As of 1 January 2021, changes have occurred in the access to healthcare for citizens from other EU member states, who have been staying in the United Kingdom for some time. A new immigration system of the United Kingdom newly applies to citizens of the EU and the EEA, due to which applicants will need to pay the immigration health surcharge (IHS). The duty to pay the fee will also apply to those, who have submitted a request for visa to perform work, study, for the purpose of uniting a family for a period longer than 6 months, as well as persons, who are in the United Kingdom already and will be requesting prolongation of their residence permit.

The fee currently reaches GBP 624 per year for an adult person. For students and their family members, applicants under the age of 18 years and persons within the youth mobility scheme, the annual fee has been lowered to the amount of GBP 470.

Refund of the surcharge (partial or full)

Entitlement to refund of the immigration surcharge applies to holders of the S1 certificate and their family members, full-time students in UK higher education and their family members with a valid European Healthcare Insurance Card (EHIC), who do not perform any gainful activity in the United Kingdom.

To holders of the S1 certificate, an amount proportionate to the time of validity of the S1 certificate will be returned after requesting a refund of the surcharge. Requests will start to be registered from 1 January 2021.

Students requesting refund of the surcharge will need to meet the following conditions: their visa started on or after 1 January 2021, they are full-time students in UK higher education, they are holders of a valid EHIC card and they are not gainfully employed in the United Kingdom. Family members of these students are entitled to refund of the surcharge, if they meet the conditions specified above. The amount that will be returned to them corresponds to the period of validity of the EHIC card. If they had insurance arranged for the entire duration of their stay, the entire amount will be refunded to them.