IHS Refund

Understanding the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)

The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a mandatory fee paid by many visa applicants coming to the United Kingdom for a long-term stay of more than six months. It provides successful visa holders with access to the National Health Service (NHS), similar to that enjoyed by UK citizens. 

The NHS is funded primarily through taxation. The immigration health surcharge aims to reduce the burden on the NHS by ensuring that those coming to the UK contribute to the healthcare they receive.

The IHS typically covers the following:

• General Practitioner (GP) appointments
• Hospital treatment
• Emergency medical care
• Maternity services

However, certain healthcare services, such as prescriptions, dental care, and optical treatments, may require additional payments. Individuals exempt from paying the IHS, such as Health and Care Worker visa applicants, can still access the NHS. 

Applicants who are required to pay the surcharge must do so during the visa application process. Failure to pay at the right time can result in visa rejection. 

It’s essential to note that the fee an applicant must pay will depend on their age, visa duration, and visa type. The standard IHS fee is £1035 annually for adults and £776 per year for students, Youth Mobility Scheme visa applicants, and children under 18. Here’s an example of the health surcharge that visa applicants are expected to pay upfront during their application:

The IHS significantly increases the overall visa application fee. Potential applicants should consider these additional expenses when planning their move to the UK. Contact our lawyers at +44 (0)333 414 9244 for expert guidance on navigating these costs and your visa application.

Eligibility Criteria for an IHS Refund

In some cases, visa applicants may be eligible for an automatic refund of their immigration health surcharge. Depending on the circumstances, this can be a partial or full reimbursement. 

Full refund eligibility generally applies where:

• An applicant paid the IHS twice for the same visa application
• An applicant received a visa denial
• An individual withdrew their application before the Home Office made a decision

A partial IHS refund applies to individuals whose visa application was successful but:

• They received less time on their visa than they applied for.
• A dependant on their visa application was refused a visa. Only the dependent’s IHS will be refunded.
• They are applying to extend or switch a visa in the UK and have paid the IHS twice for the same period.

Applicants entitled to an automatic refund do not need to apply for reimbursement. The Home Office will process the refund to the account or card used for the IHS payment.

Exceptions and Special Cases for IHS Refunds

Successful visa holders not entitled to an automatic reimbursement may be eligible to apply for it under exceptional circumstances. They include the following:

IHS Refund for Health and Care Workers

Individuals working in the healthcare sector, whether on a Health and Care visa or other routes, may qualify for an IHS reimbursement if they meet the following requirements:

• They paid the IHS fee
• They work for an NHS trust, a care home, or an approved healthcare provider in the UK.
• They have worked for at least six months, for an average of at least 16 hours a week.

Health and care professionals who meet the requirement can only apply for a refund for one 6-month period at a time. They can apply every six months to claim a refund for additional periods. Individuals who were unemployed or had unpaid leave for more than 28 days within any six-month period will not be eligible for a refund for that duration. 

IHS Refund for Individuals With an S1 Certificate

UK residents who receive an S1 certificate showing that their healthcare fees have been covered by an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein, may get full or partial reimbursement of their immigration health surcharge.

All applicants must have a UK visa granted on or after 1 January 2021 to be eligible for a refund. S1 holders who meet this requirement and whose certificates were issued by an EU country or Switzerland are automatically eligible for a refund. However, those with Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein-issued certificates must apply for the refund. 

Whether an individual can claim a full or partial refund of their IHS will depend on the period their S1 entitlement document covers. To get a full reimbursement, the S1 entitlement must be valid for the entire length of the claimant’s visa. If the S1 document only covers part of the holder’s stay in the UK, they will receive a partial refund.  

Additionally, refunds can only be backdated to 1 November 2021 for Switzerland-issued certificates, while Iceland and Liechtenstein-issued document holders can claim refunds up to 1 January 2024.

Furthermore, the IHS refund policy for S1 holders also applies to their dependents. The S1 holder can claim the refund if they paid the IHS on behalf of the dependents. However, if the dependents made the payment themselves, they must apply for a refund.

Students Seeking an IHS Refund

International students from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein who paid the health surcharge may be eligible for a refund from the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA). To get a refund, an applicant must:

• Be a full-time student in a UK higher education institution 
• Live in the UK and have a UK address
• Not work or not intend to work in the UK
• Have any of the following:
  • A European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) issued from an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, or
  • An S1 certificate if they are from Denmark
• Have a UK visa issued on or after:
  • 1 January 2021 for an EHIC issued in the EU or Norway
  • 1 November 2021 for an EHIC issued in Switzerland
  • 1 January 2024 for an EHIC issued in Iceland or Liechtenstein

To receive a full reimbursement, an applicant’s EHIC must be valid for the length of their visa. However, if the EHIC covers only part of the visa duration, they will receive a partial reimbursement, rounded to the nearest six months. For instance, if the EHIC is valid for 15 months, the Home Office will refund 12 months of IHS.

