt from the IHS

Health and Care Worker visa applicants

The main applicant on a Health and Care Worker visa is exempt if they work for a qualifying NHS trust, NHS-funded body, or registered adult social care provider. From March 2024, new overseas applicants on this route cannot bring dependants, which changes the family cost calculation significantly.

Indefinite Leave to Remain applicants

There is no IHS on ILR applications. The ILR application fee itself (around £2,404 per person in 2024) applies separately, but no surcharge on top.

BN(O) and diplomatic applicants

British National (Overseas) visa holders from Hong Kong and certain applicants under diplomatic or treaty provisions are exempt. These apply to a small number of applicants and are outside the scope of standard Nigerian japa planning.

Do Not Miss This Step:  Sponsor Licence Legitimacy Checker
NHS workers: claim your IHS reimbursement. If you work for an NHS trust or NHS-funded body and paid IHS on your visa, your employer is required by government policy to reimburse the full amount. This applies regardless of how long you have been employed. Many Nigerian healthcare workers in the UK are unaware of this and leave hundreds or thousands of pounds unclaimed each year. Ask your HR department directly and reference the NHS People Plan or NHS Employer guidance on IHS reimbursement.

Why This Cost Matters for Nigerian Applicants

The IHS is one of the least discussed but most expensive upfront costs in UK relocation. Most WhatsApp japa discussions focus on visa fees and flights. The IHS often exceeds both of those combined, especially for families.

At an illustrative rate of ₦2,100 per pound, the IHS alone for a married couple with two children on a 3-year Skilled Worker visa represents over ₦26 million paid upfront. This money is not refundable if you decide not to travel after the visa is issued. Planning for this from the beginning of the application process is not optional.

Realistic Scenarios

Scenario 1: Single adult, tech professional

Tunde applies for a 3-year Skilled Worker visa as the only applicant. His IHS is £1,035 multiplied by 3, which equals £3,105. His visa application fee is £1,423 separately. His total upfront Home Office charges before flights or setup costs are £4,528. This is a manageable sum for a single professional with savings, but it must be liquid and available at the point of application.

Scenario 2: Applicant with spouse

Amaka applies for a 3-year Skilled Worker visa and includes her husband as an adult dependant. Total applicants: 2. IHS is £1,035 multiplied by 3 multiplied by 2, which equals £6,210. Her husband also pays his own visa fee of £1,423. Their combined Home Office costs exceed £9,000 before legal fees, biometrics, travel, or first month expenses in the UK.

Scenario 3: Applicant with spouse and two children

Emeka applies for a 5-year Skilled Worker visa and includes his wife and two children. Total applicants: 4. IHS is £1,035 multiplied by 5 multiplied by 4, which equals £20,700. At an illustrative exchange rate, that is approximately ₦43.5 million in IHS alone. This figure is consistently the single largest financial shock in Nigerian family japa planning conversations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the IHS mandatory for all UK visa applicants?
No. Most applicants pay IHS, but several categories are exempt. These include Health and Care Worker visa applicants (main applicant, qualifying employer), ILR applicants, BN(O) holders, and certain diplomatic categories. For most standard Skilled Worker, Student, Family, and Graduate Route applications, the IHS is mandatory and cannot be skipped.
Can I pay the IHS in instalments?
No. The full IHS for the entire visa duration must be paid as a single lump sum through the Home Office IHS payment system before you can submit your visa application. There is no instalment option through the Home Office. Some applicants use personal savings or a short-term loan specifically to cover this upfront cost.
What happens to my IHS if my visa is refused?
If your visa application is refused, the IHS is usually automatically refunded within 6 weeks. The visa application fee is not refunded in most cases. Keep your IHS payment reference number in case you need to follow up. The refund typically goes back to the card used for payment.
Can I get a partial refund if I leave the UK early?
Possibly. If you leave the UK permanently before your visa expires, you can apply to the Home Office for a partial refund covering the unused period. This is not automatic. You must submit a claim with evidence of departure. Processing times vary and refunds are not guaranteed in every circumstance. If you are simply travelling abroad temporarily and returning, you do not qualify for a partial refund.
Is IHS the same as the visa application fee?
No. The IHS and the visa fee are two completely separate charges. When applying online at gov.uk, you pay the IHS first through the IHS payment portal, then pay the visa application fee at a separate step. For a single Skilled Worker applicant on a 3-year visa, the visa fee is £1,423 and the IHS is £3,105. You pay both before submitting biometrics.
Does IHS cover free prescriptions in England?
No. IHS gives you access to the NHS at the same level as a UK resident. In England, prescription charges of £9.90 per item still apply to most people regardless of IHS payment. A Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) at approximately £111.60 per year covers unlimited prescriptions and may be cost-effective if you take regular medication. In Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, all prescriptions are free.
Do student visa holders pay the same IHS rate as workers?
Yes. From January 2024, the standard IHS rate of £1,035 per person per year applies equally to Student visas and Skilled Worker visas. Students do not receive a reduced rate. A 3-year student visa costs £3,105 in IHS alone, on top of tuition fees (which average £15,000 to £25,000 per year for international students) and maintenance fund requirements.
Disclaimer: This calculator is for estimation and planning purposes only. IHS rates, exempt categories, and applicable routes change regularly. The Naira equivalent shown is illustrative only and uses an approximate exchange rate that will differ from your actual transfer rate. Always verify the current IHS rate, your route eligibility, and applicable exemptions on the official UK government website at gov.uk before budgeting or submitting any application. DeyWithMe is not responsible for decisions made on the basis of this tool.
Do Not Miss This Step:  UK Visa Total Cost Calculator
Copied to clipboard

Wait, There’s More