The Immigration Health Surcharge (I.H.S) which may visa applicants to the UK are required to pay, to access the NHS, is set to double by the end of 2018.

The UK-Government has announced on the 5th of February 2018 that the I.H.S. will increase from £200 per year of the applicant’s visa, to £400 per year, with the discounted rate for students and those on the Youth Mobility Scheme increasing from £150 to £300.

Currently, the Surcharge is paid by people from outside the European Economic Area [EEA] who are seeking to live in the UK for six months or more to work, study or join family. The Government plans to make the changes later this year in order to better reflect the actual costs to the NHS of treating those who pay the surcharge.

The surcharge, which was introduced in 2015, is payable by non-EEA nationals who are seeking to live in the UK for six months or more, or to extend their stay. The payment is made at the time the immigration application is made, and the person is then exempt from NHS overseas visitor treatment charges. It is payable until such time as the person is granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK or returns to their own country at the end of their visa period.

This will affect applications such as Family- type applications and extensions, for instance, which could mean a further financial burden for families who wish to bring their family members to the UK, or for those who wish to extend their leave to remain in the UK.