The Home Office has released further information about the health surcharge to be paid by migrants entering the UK for six months or more.
Coming into force on 6 April 2015, the surcharge is being set at £150 a year for international students and £200 for other temporary migrants who are coming to the UK for a time-limited period of six months or more to work or to join family. Dependants will generally be charged the same amount as the main applicant and the full amount covering the whole period of leave will be payable upfront. The surcharge is to be paid at the same time as the visa fee.
Paying the surcharge will allow the migrant free access to the NHS generally though they may be charged for services a permanent resident would also pay for (for example, prescription charges, dental charges, etc.).
Those with private healthcare insurance will still be required to pay the surcharge.
Because the UK has reciprocal healthcare agreements with Australia and New Zealand, migrants who are nationals of those countries are not required to pay the surcharge. Those entering the UK under Tier 2 (Intra-company transfer) are also not required to pay the surcharge.
If the visa application is refused, the surcharge fee will be refunded but refunds or partial refunds will not be made where the visa is issued and the applicant then decides not to travel to the UK or where the applicant leaves the UK prior to the end of their leave.
Further information, including information about exemptions, can be found here.
