IHS Fee in UK For International Students [2025]

The full form of IHS is the Immigration Health Surcharge, which entitles you to use the NHS if you become unwell or have an accident while in the UK. The IHS fee in UK is £776 per year for a student visa, and you have to pay the cost while applying for your student visa. 

UK health insurance provides students with a wide range of services through the NHS, including doctor appointments, dental care, and hospital treatment. This article will cover detailed information about UK health insurance fees for international students and the process of paying the insurance cost. So, check out the article to become familiar with IHS and NHS in the UK.

What is the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge in UK?

The immigration healthcare surcharge (IHS) is a health insurance in UK that international students need to pay as part of their application process.  The healthcare surcharge is an additional fee included in your visa application. As an international student, you will need to pay the UK insurance fee if you are-

• A citizen of non-European country
• Coming to the UK for 6 months or longer

Paying for the IHS fee in UK means you will get emergency medical services in the UK, including hospital and further medical treatment. But keep in mind that you have to pay for eye tests, dental treatments, and prescriptions.

How Much is the IHS Fee in UK for International Students?

As an international student now the question is how much health insurance costs in UK for international students. The exact money that you’ve to pay depends on the length of your visa. According to the Gov.UK, the amount of UK health insurance cost for international students is-

• £776 per year for a student visa or mobility scheme visa
• £776 per year for visa and immigration applicants (if you are under 18)
• £1,035 per year for all other visa applications

If you are living in the UK for 6 months or less you need to pay-

• For inside the UK – £388 for student and mobility visa and £517.50 for other visa
• For outside the UK- You don’t need to pay any surcharge fee if you are coming to the UK for less than 6 months

NB: If you are coming to the UK for more than 6 months but less than one year, you need to pay the IHS fee for the UK student visa for the whole year.

Who Needs to Pay the IHS Fee in UK?

You usually have to pay student health insurance in UK  if you’re applying for a visa or immigration that lasts:

• more than 6 months if you’re applying from outside the UK
• any length of time if you’re applying from inside the UK
• You don’t need to pay if you’re applying for a visitor visa or to live in the UK permanently.

Even if you have private health insurance, you still need to pay this fee.

How To Pay the IHS Fee in UK?

According to the Gov.UK, you must pay the IHS fee in UK while making the online application for your student visa. You must complete the payment and return to the online immigration application in less than 30 minutes. To apply for a UK health insurance, you will need:

• Your full name (as it appears on your passport)
• Your date of birth
• Your 9-digit IHS number, which you can find in the confirmation email from WorldPay (it starts with “IHS”, like IHS123456789)
• Your visa share code (this lets you prove your visa status)
• Your UK address
• Your email address
• A scanned copy or photo of your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
• A scanned copy or photo of your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) statement or your university acceptance letter

If you’re applying for family members, you’ll need the same details for them, except for the CAS letter.

While applying for a post, an international student will be asked for

• The visa type you are applying for
• Travel document and passport number
• An email address

Who Are Exempt from Paying the IHS Fee in UK?

There is an exemption from purchasing health insurance in the UK. You can use the NHS without paying the IHS fee in UK or getting a reference number if:

• You’re applying for indefinite leave to stay in the UK
• You’re a health and care worker (or their dependant) applying for a Health and Care Worker visa
• You’re applying to the EU Settlement Scheme
• You’re a diplomat or part of visiting armed forces and not under immigration control
• You’re a dependant of a UK armed forces member
• You’re a dependant of a foreign armed forces member exempt from immigration control
• You’re a British Overseas Territory citizen living in the Falkland Islands
• You’re an asylum seeker or applying for humanitarian protection (or their dependant)
• You’re a domestic worker identified as a victim of slavery or human trafficking
• You’re applying for discretionary leave to stay as a victim of slavery or human trafficking (or their dependant)
• The Home Office’s domestic violence rules apply to you (or their dependant)
• Being forced to leave the UK would violate your rights under Article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights (or their dependant)
• You’re an S2 Healthcare Visitor
• You have an S1 certificate and are eligible for a Frontier Worker Permit
• You’re a child under 18 taken into care by a local authority
• You’re a civilian worker for NATO or the Australian Department of Defence in the UK (or their dependant)
• You’re applying to stay in the UK as a victim of human trafficking or slavery (or their dependant)
• You’re applying as a stateless person
• You’re applying for the Ukraine Extension Scheme or a visa under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme

