How to Call About an Immigration Health Surcharge Refund From Abroad
8/27/2026
Quick answer: For Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) reimbursement enquiries, call +44 191 283 8937, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. If your query is a complaint about a reimbursement already in progress, use +44 191 218 1999 instead.
What this surcharge actually is
Most visa applicants for the UK pay the Immigration Health Surcharge upfront, covering access to the NHS for the length of their visa. If you left the UK before your visa expired, had your visa refused or withdrawn, or fall into certain exempt categories, you may be entitled to a partial refund of the unused portion. A lot of people who've already left the UK don't realize this exists, which is exactly when this number becomes useful.
The verified numbers
| Purpose | Number | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Reimbursement enquiries | +44 191 283 8937 | Mon-Fri 9am-5pm |
| Complaints about a reimbursement in progress | +44 191 218 1999 | Mon-Fri 8am-6pm |
Source: gov.uk's Immigration Health Surcharge reimbursement service. You can also email [email protected], with a response typically within 5 working days.
What to have ready before you call
- Your visa reference or GWF number
- Your IHS payment reference, if you have it
- Details of when you left the UK or why your visa ended early
- Your bank details, if you're following up on a refund already approved
Best time to call
The reimbursement line runs Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm UK time, a narrower window than most NHS-related lines in our guides.
- Spain/Western Europe: 1 hour ahead of the UK.
- US East Coast: 5 hours behind the UK, so call in your morning to catch the UK afternoon.
- UAE/Gulf: 3 to 4 hours ahead of the UK.
- Australia (Sydney): 9 to 11 hours ahead of the UK, depending on daylight saving.
The cheaper way to actually make the call
If you've already left the UK, you're calling internationally by definition, and roaming or calling-card rates add up on hold. With DialVia, you call the real number over Wi-Fi from your browser instead:
- Open DialVia and sign up (about 30 seconds)
- Select United Kingdom as the destination
- Enter the number: 191 283 8937
- Hit call
Frequently asked questions
What's the number for an Immigration Health Surcharge refund query from abroad? +44 191 283 8937 for reimbursement enquiries, or +44 191 218 1999 for a complaint about a reimbursement already underway.
Am I owed a refund of the Immigration Health Surcharge? Possibly, if you left the UK before your visa expired, had your visa refused or withdrawn, or fall into an exempt category. The gov.uk reimbursement service can confirm eligibility.
What should I have ready before calling? Your visa reference or GWF number, your IHS payment reference if you have it, and your bank details if a refund's already been approved.
How is the refund paid? Directly to the bank details you provide during the reimbursement application, once it's approved.
Need a different NHS-related number from abroad? See the full guide to NHS-related services you can call from abroad, including S1 and GHIC queries.
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