UK Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for Swiss Residents

The Immigration Health Surcharge, usually called the IHS, is a mandatory charge payable by many people applying for UK immigration permission. For Swiss citizens, foreign nationals lawfully resident in Switzerland, and Swiss employers arranging UK visas for staff or family members, the IHS can be one of the largest upfront costs in a UK visa application. This article explains who must pay, who is exempt, the current rates, refund rules and practical points for applications made from Switzerland.

This article is for Switzerland-based applicants applying for UK work, study, family or other long-term visas, and for Swiss employers, universities and families budgeting for UK immigration costs. It is also relevant to Swiss residents who hold an S1 certificate, Swiss-issued EHIC, Swiss L, B or C residence status, or who are applying with dependants.

What Is the Immigration Health Surcharge?

The IHS is charged under the UK immigration framework, including section 38 of the Immigration Act 2014. In practical terms, it is paid during the UK visa application process and, where required, must normally be paid before the application can be decided.

Once the visa starts, an IHS payer can use the NHS free of charge on broadly the same basis as a UK resident. The surcharge does not remove all health-related charges: prescription charges, dental treatment, eye tests and assisted conception may still be payable where those charges apply. Applicants may also need to pay for NHS treatment if the Home Office has not yet decided their visa application.

Private medical insurance does not remove the obligation to pay the IHS. A Switzerland-based applicant with comprehensive international health insurance must still pay if the UK immigration category requires it.

Who Must Pay the IHS for a UK Visa?

You usually need to pay the IHS if you apply from outside the UK for a visa lasting more than six months, or if you apply from inside the UK for immigration permission of any length, unless an exemption applies.

For Swiss residents, this commonly affects Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility, Student, family and other long-term visa applications. Each applicant pays separately. A Skilled Worker applicant in Switzerland applying with a partner and child will normally need three separate IHS payments.

You do not usually pay the IHS for a visitor visa, a visa of six months or less applied for from outside the UK, or an application to remain in the UK permanently. However, not paying the IHS is not the same as having free NHS access. Visitors and short-term visa holders may be charged for NHS care unless the treatment is free to everyone or another charging exemption applies.

Who Is Exempt From Paying the IHS?

The exemption categories are limited. Included, among others, are applicants for indefinite leave to enter or remain, eligible Health and Care Worker visa applicants and their dependants, EU Settlement Scheme applicants, diplomats and certain armed forces categories, asylum and humanitarian protection applicants, certain victims of trafficking or slavery, applicants covered by the domestic violence concession, S2 Healthcare Visitors, eligible Frontier Worker permit applicants with an S1 certificate, children taken into local authority care, stateless persons, and certain Ukraine scheme applicants.

For Switzerland-based applicants, the most relevant point is to identify the visa route first. A person may be exempt because of the UK category they are applying under, not because they live in Switzerland or hold Swiss residence status.

Applicants for settlement, including indefinite leave to remain, do not pay the IHS. If a person applies for indefinite leave to remain but is granted limited leave instead, they will need to pay the IHS before that limited leave is granted.

Current IHS Rates for UK Visa Applicants

The current annual IHS rates are:

• £1,035 per year for most visa and immigration applications;

• £776 per year for students, their dependants, Youth Mobility Scheme applicants, and applicants under 18 at the date of application.

The amount depends on the length of the visa, and a visa may last longer than the employment, course or planned period in the UK.

For applications from outside the UK, no IHS is payable for a visa of six months or less. For applications from inside the UK for six months or less, half the yearly charge is payable. For visas of more than six months but less than one year, the full annual charge is payable. For visas over one year, the charge is calculated using full-year and half-year bands.

Swiss employers and families should budget early, particularly where several dependants apply at the same time. The IHS is separate from visa application fees, legal fees, translation costs, biometric appointment charges and relocation expenses.

How Is the IHS Paid?

The IHS is normally calculated and paid online as part of the UK visa application. The system may ask for information such as the Certificate of Sponsorship dates, course dates or intended visa category.

After payment, the applicant receives an IHS reference number linked to the visa application. Switzerland-based applicants should keep the payment confirmation, especially where a Swiss employer, university, relocation provider or family member has paid on their behalf. If another person paid, any automatic refund will normally return to that payer’s card or account.

What Happens If the IHS Is Not Paid?

If the IHS is not paid, or the wrong amount is paid, UK Visas and Immigration will usually send an email explaining how to pay the outstanding amount. The deadline is 10 working days for applicants inside the UK and 7 working days for applicants outside the UK. If the full amount is not paid in time, the visa or immigration application will be turned down.

Swiss residents should therefore check that their payment card can make international online payments and monitor the email address used in the visa application, including the junk folder.

When Can You Get an IHS Refund?

A full IHS refund is normally made if the applicant paid twice for the same visa application, the visa application is refused, or the application is withdrawn before a decision is made. A partial refund may be made where the application succeeds but less time is granted than requested, where a dependant is refused, or where an applicant extending or switching in the UK has paid twice for the same period.