Exemptions for an Immigration Health Surcharge Refund

The Home Office will not refund an immigration health surcharge if any of the following applies:

• An applicant withdraws their application after their visa is granted
• The visa application was successful, but the holder did not come to the UK
• A visa holder dies in the UK while their visa is valid or before arriving
• The holder leaves the UK before their visa expires
• The visa holder was asked to leave the UK before their permission expired
• An individual applies for indefinite leave to remain
• An individual switches to another visa category that is exempt from the IHS.

Documentation Needed to Support an IHS Refund Claim

If you are eligible to apply for an IHS refund, you must provide the following information to make your claim:

• Your full name as it appears on your passport
• Date of birth
• Your IHS reference number 
• The date you paid the IHS 
• Your email address
• Your UK address

If you are on a work visa, you must also provide:

• Your National Insurance number
• The name of your employer
• Copies of your payslips for the period you’re claiming a refund.
• Your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) number

Student visa holders must provide the following additional documents:

• Visa share code 
• A copy of their European Healthcare Insurance Card (EHIC)
• A copy of their Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) statement or university acceptance letter.

Process of Obtaining an IHS Refund From the UKVI

You can apply for a refund online via the UK government’s website if you are not entitled to an automatic reimbursement. You must complete the online application form with details about yourself and your work or study program. Afterwards, you must upload scanned copies of your documents. 

However, if you are an international student with an EHIC issued in Norway and requesting a refund for IHS payments made between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2023, you must apply via paper by contacting the NHSBSA for an application form. 

Additionally, refund applications must be made within 5 years of the IHS being paid. If you are applying for reimbursement as the holder of an EHIC, you must do so within 12 months of arriving in the UK. In line with the IHS reimbursement rules, your application will not be accepted if you do not apply within the stated period.

Timeline and Process for Receiving an IHS Refund

If you apply for a refund and your request is successful, the timeline for receiving your IHS repayment will depend on your circumstances. 

If you work in the health and care sector, you will receive your refund within 6 weeks of submitting a request. However, if you hold a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), the NHS Business Services Authority will refund your money within 3 months. 

On the other hand, if you are entitled to a refund and do not need to apply for one, the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) will automatically refund your IHS payment within 28 days of sending your visa decision. 

Furthermore, if you do not receive your IHS refund within the stipulated time, you can contact the UKVI or the NHSBSA for help. Otherwise, call +44 (0)333 414 9244 to discuss your case with one of our UK immigration lawyers, and we will liaise with the appropriate government authority on your behalf. 

What is the IHS Refund Process?

The UK government typically sends all refunds to the account or card used to pay the immigration health surcharge. Thus, if the initial payment was made through a third-party account, such as an employer or another sponsor, the refund will be sent to their account. 

In line with the UKVI refund policy, if a refund fails, such as when the bank account used in making the initial payment closes, the Home Office’s Transactional Services Team will request updated bank details from the applicant or recipient. Note that this situation may impact the timeline for receiving a refund. 

How Appeals and Administrative Reviews Impact Refund Timelines

If you were eligible for an automatic refund due to a visa rejection but appealed or submitted an administrative review, your reimbursement may take longer, depending on your circumstances.

If you applied for your visa from inside the UK, the refund may be placed on hold and will only apply if your appeal or administrative review is dismissed. The refund will then be sent to you within 28 days of the dismissal notice. 

However, if you applied for your visa from outside the UK, you will receive the refund within 28 days of your visa application being denied. If your appeal or administrative review is successful, you must repay the health surcharge. You may pay a different amount to what you paid before if you are granted a different length of stay than you initially requested.

Instances Where an IHS Refund Application is Not Granted

It is possible to apply for the IHS reimbursement scheme and receive a rejection. A common reason for refund denials is that applicants do not apply within the time limitation set for requesting an IHS refund. 

Another refusal reason is when a work visa holder takes unpaid leave for more than 28 days during the six-month period for which they claim a refund. Additionally, EHIC and S1 holders who apply for refunds outside the standard claimable period will be denied. 

Unfortunately, there is no appeal process for an IHS refund denial. 

Furthermore, seeking professional immigration advice can help clarify refund eligibility and improve the chances of a successful claim. 

How IAS Can Help

At Immigration Advice Service (IAS), we provide expert guidance for visa and citizenship applications and other immigration-related matters. 

We have a team of UK immigration lawyers with years of experience and thousands of successful applications who are well-equipped to support you at every stage of the process. Our lawyers offer personalised assistance, including documentation and eligibility check reviews, to ensure your application meets all requirements and stands the best chance of approval. 

If you require an IHS refund due to a visa application refusal, you can reach out to us for immediate assistance with turning that refusal into a visa approval. We provide support with pre-action protocol letters, judicial review, administrative review, or re-application depending on which is likely to result in success for your case. Contact us at +44 (0)333 414 9244 or send an email to [email protected]. You can also complete our online contact form, and we will reach out to you.