Immigration fees have changed following The Immigration Health Surcharge(IHS) increase as of the 6th of February 2024. The Immigration Health Surcharge (Health Charge)(Amendment) order 2023 has implemented an increase in the IHS fee from £624.00 to £1,035.00 per year for an immigration application.

As the amount you pay at the time of application is dependent on the type and length of the Visa you are applying for, the amount you will be expected to pay can vary. For a Visa that lasts 2.5 years, you will be charged the IHS yearly rate, multiplied by 2.5. However, if you are applying for a Visa that lasts 2 years and 9 months, then you will be charged at the yearly IHS rate, multiplied by 3.  Any Visa beyond 6 months will be treated as a full year in regard to the Immigration Health Surcharge.

This increase will see applicants pay up to £3,105.00 in IHS fees for a Family Visa made from outside of the UK and £2,587.50 for applications to remain in the UK. This is a significant increase in the cost of sponsoring your family member’s application to join you in the UK and should be factored into planning.

What is the Immigration Health Surcharge?

It is a fee, which is payable at the time of submitting an immigration application online. If you are submitting a paper application form, you must provide a contact email address so that you may be emailed with a payment request for the Immigration Health Surcharge. The Immigration Health Surcharge is in addition to the UKVI’s Application Processing Fee. The IHS is designed to contribute to the costs of using the National Health Service.

Who does not need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge?
In some limited circumstances, you may not need to pay for the Immigration Health Surcharge, for example:

  • If you have been granted a full Fee Waiver; or
  • For applications to the Family Reunion Scheme, for those who have family members in the UK with Refugee Status; or
  • For applications to the Health and Care Worker Visas; or
  • When making a valid application to the EU Settlement Scheme, or
  • If you have been granted the Domestic Violence Concession; or
  • If you are applying for Asylum or Humanitarian Protection; or
  • When applying for a Visitor’s Visa; and
  • When applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK

Increase to the Immigration Application Processing Fee

This increase is on top of a recent increase in the application processing fees for many application types. The increase in the application fees has affected the Visitor Visa, Family Visa submitted from outside of the UK, Indefinite Leave to Remain, Nationality, and other applications. The Application Processing Fee must be paid at the time of submission, just after the Immigration Health Surcharge has been paid. You would now expect to pay around £1,872.00 for Entry Clearance as the spouse of a British Citizen, in comparison to the previous fee of £1,523.00. The increase in the UKVI’s fee to process the application is not as substantial as the hike in the IHS. However, as a whole, the immigration process has become significantly more costly.

If you require advice or assistance with an immigration matter, you can get in touch on 01592 757114.