However, if you apply for indefinite leave but are only given limited leave, you’ll still need to pay the health insurance cost for international students in UK before your leave is granted.

What is NHS?

NHS elaborately stands for National Health Service and is a 10-digit unique identifier number. It’s recommended as the best UK health insurance service provider. To identify you correctly, UK healthcare service providers use this number. The number is for your identification. You do not need this number to get the NHS services. When you get your health insurance done, you will get the NHS services like a citizen of the UK.

How To Find The NHS Number?

• You can find the NHS number through the documents and letters sent to you by the NHS. Such as the prescriptions, test results, hospital letters etc.
• You can find the NHS number on the NHS website.
• You can call your GP surgery to get your NHS number.

When Can A Student Start To Use The NHS Services?

As an international student, you can use the NHS services when-

• You have paid the health insurance/ healthcare surcharge.
• The application for your visa and immigration is granted.

After accessing the healthcare insurance, an international student needs to provide-

• Biometric residence permit.
• Use your share code to prove your status online.

Does the NHS Cover All The Healthcare Services?

You can’t get all the healthcare services by making health insurance through the NHS. You need to pay for specific services such as prescriptions, dental treatment, eye tests, and assisted conception.

What Services Does An International Student Get Through NHS?

After getting registered with the National Health Services by paying the fee of UK health insurance, you will get all the facilities provided by the NHS. Here we will discuss the benefits NHS will deliver to international students.

NHS covered services

• You can consult a doctor by visiting a government-funded clinic.
• Consultation with your GP.
• In an emergency, you can get hospital treatment.
• Public clinics will offer you treatment for minor injuries.
• You can consult with a specialist after getting referred by a general practitioner.
• Maternal issues like contraception.

How to Access the NHS Service in the UK?

If you have paid the IHS fee in UK, you can legally use the NHS service if there is any emergency. If you’re not sure where to get help, use this checklist:

• Call 999 if someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is in danger.
• Call NHS 111 if you need urgent medical help or advice, but it’s not life-threatening. You can also call NHS 111 if you’re unsure which NHS service you need.
• Visit NHS 111 online to get help with your symptoms.
• Go to a walk-in centre, minor injuries unit, or urgent treatment centre if you have a small injury or illness (like cuts, sprains, or rashes) that can’t wait until your GP is open.
• Ask a pharmacist for advice on common minor illnesses like diarrhoea, infections, headaches, sore throats, or travel health.
• Book an appointment with your GP if you’re feeling unwell but it’s not an emergency.

What Is The GP Register, And How To Register For A GP Surgery?

The GP register lists doctors who are available and eligible for appointments and work as general practitioners in the UK. GPs are highly skilled doctors and offer great care to the citizens of the UK.

So How To Register For A GP Surgery In The UK?

Anyone in the UK can register for a completely free GP surgery. Most of the general practitioners in the UK own a website. You can register through it. If you have missed the online process, you can contact us via phone call, email or by visiting the clinic.

Usually, you do not need ID proof to register with a GP, but you might get help if you have the following documents. They are- a passport, birth certificate, hostel/accommodation certificate etc.

Final Words

In this article, we have mentioned clear information about the IHS fee in UK, the application process and tips to use the NHS services for international students. To learn more about UK health insurance, you can visit our student consultancy firm, AIMS Education. The experienced counselors of AIMS Education can help you with application to visa processing. Make your study abroad journey easy and simple with the AIMS education student consultancy firm.

FAQ– Frequently asked questions