2024 16 JAN
Following a Parliamentary debate held on 10 January 2024, The Immigration (Health Charge) (Amendment) Order 2023 was due to come into effect on 16 January 2024, however this has been delayed and it is now due to be implement no earlier than 31 January 2024.
According to the new fees due to increase from 31 January 2024, The Immigration Health Surcharge will rise from £624 to £1035 per year for applicants above 18 years and from £477 to £776 per year for applicants aged below 18 years.
Most applications require IHS payments except the applications for Indefinite Leave to Remain, Naturalisation and Skilled Worker visa for Health and Care Jobs.
The IHS increase is more than the increase in funding for the NHS and it is unclear why the migrants are being asked to pay for than the increase in funding to the NHS.
It is true that the IHS provides benefit for access to NHS without any costs, however, it does not include all the treatments and some costs are still to be paid.
An immigration application for UK Family Visa as a spouse or unmarried partner from outside the UK currently costs £3718 with the IHS being £1872 and after the increase it will be almost £5000 with the IHS alone being £3105.
UK immigration applications after the increase in IHS will become one of the most expensive immigration applications compared to any other country.
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