UK Government to increase the Immigration Health Surcharge

The increase is obviously not good news for persons who will be applying for UK visas after this date. Fortunately, they have made some provisions for students and persons under 18 years of age. 

Increase in the Immigration Health Surcharge

All persons who apply for a UK visa for a period longer than six months have to pay the UK Immigration Health Surcharge. The current Immigration Health Surcharge will increase from the current £400 per applicant per year to £624 per applicant per year. 

Students and persons applying for the Youth Mobility Scheme will pay a reduced rate of £470 per year. 

Henceforth, there will also be a discounted rate for children under the age of 18 years old. This rate will be set at £470 per child per year. 

Although an increase in the surcharge is not good news, there will at least now be a discounted rate for children under the age of 18 years old. 

Staff working for the NHS, Health and Social Care 

Breytenbachs also have some good news for NHS workers, and health and social care staff.  The UK Government has announced that migrant workers, working for the NHS, and health and social care staff will not have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. 

Other Exemptions 

Other categories of applicants that are normally excluded from having to pay the surcharge are persons applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain and British citizenship. 

There are also certain specific exemptions such as dependents of members of Her Majesty’s Forces, and the concession known as the ‘destitute domestic violence concession.’

Please speak to your Breytenbachs consultant for more information about exemptions. 

How Breytenbachs can help you

To avoid having to pay the higher Immigration Health Surcharge, we strongly recommend that clients get in touch with us, to prepare their visa applications for submission before 1 October 2020. 

Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants have highly trained and experienced teams dealing with various UK visa categories. To arrange a consultation, please send an email to info@bic-immigration.com or visit our website at www.bic-immigration.com 

Please note that the information in this article does not constitute professional advice. It is provided for general information purposes, without giving any warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied.