The immigration health surcharge is a fee every Indian student pays with a UK Student visa application. It gives you access to the National Health Service during your stay, and it is paid upfront for the full length of your visa. This guide explains how much it costs in 2026, how to work out your amount, how to pay and when you get money back, checked against GOV.UK on 26 October 2026.
- GOV.UK lists the immigration health surcharge at 776 pounds a year for students and their dependants, and 1,035 pounds a year for most other applicants
- Part years are charged at half the yearly rate for up to six months and the full rate above that
- The surcharge is refunded automatically if your visa is refused.
What Is the UK Immigration Health Surcharge?
The UK immigration health surcharge, or IHS, is a fee paid by most people applying for a UK visa for more than six months. It lets you use the National Health Service on broadly the same basis as a UK resident. Students pay it as part of the visa application, before a decision is made.
It is not health insurance in the usual sense. You do not choose a plan or a provider. Once your visa is granted, you register with a local doctor, called a GP, and use NHS services when you need them. Some costs still apply, such as prescriptions in England and most dental treatment, so keep a small budget for health.
Paying the surcharge does not replace travel insurance for your journey or cover medical costs abroad. Some students also buy cover for belongings or for treatment outside the UK.
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GOV.UK lists 776 pounds a year for Student visa holders and their dependants. You pay for the whole visa length, not just the course. A visa of more than six months but under a year costs 776 pounds, and a visa between one year and 18 months costs 1,164 pounds.
| UK immigration health surcharge 2026 for students | Amount | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| 6 months or less, applying from outside the UK | No surcharge | GOV.UK |
| 6 months or less, applying from inside the UK | 388 pounds | Half the yearly rate |
| More than 6 months, up to 1 year | 776 pounds | Full yearly rate |
| More than 1 year, up to 18 months | 1,164 pounds | One year plus half |
| More than 18 months, up to 2 years | 1,552 pounds | Two full years |
Dependants aged 18 or over usually pay the same as the main applicant, and children under 18 also pay 776 pounds a year as student dependants. If you bring a partner and a child, multiply the amount by three.
How Do You Work Out Your Immigration Health Surcharge?
Use your visa length, not your course length. Student visas usually add time before and after the course. For a one-year master's, the visa often runs a little over a year, which falls in the one year to 18 months band at 1,164 pounds. The GOV.UK calculator gives the exact figure.
For courses of 12 months or more, the Student visa usually allows up to four months after the course ends, and you can often arrive up to a month before it starts. That is why a 12-month course can lead to a visa of 16 or 17 months. A two-year course leads to a longer visa and a higher surcharge.
If you later switch to the Graduate visa, you pay the surcharge again at the rate for that visa. GOV.UK lists 1,035 pounds a year for most applicants other than students, so budget for that if you plan to stay after your course.
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You pay the surcharge online as part of your Student visa application, and the application tells you the amount based on your visa length. You receive an IHS reference number. Keep it safe, because you need it for the visa, and it is useful when you register with a GP and if you ever need a refund.
If you did not pay the full amount, GOV.UK says UK Visas and Immigration emails you with instructions. You must pay within 10 working days if you are inside the UK, or 7 working days if you are outside. If you do not, your visa application is refused, so check your junk folder after applying.
Pay with a card in your own name or a parent's name. If someone else pays, any refund goes back to the card or account used.
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GOV.UK says you get a full refund automatically if your visa is refused, if you withdraw before a decision, or if you paid twice. You get a partial refund if your visa is shorter than you asked for or a dependant is refused. The money goes back to the card or account that paid.
There is no refund if you withdraw after the visa is granted, do not travel, or leave the UK before your visa ends. That matters if you change your plans after a grant, so decide on your course before you apply.
What Other Health Costs Should Indian Students Budget For?
The surcharge covers most NHS care, but you may still pay for prescriptions in England, most dental treatment, eye tests and glasses. Some students buy extra private cover for faster appointments. Register with a GP soon after you arrive, so you are not searching for one when you are unwell.
Your university's student support team can help you register with a GP and find mental health and wellbeing services. Look after your health early, because a long illness can affect your attendance, and attendance matters for your visa.
When you plan your total budget, add the surcharge to the visa fee, tuition, rent and the maintenance funds you must show. Students we have interviewed in the UK say costs keep rising, so build in a buffer.