The U.K. government has announced that the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) will double from £200 to £400 per year. The IHS was first introduced in 2015 and is a required payment from applicants from outside the European Economic Area as part of their work, study, or family based visa application process.

In addition, the discounted IHS fee payable by Tier 4 and Youth Mobility Scheme (Tier 5) applicants will increase from £150 to £300 per year.

The government has not provided an implementation date for this fee increase, although it is expected to be sometime in 2018. Employers are encouraged to consult with Foster prior to each UK application to determine if the fee increase will apply.