Can I get a refund on IHS after getting ILR?

Yes. If you paid the Immigration Health Surcharge for a period that extends beyond the date your ILR was granted, you are entitled to a refund for the unused portion. The Home Office should process this automatically, but you can also apply manually if it does not arrive.

How long does the IHS refund take?

The Home Office aims to process IHS refunds within 6 weeks of your ILR being granted. In practice, many applicants report waiting 2 to 4 months. If you have not received your refund after 3 months, you should contact the IHS refund team directly.

How much IHS refund will I get?

You will receive a refund for every full year of IHS that you paid but did not use. In 2026, the IHS rate is £1,035 per year for most visa categories. If you paid for 3 years but received ILR after 2 years and 6 months, you would be refunded for the unused months on a pro-rata basis.

Do I need to apply for the IHS refund or is it automatic?

The refund is supposed to be automatic. The Home Office should refund the unused portion to the card you used to pay. However, delays are common, and if your card has expired or been cancelled, you will need to contact the refund team to arrange an alternative payment method.

ILR IHS Refund: How to Claim Back Your Health Surcharge

When you receive ILR, you no longer need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge because you gain full access to the NHS as a permanent resident. Any IHS payments covering periods after your ILR grant date should be refunded automatically. The refund typically takes 6 weeks but can take longer. If your payment card has changed, you will need to contact the Home Office to arrange an alternative refund method.

How the IHS Refund Works

The Immigration Health Surcharge is paid upfront when you apply for or extend a visa. You pay for the entire duration of your visa. When you receive ILR, you become a permanent resident and gain the same NHS access as a British citizen. This means you no longer need the IHS coverage, and the Home Office should refund the unused portion.

For example, if you extended your Skilled Worker visa for 3 years and paid £3,105 in IHS, but then successfully applied for ILR on the Skilled Worker route after just 2 years, you would be entitled to a refund of approximately £1,035 for the unused year.

Who Is Eligible for an IHS Refund

You are eligible for an IHS refund if you meet all of the following conditions:

You have been granted ILR: The refund only applies once ILR has been formally granted. If your application is still pending, you must wait.
You paid IHS for a period beyond your ILR grant date: If your IHS coverage ended on or before the date ILR was granted, there is nothing to refund.
You paid the IHS yourself: If your employer or sponsor paid the IHS on your behalf, the refund will go to them rather than to you.

Dependants who were included on your visa application and paid their own IHS are also entitled to separate refunds for their unused portions.

How the Refund Is Calculated

The Home Office calculates the refund based on the number of complete and partial months remaining on your IHS coverage after your ILR grant date. The calculation uses the rate you originally paid, not the current rate.

If you paid the IHS at the old rate of £624 per year (before the increase to £1,035), your refund will be calculated at the £624 rate. The Home Office does not adjust for rate changes.

For a full breakdown of ILR costs, see our ILR cost breakdown guide.

The Automatic Refund Process

According to the GOV.UK IHS refund guidance, the refund should be processed automatically. Here is what to expect:

ILR is granted: The Home Office updates your immigration record.
Refund is triggered: The IHS system identifies that you have unused coverage and initiates a refund.
Payment is made: The refund is sent to the debit or credit card you used to pay the IHS. This should happen within 6 weeks.
Confirmation: You may receive an email confirming the refund, but this is not guaranteed. Check your bank statements.

What to Do If Your Refund Does Not Arrive

If more than 3 months have passed since your ILR was granted and you have not received a refund, take these steps:

Check your bank statements carefully: The refund may appear as a credit from "Home Office" or "UKVI" and can be easy to miss.
Contact the IHS team: Email the Immigration Health Surcharge team using the GOV.UK refund page. Include your full name, date of birth, IHS reference number, and ILR grant date.
Provide alternative payment details: If the card you used to pay has expired or been cancelled, the refund cannot be processed to that card. You will need to provide new payment details.
Contact your MP: If you have been waiting an unreasonable time and the IHS team is not responding, your local MP can intervene on your behalf.

IHS Refunds for Dependants

If your spouse, partner, or children were included as dependants on your visa and they also received ILR, they are each entitled to their own IHS refund. Each dependant's refund is calculated separately based on the amount they paid and their ILR grant date.

If your dependants' ILR applications were decided on different dates, their refund amounts may differ. Each refund is processed to the card used to pay that individual's IHS.

IHS and the 2026 Immigration White Paper

The government's 2026 immigration white paper has proposed changes to how the IHS is structured and funded. While these changes have not yet taken effect, they may affect future refund calculations. Under the current system, the refund process remains the same as described in this guide.

For the latest information on IHS rates and changes, check the GOV.UK IHS rates page.

Understanding Your Rights After ILR

Once you have ILR, your NHS access changes fundamentally. You are no longer treated as a temporary migrant for healthcare purposes. See our guide on ILR rights and benefits for a full overview of what changes when you become a permanent resident.

If you are considering the next step after ILR, our ILR to citizenship journey guide explains the full path from permanent residence to British citizenship.