Tier 2 Using NHS
By Amar Ali, Immigration Solicitor
One of the biggest benefits of living in Britain is its National Health Service (NHS). It is the backbone of Britain and the service that makes the UK more attractive to live in. With universal access and being free at the point of use, the NHS is a service that is available to all who live in the UK. But if you are entering the country on a Tier 2 visa, you may worry about what your eligibility is to use the service. In this article, we look at your rights to use the service and the costs involved.
Do I need to pay to access the NHS?
If you are entering the UK on a Tier 2 visa, then you will need to pay the immigration health surcharge (IHS). This charge came in to prevent abuse of Britain's NHS by foreign nationals who were not paying to access it. This has very much changed today and you will now need to prove your eligibility to access free at the point of use healthcare.
How do I pay the Immigration Health Surcharge?
The Immigration Health Surcharge needs paying for at the visa application stage. If you are paying online, then you will need to pay at the time the application gets submitted.
How much does it cost?
For Tier 2 visa applicants, the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge is £200 per year. This needs to paid for at the time of the application submission or your visa application will get delayed. In this event, you will need to pay within 10 days (if applying from inside of the UK) of receiving an email from the Home Office.
Are there any exceptions?
There are a few exceptions, these are on the list below:
- Apply for indefinite leave to remain
- You're a diplomat or a member of a visiting armed forces
- You're a family member of an EU national
- You're applying for a visa via the Isle of Man or the Channel Island's
- You're an asylum seeker
- You're a domestic worker who's been identified as a victim of slavery or human trafficking
There are also a few other exceptions, but on the whole, if you're applying for a Tier 2 visa, you will need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.
What happens if I do not pay?
You will receive a demand from the Home Office to pay. You will get 7 days to pay from outside of the UK or 10 if applying from within the UK.
How we can help
If you have any queries related to immigration or Tier 2 visas specifically then please get in touch. Our immigration solicitors are ready and waiting to help you and can offer advice and support on all manner of immigration queries.
If you need help with your visa application, we can also help with completing it. So get in touch and see what we can do for you.
