UK Health Insurance 2025

If you want to study in the UK, you must hear about UK health insurance. You have to pay £776 for the immigration health surcharge in UK and paying the IHS fee is a mandatory requirement for UK student visa processing. It allows every student to get medical services from the NHS UK. 

The NHS (National Health Service) is one of the best healthcare systems in the world. Health insurance for international students in UK provides students with a wide range of services through the NHS, including appointments with the doctor, dental care, and hospital treatment. This article will cover detailed information about UK health insurance 2025. So, check out the article to become familiar with IHS and NHS in UK. 

What is the UK immigration healthcare surcharge?

The immigration healthcare surcharge or IHS is a healthcare insurance in UK. Usually, non-EEA migrants need to pay as part of their application process. The healthcare surcharge is an additional fee included in your visa application. You will need to pay the UK health insurance fee if you are-

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

Paying for the IHS 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.

Who needs to pay for the UK health insurance?

You usually have to pay the immigration healthcare surcharge in UK if you’re applying for a visa or immigration:

• For more than 6 months if you’re applying from outside the UK.
• For 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 stay in the UK permanently. Even if you have private health insurance, you still have to pay.

Who doesn’t need to pay for the health surcharge fee in UK?

Though paying the health surcharge is a definite requirement for a UK student visa, you don’t need to pay the healthcare surcharge or get a reference number to use the NHS if:

• You’re applying for indefinite leave to enter or remain.
• You’re a health and care worker eligible for a Health and Care Worker visa (or their dependant).
• 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 someone in the UK’s armed forces.
• You’re a dependant of a foreign armed forces member who is exempt from immigration control.
• You’re a British Overseas Territory citizen living in the Falkland Islands.
• You’re an asylum seeker, 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 as a victim of slavery or trafficking (or their dependant).
• You qualify under the Home Office’s domestic violence concession (or their dependant).
• Being forced to leave the UK would violate your rights under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (or their dependant).
• You’re an S2 Healthcare Visitor.
• You qualify for a Frontier Worker permit and have an S1 certificate.
• You’re a child under 18 in local authority care.
• You’re a civilian employee of 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 trafficking or slavery (or their dependant).
• You’re applying to stay as a stateless person.
• You’re applying under the Ukraine Extension Scheme or the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.

If you apply for indefinite leave to remain but only get limited leave, you’ll have to pay the surcharge before you’re granted leave.

Do you need to pay the IHS fee for a visitor visa?

No, you don’t need to pay the IHS if you are applying for a visitor or short-term visa in UK. Even if you are applying for a short-term visitor visa in UK for less than 6 months, you don’t need to pay the health surcharge for UK. Also, you do not need to pay the IHS, if you’re applying for a visa for the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands.

How much money do you need to pay for UK health insurance?

As an international student now the question is how much money you need to pay as a UK healthcare surcharge fee. The exact money that you’ve to pay depends on the length of your visa. According to the UK government, 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- There are no requirements to pay UK insurance fees for international students who are applying for 6 months or less in the UK.

How much money do you need to pay for the IHS for more than 6 months?

If you want to visit the UK for more than 6 months but less than 1 year, you have to pay the UK health insurance fee for the whole year. 

How much is the UK health insurance fee for more than 1 year?

If your visa is for more than a year, you’ll have to pay the yearly cost plus half the yearly cost, if it’s for 18 months or less. And you will have to pay the cost of 2 full years if it’s for more than 18 months but less than 2 years.

Do you need to pay the IHS fee for your dependants?

If your dependants are age 18 or more you need to pay for the IHS fee in UK the same amount as you. However, you should calculate the total amount of the IHS fee before applying for a UK student visa. 

How to pay for the UK health insurance?

According to the Gov.UK, if you are making an online immigration application you must have to pay the health insurance fee as a part of your application. You must complete the payment and return to the online immigration application in less than 30 minutes. 

However, if you are making the immigration application by post you must pay the UK health insurance fee before completing your application. You have to pay the healthcare surcharge by credit or debit card.

Which information do you need to make a payment for your health insurance in UK?

As an international student, you may be asked to give some information while making payment for your health insurance in UK.

While applying online, an international student will be asked for:

• The start and end dates of the certificate of sponsorship.
• The course dates (if you are applying as a student)

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

Details of your family members

When you apply, you’ll need to provide your information and details about any dependants applying with you. You’ll also need details about the person you’re joining or staying within the UK, unless:

• They are a UK citizen
• They have EU settled status
• They have permission to live in the UK permanently

If you’re joining someone in the UK, you’ll need their visa expiry date or their IHS reference number (if they have one).

How to finish your visa or immigration application?

After you pay, you’ll get an email with your IHS reference number. It will also appear on your screen. You can only use this number once, so you’ll need a new one if you apply again. Complete your application form and pay the visa or immigration fee to finish your application.

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 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.

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.

Can you get a refund of your UK health insurance fee?

According to the Gov.UK, you can get a refund of your UK health insurance fee if the following incident happens to you. 

• You withdraw your visa application after it’s approved.
• Your visa is approved, but you don’t come to the UK.
• You leave the UK before your visa ends, like when applying for a new visa.
• You’re asked to leave the UK before your visa expires.
• You’re applying for indefinite leave to remain.
• You’re switching to a visa that doesn’t require the healthcare surcharge.

NB: If the visa applicant passes away in the UK or before arriving, the surcharge won’t be refunded.

How long does it take to get a refund of the UK health insurance?

You usually get your UK health insurance refund within 28 days after a decision on your visa application. It might take longer if you appeal or request an administrative review after your visa is refused.

If you appeal or request an administrative review:

• Inside the UK: You’ll get your refund within 28 days after your appeal or review is denied.
• Outside the UK: You’ll get your refund within 28 days after your visa application is refused.

If your appeal or review is approved and you’ve already received a refund, you’ll need to repay the healthcare surcharge.

The amount you repay might change if:

• Your stay is shorter than planned.
• You get less time on your visa than you applied for.

If you don’t get your refund within 28 days, contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

Final Words

Studying abroad in UK is a dream for many international students. However, having proper knowledge about the visa application process and the entire cost and payment method can help you reduce the chances of your UK student visa rejection. However, if you are applying for a study permit in UK, you can get help from AIMS Education. At AIMS Education we have British Council-certified agents who can help you with your application for UK visa processing. Also, we can provide you with a 100% UK student visa success guarantee. However, if you have any more questions regarding UK health insurance you can contact us today!

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