The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a mandatory fee payable to the Home Office when applying for a long-term visa. The Surcharge, which was initially introduced in 2015, has seen regular increases since its inception. On 27 October 2020, the IHS will increase to £624 for most applicants.
The IHS is paid as a part of a visa application. It is calculated based on the number of years the visa is sought for. For example, a 3-year visa would incur an IHS surcharge of £1872 per applicant from 27 October 2020. Once the IHS is paid, the applicant must then also pay for the visa application fee, which varies depending on the type of visa.
As such, it is important for applicants who are able to apply for their visa before 27 October 2020, should consider applying now to avoid paying the increased IHS.