Student visa and immigration health surcharge

If you are coming to the UK for 6 months or longer and have a Student visa, you will pay an immigration health surcharge as part of your visa application fees: 

  • For students applying for entry clearance from overseas, the surcharge will apply to visas granted for more than 6 months.   
  • Those applying for further permission to stay in the UK will pay the surcharge regardless of the new visa length. 

The immigration health surcharge entitles students to access NHS care free of charge, in the same way as a permanent UK resident. 

  • You may need to pay for dental and optical treatment. 
  • You may also need to pay for any medicine prescribed by the doctor and collected from a pharmacy. There is normally a £9.90 standard charge per item. 
  • If you need to have continued medication, you may find it cheaper to get a Prescription Pre-Payment Certificate. 

The cost of the immigration health surcharge depends on the length of your visa. 

If your visa application is not successful, you will automatically be refunded the immigration health surcharge (but not the visa application fee). The surcharge will not be refunded if you depart the UK earlier than the expiry of your visa. The surcharge is also not refunded if you do not use the NHS during your time in the UK. 

It is your decision whether you also have private medical insurance. This may be considered to cover the following health-related costs: 

  • Loss of fees if you are unable to complete your course. 
  • Costs incurred returning to your home country for treatment. 
  • Private medical treatment which may offer provision over and above the NHS healthcare treatment.

If you already have medical insurance in your home country, you may wish to check whether this can be extended to cover your stay in the UK.

 

EEA students

If you have a Student visa and hold a valid EHIC issued in the EU or Switzerland, you may be eligible for a full or partial reimbursement of the immigration health surcharge paid with your visa application. 

  • Check the criteria carefully when deciding whether to apply for a refund. 
  • The Department for Health and Social Care has produced an information pack for students which includes ‘frequently asked questions’ about the scheme. 
  • Family members of students who meet the criteria may also be able to apply for reimbursement of the immigration health surcharge if they are in the UK on a visa, hold a valid EHIC and are not working, or do not intend to work, in the UK. 
  • The scheme is currently not available to students from Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. 
  • Students from outside Europe are also not eligible for the scheme. 

Students who decide to apply for a refund of the immigration health surcharge need to provide their Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) as part of the application process. Contact the International Student Office to request the CAS in the specific format required by the scheme.