Nhs Business Services Authority
You might be able to get a refund (reimbursement) if you paid the immigration health surcharge (IHS) and youre a student from the EU or Switzerland.
Eligibility
You must have paid IHS and all of the following must be true:
- youre in full-time higher education in the UK
- you have a visa that started on or after 1 January 2021
- you have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) issued in an EU country or Switzerland
- you live in the UK and have a UK address - this can be student accommodation
If you arrived in the UK between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2021, you must apply for your refund by 31 December 2022.
If you arrived in the UK on or after 1 January 2022, you have one year to apply from the date your visa starts.
If you want to get a job while you study
You will not be eligible for a refund if you work or intend to work in the UK while you study. This is because if you start paid work your EHIC may become invalid and you will not be able to use it to access healthcare.
If youre a student from Denmark
There is a different way to get your IHS refund because youll have an EU-issued S1 certificate.
If you do not have an EU-issued S1 certificate youll need to ask the local authority in your country to give you one. You can either:
- contact them yourself
- ask the NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA) to contact them for you
NHS Business Services Authority
Overseas Healthcare Services
Email: nhsbsa.faregistrationsohs@nhs.net
Telephone: 0191 218 1999 (in the UK)
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 218 1999 (outside the UK)
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
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Dependants
Your partner and children (dependants) may be eligible for a refund if all of the following are true:
- they are in the UK on a visa that started on or after 1 January 2021
- they have a valid EHIC
- they do not work or intend to work in the UK
Your dependants may be eligible for a refund even if you are not.
What youll need to apply online
Youll need:
- your IHS number - you can find this in the confirmation email you received from Worldpay when you paid
- your share code to prove your immigration status
- your UK address
- your email address
- a copy of your EHIC
- copies of your documents to prove youre a student in full-time higher education
You can upload copies as a scan or a photo.
Documents you can use to prove youre in full-time higher education
Youll need a copy of either:
- the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your course provider
- a letter confirming enrolment from your course provider
Apply online
If your application is successful, youll be sent the money within 3 months. It will be sent to the account or card you used to pay for the IHS.