Do health and care workers pay the immigration health surcharge?
Checked against official sources, October 2026
No, if you are eligible for the Health and Care Worker visa. GOV.UK says health and care workers eligible for that visa, and their dependants, can use the NHS without paying the immigration health surcharge (IHS). Skilled Worker visa holders do pay it.
Free calculatorAdd up the fees for you and your family, the savings to show and what your employer must pay, with each figure linked to GOV.UK.Work out your total cost →Who this is for
Health and care professionals and their families applying to work in the UK.
What the official guidance says
- Most people pay the immigration health surcharge as part of their online immigration application; whether you pay depends on the status you are applying for.
- You usually pay if you apply for more than 6 months from outside the UK, or for any length of time from inside the UK.
- You do not need to pay if you are a health and care worker who is eligible for a Health and Care Worker visa, or you are their dependant.
- Skilled Worker visa applicants and their partner or children pay the surcharge for each year of their stay.
- You can use the NHS free of charge from the date your visa starts. You still pay for some services, such as prescriptions, dental treatment, eye tests and assisted conception.
- Having private medical insurance does not remove the requirement to pay for people who must pay.
What it does not mean
- The exemption is tied to eligibility for the Health and Care Worker visa, not to working in healthcare in general.
- It does not mean every NHS service is free.
- It is not a refund scheme you apply for later: eligible applicants simply do not pay it.
What to do next
- 01Confirm your job qualifies for the Health and Care Worker visa (employer and occupation code).
- 02Apply on that route; the application will not ask eligible applicants to pay the surcharge.
- 03Keep your immigration status share code handy, as you may need to prove your status when using healthcare.
Questions
Do my partner and children pay the surcharge?
Not if they are dependants of someone eligible for the Health and Care Worker visa, according to GOV.UK.
When can I start using the NHS?
From the date your visa starts. You may have to pay for NHS treatment if the Home Office has not decided your visa yet.
Official sources
- GOV.UK: Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application
- GOV.UK: Health and Care Worker visa
- GOV.UK: Skilled Worker visa
Checked October 2026. Immigration rules, fees and thresholds change, so confirm them on the official page before you act.
Plan the whole route, not just the visa
Ask Migo’s free AI assistant which visa your job offer points to and what that means for costs. Your UK plan links the official GOV.UK pages at each step so you can confirm the rules yourself.
Related guides
General information, not legal or immigration advice. For advice on your own case, speak to a regulated immigration adviser or lawyer.