Japa: Nigerian students to pay over N350k for UK’s IHS

Nigerians hoping to move to the United Kingdom (UK) higher institutions have extra financial hurdles to face starting from February 6, 2024, as the government insists on increased immigration, health, and surcharge fees.

As part of the UK immigration application, Nigerians and other international students will have to part with £ 776 (about N890,072) as against £470 (about N539,090) the current rate which is about a 65 percent increase.

According to the UK government, failing to pay the IHS where it is due will mean the applicant’s application will be rejected and not processed.

“We are reaching out to inform you about a critical update regarding the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). In October 2023, the UK government announced a substantial increase in the immigration health surcharge. The new rates will come into effect from February 2024.”

Under proposals published in October 2023, the UK Immigration Health Surcharge is set to increase to £1,035 per main applicant and to £776 for students and child applicants.

The HIS liability is calculated on the length of permission, and not on the length of the course.

Therefore, the HIS will be calculated as follows; one year course will be liable for one and half year HIS as the visa will be granted for a year and four months.

Following a debate in the House of Commons on January 10, it was decided that the increase in IHS fees could not be implemented earlier than January 31, 2024.

The IHS fee is a payment that most migrants make when submitting a UK visa application to contribute towards the cost of the National Health Service (NHS) since the NHS is available to everyone residing in the UK without a limit to how much you can use it.

The UK government believed that it would be fair for migrants moving to the UK to also contribute to sustaining the free healthcare available.

The IHS does not apply to everyone; usually, it extends to individuals applying for entry clearance for six months or more, or if they are applying within the UK for any length of time.

However, the IHS charge will not apply to individuals submitting applications for indefinite leave to remain in the UK or for naturalisation as British citizens.

The HIS fee is paid in one lump sum at the time of submission of the online application.

For visa applications made outside the UK, migrants have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge if he or she is applying for a UK visa to work study, or join the family in the UK for more than six months.

For immigration applications made from within the UK, the applicant has to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge if he or she is making an immigration application for any length of time.