UK visa cost to rise for Indian |
The overall cost of a UK visa for Indian and non-EU citizens will rise from December as part of plans to raise the immigration health surcharge (IHS), payable when students, professionals and family members apply for a visa. The current surcharge is £200 a year, and it will increase to £400, with students and those on a youth mobility scheme paying a discounted rate of £300 a year. The IHS, introduced in 2015, enables immigrants to access the National Health Service (NHS)during their stay in the UK.Since 2015, the surcharge has raised more than £600 million from Indian and non-EU citizens withUK visas valid for more than six months.The IHC is not levied on immigrants who achieve the status of permanent residents after a period of legal stay in the country. The higher IHS will take effect from December, after parliamentary approval.
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