Immigration Corner | Who needs to apply for the immigration health surcharge?

Dear Mr Bassie,

I am hoping that you can clarify for me, who needs to pay the healthcare surcharge when applying for a visa to travel to the United Kingdom, and what is the cost.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

VI

Dear VI,

Persons usually need to pay the healthcare surcharge if they are applying for a visa or immigration application for more than six months, and if they are applying from outside the United Kingdom (UK). They will also need to do so if they are applying from inside the UK for any length of time.

Persons do not need to pay if they are applying for a visitor visa or to remain in the UK permanently. However, persons still need to pay even if they have private medical insurance.

VISITOR VISAS AND SHORT-TERM VISAS

Please note that persons do not need to pay the surcharge if they are applying for a visitor visa or a visa for six months or less from outside the UK. They will need to pay for any NHS care they get at the point of use, unless it is a service that is free. The exact amount that is payable depends on the length of the visa. Please be aware that a visa may last longer than a course of study or period of employment.

COST FOR THE YEAR

Persons will have to pay:

• £776 per year for students, their dependents, and those on a Youth Mobility Scheme visa, for example, £1,552 for a two-year visa;

• £776 per year for visa and immigration applicants who are under 18 years of age at the time of application;

• £1,035 per year for all other visa and immigration applications, for example, £3,105 for a three-year visa.

COST FOR PART OF A YEAR

The amount persons have to pay will depend on the length of the visa they are given and where the application is made from.

SIX MONTHS OR LESS

Please note that persons do not need to pay the surcharge if they are applying from outside the UK for six months or less.

If they are applying from inside the UK, they will have to pay half the yearly cost. For example:

• £388 for students, their dependents, Youth Mobility Scheme or under-18 applications;

• £517.50 for any other application.

Please be aware that where it is more than six months but less than one year, regardless of wherever they applied from, persons will have to pay the cost of a full year.

COST FOR MORE THAN ONE YEAR

If the visa is for more than a year, they will have to pay the yearly cost plus half the yearly cost if it is for 18 months or less. Please note that the cost will be for two full years if it is for more than 18 months but less than two years.

Just for completeness, dependents who are 18 years old or over usually need to pay the same amount as the applicant.

I hope this helps.

John S. Bassie is a barrister/attorney-at-law who practises law in Jamaica. He is a justice of the peace, a Supreme Court-appointed mediator, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a chartered arbitrator, the past global president of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and a member of the Immigration Law Practitioners Association (UK). Email: lawbassie@yahoo.com