Following lobbying by the CSP and other organisations representing healthcare workers and employers, the UK Government has introduced refunds and reimbursements for the immigration health surcharge for physios, physio support workers and their dependents.
The surcharge is payable by anyone who is a national of a country outside the European Economic Area (EEA) as part of their UK visa application.
Refunds for Tier Two visa holders
Refunds are payable by the Home Office (UK Visas & Immigration) where:
- The visa holder paid the IHS on or after 31 March 2020
- The visa holder is a HCPC registered physio on a Tier 2 visa who would have benefitted from the Health and Care Visa
- They are sponsored by the NHS, an organisation providing medical services to the NHS or an organisation providing adult social care
- People are dependents of an eligible physio.
Refunds are payable directly from UKVI.
Reimbursement for those not entitled to refunds
The new reimbursement scheme covers staff who are outside the scope for the Health and Care Visa but who work in health and Social Care.
You are eligible if you:
- are a non-tier 2 visa holder who has paid the Immigration Health Surcharge; or
- have paid the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS); and
- have worked in health or social care role for at least an average of 16 hours per week since 31 March 2020
This should mean that the following CSP members can claim reimbursement:
- Support workers working in health or care regardless of sector or job title
- Chartered physios working as physios employed by employers not covered by the refund scheme (eg in sport, private practice and charitable services)
- Chartered physios holding another form of visa who are working in health or social care, regardless of precise role or sector (including physios working in these sectors in non-physio roles are covered)
Reimbursements are claimed through the NHS Business Service Agency. You must provide payslips for the period you are claiming.