UK Government Lists 19 Exempt Foreigners from Health Surcharge

The UK government has published a list of 19 categories of foreign nationals who are exempt from paying the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) when accessing the National Health Service (NHS). The IHS is a fee that most visa applicants must pay to utilize NHS services during their stay in the UK.

The exempt categories include individuals applying for indefinite leave to remain, health and care workers on a Health and Care Worker visa, asylum seekers, and victims of human trafficking, among others. Notably, dependants of armed forces members, British Overseas Territory citizens from the Falkland Islands, and children under 18 taken into care by local authorities are also included.

Those not falling within these categories are generally required to pay the IHS as part of their visa application, which grants them access to NHS services on similar terms as residents for the duration of their visa.