Immigration Health Surcharge IHS UK 2026
The Home Office raised the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for student visas to £776 per year , effective April 8, 2026 , the government confirmed after publishing a revised immigration fee schedule on March 18, 2026 .
Immigration Health Surcharge IHS UK 2026 — What students must pay
IHS is mandatory for any international student visa longer than six months and must be paid in full at the time of visa application. There are no instalment options and dependants must pay the same rates separately.
If a visa application is refused, the IHS is refunded. Different refund rules apply if you withdraw your application or if a shorter visa is granted. Public sector healthcare workers who later take eligible NHS roles may be entitled to a partial IHS refund.
Immigration Health Surcharge IHS UK 2026 — Cost impact for Indian students
The student IHS rose from £470 to £776 per year (+ £306 , +65%). The Graduate Route IHS rose from £624 to £1,035 per year (+ £411 , +66%). Visa application fees also increased: student visa fee to £558 and Graduate Route fee to £937 (both up 6.5% ).
A 2-year master's applicant now pays £2,110 upfront for visa and IHS, up from £1,464 before April 8, 2026 — an extra £646 (about ₹68,500 using £1 = ₹106 ). A 3-year bachelor’s applicant must pay £2,886 upfront (visa + IHS total), roughly ₹3.06 lakh .
Graduate Route timing and rules students must note
The Graduate Route IHS increase applies to those applying for post-study work permission. To get the current 2-year Graduate Route length you must apply by December 31, 2026 . From January 1, 2027 the Graduate Route will be shortened to 18 months for new applications.
Practical checks before you apply
You still need the separate maintenance proof: £13,761 for London or £10,539 for other UK locations , held for 28 consecutive days . The IHS payment is separate from this bank balance requirement and must be available on the day you submit the visa application.
The UK remains the top destination for Indian students: 95,231 Indian nationals received UK sponsored study visas in 2025 , according to Home Office data.
Students and families should update budgets to include the higher IHS, the increased visa fee, and any Graduate Route costs. These are mandatory government charges and are payable before visa approval.