MUMBAI: The revised Immigration Health Surcharge, will come into effect from Feb 6, in the UK. The Parliament approved this law recently on Jan 15.
The main rate of the immigration health cost for most people will go up from £624 per year to £1,035 per annum, a rise of 66%. If you’re a student or under 18, the cost will go up from £470 per year to £776 per year, which is a 65% increase.The immigration health surcharge must be paid upfront when an applicant submits an application to enter or remain in the United Kingdom.
According to a communique issued by Fragomen, a global immigration law firm, “Businesses using or seeking to use the UK immigration system to employ foreign nationals will need to reassess their budgets and application strategies considering these fee changes. They may seek to move up any employee transfers or extensions prior to Feb 6, in order to benefit from the current, lower IHS rates.”
Fragomen points out that the UK government (in line with the recommendations of various independent pay review bodies) decided in mid-2023 to give key public sector workers a wage increase averaging 6.5 percent for the year 2023-24. The IHS increase is part of a broader strategy – which includes visa fee increases and other proposals – to cover this pay rise.
The main rate of the immigration health cost for most people will go up from £624 per year to £1,035 per annum, a rise of 66%. If you’re a student or under 18, the cost will go up from £470 per year to £776 per year, which is a 65% increase.The immigration health surcharge must be paid upfront when an applicant submits an application to enter or remain in the United Kingdom.
According to a communique issued by Fragomen, a global immigration law firm, “Businesses using or seeking to use the UK immigration system to employ foreign nationals will need to reassess their budgets and application strategies considering these fee changes. They may seek to move up any employee transfers or extensions prior to Feb 6, in order to benefit from the current, lower IHS rates.”
Fragomen points out that the UK government (in line with the recommendations of various independent pay review bodies) decided in mid-2023 to give key public sector workers a wage increase averaging 6.5 percent for the year 2023-24. The IHS increase is part of a broader strategy – which includes visa fee increases and other proposals – to cover this pay rise.