No refund is normally given if the visa is granted but the applicant chooses not to travel to the UK, leaves the UK before the visa expires, is told to leave before the visa expires, applies for indefinite leave to remain, or switches into an IHS-exempt visa category. The IHS is also not refunded if a visa applicant dies in the UK or before arriving.

Swiss S1, EHIC, Student and Health Worker Refunds

There are special refund rules where healthcare is paid for by an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein. A person with an S1 certificate registered with the NHS Business Services Authority may be eligible for a full or partial IHS refund.

Full-time students in UK higher education may also be able to claim a full or partial refund if they have an EHIC issued by Switzerland or another listed state and do not work or plan to work while studying. For Swiss-issued EHICs, the refundable period may start from 1 November 2021. The amount depends on the EHIC expiry date.

Health and care workers who paid the IHS on a visa other than the Health and Care Worker visa may also be able to claim a refund for eligible health or care work of six months or more, with dependant refunds depending on matching visa coverage.

How Long Does an IHS Refund Take?

Automatic refunds are usually paid within six weeks of the visa decision. If an appeal or administrative review follows a refusal, timing depends on where the application was made: for applications outside the UK, including from Switzerland, the refund is usually paid up to six weeks after the visa application is refused. If an appeal or administrative review later succeeds, the applicant may have to repay the IHS.

Key Points for Swiss Residents Applying for UK Visas

The IHS is a significant upfront cost for many long-term UK visa applicants. Most applicants applying from Switzerland for a UK visa of more than six months will need to pay it unless a specific exemption applies. Visitor visa applicants and short-term applicants from outside the UK generally do not pay, but may face NHS charging if they receive treatment in the UK.

Refunds are available only in defined circumstances. Applicants should not assume that they will receive a refund simply because plans change, they leave early, or they decide not to travel after the visa is granted.

Contact Our UK Immigration Lawyers in Switzerland

Richmond Chambers Switzerland advises Switzerland-based clients on UK immigration applications, including IHS liability, exemption issues, refund questions, dependant costs and the immigration consequences of applying from Switzerland while holding Swiss L, B or C residence status. Our specialist UK immigration lawyers can help you identify the correct UK route, budget for IHS and visa costs, assess whether an exemption or refund may apply, and prepare a clear application strategy for individuals, families and employers.

To arrange an initial consultation meeting, contact Richmond Chambers Switzerland by telephone on +41 21 588 07 70 or complete our enquiry form.

Frequently Asked Questions: UK Immigration Health Surcharge for Swiss Residents

What is the UK Immigration Health Surcharge for Swiss residents?

The Immigration Health Surcharge, or IHS, is a mandatory charge payable by many people applying for UK immigration permission. For Swiss residents, it is usually paid during the UK visa application process and allows the visa holder to use the NHS broadly on the same basis as a UK resident once the visa starts.

Do Swiss citizens and residents have to pay the IHS for a UK visa?

Swiss citizens and foreign nationals lawfully resident in Switzerland usually need to pay the IHS if they apply from outside the UK for a visa lasting more than six months, unless an exemption applies. This commonly affects Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility, Student, family and other long-term UK visa applications.

How much is the UK Immigration Health Surcharge for visa applicants from Switzerland?

The current IHS rate is £1,035 per year for most visa and immigration applications. A lower rate of £776 per year applies to students, their dependants, Youth Mobility Scheme applicants and applicants who are under 18 at the date of application.

Does each dependant have to pay the IHS separately?

Yes. Each applicant normally pays the IHS separately, including partners and children applying as dependants. A Skilled Worker applicant in Switzerland applying with a partner and child would usually need three separate IHS payments.

Who is exempt from paying the Immigration Health Surcharge?

Exemptions are limited and depend mainly on the UK immigration route being used, not simply on living in Switzerland or holding Swiss residence status. Exempt categories may include eligible Health and Care Worker visa applicants and dependants, EU Settlement Scheme applicants, settlement applicants, certain diplomats, asylum and humanitarian protection applicants, and some other specific groups.

Do visitor visa applicants from Switzerland pay the IHS?

Visitor visa applicants and people applying from outside the UK for a visa of six months or less do not usually pay the IHS. However, not paying the IHS does not automatically mean free NHS treatment, and visitors may still be charged for healthcare in the UK unless a separate charging exemption applies.

Can Swiss residents get an IHS refund if their plans change?

An IHS refund is usually available only in defined circumstances, such as where the visa application is refused, withdrawn before a decision, or the applicant paid twice for the same application. A refund is not normally given simply because the visa holder decides not to travel to the UK, leaves early, or changes plans after the visa is granted.

Can Swiss S1 or EHIC holders claim an IHS refund?

A person with an S1 certificate registered with the NHS Business Services Authority may be eligible for a full or partial IHS refund. Full-time students in UK higher education may also be able to claim a refund if they have a Swiss-issued EHIC and do not work or plan to work while studying.

This article summarises UK immigration law and guidance at the date of writing. Individual facts, evidence, cantonal handling and procedural posture may affect the outcome. It is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal advice.