The application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge are usually included in the cost of a visa application. On 13 July 2023, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury announced:
‘We plan to increase the rates of the immigration health surcharge, which have been frozen for the past three years, despite high inflation and wider pressures facing the economy and the system in general, to ensure that it covers the full healthcare costs of those who pay it. Under our plans, the main rate will increase to £1,035, and the discounted rate for students and under-18s will increase to £776. That increase to the surcharge will help to fund the pay rise for doctors.
At the same time, we will increase fees across a range of immigration and nationality routes, including for people coming here to live, work and study at a time of record high migration numbers. Specifically, that means increasing the cost of work visas and visit visas by 15%, and increasing the cost of study visas, certificates of sponsorship, settlement, citizenship, wider entry clearance, leave to remain, and priority visas by at least 20%.’
The government has not yet announced when this significant increase in visa application fees will take effect. The timing of the announcement, however, suggests that it could be as soon as the autumn.
What is Immigration Health Surcharge?
In April 2015, the Immigration Health Surcharge was implemented. Applicants who apply for a United Kingdom visa online pay the additional HIS fee when submitting the online application form.
The IHS enables migrants to use the National Health Service (NHS) of the United Kingdom.
In April 2015, visa applicants for the United Kingdom were required to pay £200 per individual per year to access the National Health Service. The IHS was doubled in December 2018 to £400 per person per year and will be raised again in October 2020 to £624 per adult per year and £470 per child or student.
Even if the applicant has private health insurance, the Immigration Health Surcharge still applies.
Immigration Health Surcharge Increase Amount
Under the UK government's plans, the Immigration Health Surcharge will increase from £624 to £1,035 per adult per year and from £470 to £776 per child or student. That's an average increase of 66%.
The reason for the increase in the Immigration Health Surcharge was justified as a measure to help the UK government raise funds to raise public sector wages.
Exempt to pay Immigration Health Surcharge
Most UK visa applicants are required to pay an Immigration Health Surcharge at the time of their visa application, depending on the route that they are applying for. However, some immigration routes do not require payment of an Immigration Health Surcharge if they are applying as below:
Increase in visa application fee
Visa application fees can vary widely depending on the type of visa, but current plans by the UK government will increase the fee from £625 to £718.75, for example, if you are applying for a work visa for up to three years.
Depending on the type of visa, the application fee can vary greatly, but under the current proposals, for example, the fee would increase from £625 to £718.75 for a normal Skilled Worker application for up to three years.
The number of organisations that have obtained a sponsor licence and the number of Skilled Workers entering the UK have increased dramatically over the past year, and such an enormous fee increase is likely to diminish the desirability of sponsoring non-UK citizens.
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury said:
“… we will increase fees across a range of immigration and nationality routes, including for people coming here to live, work and study at a time of record high migration numbers. Specifically, that means increasing the cost of work visas and visit visas by 15%, and increasing the cost of study visas, certificates of sponsorship, settlement, citizenship, wider entry clearance, leave to remain, and priority visas by at least 20%. We are also equalising costs for students and those using a priority service so that people pay the same whether they apply from within the UK or from outside the UK. That will help to cover more of the cost of the migration and border system, allowing the Home Secretary to divert more funding to police forces to help fund the pay rise for the police.”
When to apply the cost increase
There has been no official announcement from the government on the timing of the increase in the Immigration Health Surcharge and UK visa application fees. However, the timing of the announcement suggests that it may be as soon as the autumn.
Therefore, if you are considering applying for a UK visa, you may therefore submit your application as soon as possible.
For expert advice and assistance with your UK visa application, call us at 0203 865 6219 or leave us a message.