Immigration health surcharge reimbursement for health staff

Overseas NHS and care workers can now claim their reimbursement from the immigration health surcharge to pay to use the NHS.

As promised by the government in May, from 1 October, tens of thousands of international health and care staff who have worked tirelessly to save lives during the pandemic are exempt from the immigration health surcharge (IHS) to pay to use the NHS.

The IHS allows non-European Economic Area nationals to access the NHS on broadly the same basis as UK residents if they are seeking to work, study, or join family members for more than six months.

The government’s Tier 2 health and care visa, launched in August, exempted eligible staff from paying the IHS. The new reimbursement scheme goes further to ensure that staff not covered by the visa, but who have worked in the NHS or care sector since 31 March, are able to claim reimbursement for themselves and their dependants, even if they paid the surcharge before this date.

Applications will be processed by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) and UK Visas and Immigration.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “I am incredibly proud of all the fantastic health and care workers from all over the world we have working in our NHS who provide such an invaluable service, from cleaners to care workers to porters. We can now deliver on our promise as the reimbursement scheme will benefit those who have given so much this year to protect us all from Covid-19. This will encourage overseas health and care workers to continue to come and work in the UK and help those already living here to provide first-class care and support for patients.”