The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is £776 a year for students, their dependants, Youth Mobility visas and children under 18, and £1,035 a year for everyone else. It is charged for the whole length of the visa, not the course or the job. A 12-month master's usually means a 17-month visa and £1,164 of IHS, about Rs 425,849.
Enter the course or visa length and the family members. The calculator applies the GOV.UK part-year rule and gives the total for everyone in pounds and rupees.
IHS rates by visa route
Yearly surcharge per person, as set by the Home Office:
| Visa route | Adult, a year | Under 18, a year | Half year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student visa | £776 | £776 | £388 |
| Youth Mobility Scheme | £776 | £776 | £388 |
| Skilled Worker or other work visa | £1,035 | £776 | £517.50 |
| Spouse, partner or other family visa | £1,035 | £776 | £517.50 |
| Health and Care Worker visa | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt |
| Any other visa over 6 months | £1,035 | £776 | £517.50 |
Adult dependants usually pay the same rate as the main applicant, so a student's spouse pays £776 a year. Children under 18 always pay the lower rate. The half year rate is used for a part year of 6 months or less.
How part years are charged
The surcharge counts whole years first, then the part year left over:
- 6 months or less in total: nothing if you apply from outside the UK; half a year if you apply from inside the UK.
- More than 6 months but under a year: a full year.
- A part year of 6 months or less on top of whole years: half a year. A 16-month visa is charged as 1.5 years.
- A part year of more than 6 months: a full year. A 20-month visa is charged as 2 years.
A spouse visa of 33 months is charged as 3 years: 2 years plus 9 months, and 9 months counts as a full year. For one adult that is £3,105.
Student visa length and IHS by course
A Student visa covers the course plus extra time set by the Immigration Rules: 1 month before and 4 months after a course of 12 months or longer, 1 month before and 2 after a course of 6 to 12 months, 1 month each side of a short pre-sessional course, and 7 days each side of other short courses.
| Course | Visa length | Years charged | Surcharge per student |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 months | 3.5 months | 0 | £0 |
| 4 months, pre-sessional | 6 months | 0 | £0 |
| 9 months | 12 months | 1 | £776 |
| 12 months | 17 months | 1.5 | £1,164 |
| 24 months | 29 months | 2.5 | £1,940 |
| 36 months | 41 months | 3.5 | £2,716 |
The time before the course can be shorter if the visa is granted less than a month before the course starts. The IHS amount on your application is the one that counts.
Worked examples
A Skilled Worker moving with a spouse and two children
The Certificate of Sponsorship gives a 3-year visa, applied for from Pakistan.
| Person | Calculation | IHS |
|---|---|---|
| Worker and spouse | 2 x 3 x £1,035 | £6,210 |
| Two children | 2 x 3 x £776 | £4,656 |
| Family total | £10,866 |
At Rs 365.85 per pound, the cross rate of 8 October 2026, that is about Rs 3,975,326, paid on top of the visa fees.
A two-year master's student
A 24-month course gives a 29-month visa: 2 whole years and 5 months, charged as 2.5 years. The IHS is 2.5 x £776 = £1,940, about Rs 709,749.
Add the visa fee itself with the UK visa fee calculator, and the English test with the IELTS fee calculator.
Who does not pay
- Visitors, and anyone applying from outside the UK for a visa of 6 months or less.
- Health and Care Worker visa holders and their dependants.
The surcharge is refunded in full if the visa is refused or you withdraw before a decision, and in part if you are given less time than you asked for. Nothing is refunded if you withdraw after the visa is granted.
Questions people ask
How much is the IHS fee for a UK student visa?
Students pay £776 for each year of the visa, and half that for a part year of 6 months or less. A 12-month course gives a 17-month visa, so the IHS is 1.5 x £776 = £1,164. A dependant spouse pays the same amount.
How is the IHS calculated?
Take the full length of the visa in months. Count whole years, then add half a year for a remaining part of 6 months or less, or a full year if it is longer. Multiply by £1,035 for most adults or £776 for students, Youth Mobility applicants and children, then add up for every family member.
How much IHS does a spouse visa need?
A first spouse or partner visa from outside the UK is usually granted for 33 months, which counts as 3 years. The IHS is 3 x £1,035 = £3,105 for the applicant, and a child joining with them pays 3 x £776.
Do children pay the immigration health surcharge?
Yes, unless the family is on a Health and Care Worker visa. Children under 18 pay the lower rate of £776 a year whatever the parent's visa, so on a Skilled Worker visa a child pays less than the parent.
Is the IHS refunded if the UK visa is refused?
Yes. The surcharge is refunded in full if the visa is refused or if you withdraw before a decision. If you are granted less time than you asked for, the difference is refunded. The visa fee itself is not refunded.
Is the IHS paid in pounds or rupees?
In pounds, online, as part of the visa application. Your bank converts it at its own rate, so enter your bank's pound rate in the calculator for a closer rupee figure.
Last reviewed 9 October 2026. Results are estimates; official notices always take precedence.