When a visa or sponsorship situation changes, you may be eligible for a partial refund from the Home Office. The rules differ depending on whether the refund relates to the Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) or the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).
Refunds are usually processed automatically, but they can take time.
💼 Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) Refunds
✅ When You May Be Eligible
ISC refunds usually apply when a sponsorship is ended early, not when switching visas. You may be eligible if:
💰 You (the employer) paid the ISC for a Skilled Worker sponsorship
🛑 The sponsorship was cancelled, withdrawn, or ended early (e.g. worker leaves employment)
📅 There is an unused period remaining on the Certificate of Sponsorship
🔄 To initiate the refund, ensure the worker’s Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is properly terminated in the Sponsor Management System (SMS). Take a screenshot of the termination confirmation as supporting documentation.
Example:
If a worker was sponsored for 5 years but their sponsorship ends after 2 years, the employer may be refunded the remaining 3 years of ISC.
⚠️ Note:
Refunds are pro-rated
The refund is issued only to the organisation that paid the ISC
🏥 Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) Refunds
✅ When You May Be Eligible
IHS refunds usually apply when a person switches visas and there is overlapping health coverage. You may be eligible if:
💰 You paid the IHS for a previous visa
🔄 You later switched to another UK visa that also required IHS
📅 There is an overlap in IHS coverage between the two visas
Example:
Student Visa → Skilled Worker Visa
If the Skilled Worker visa starts before the Student visa expires, UKVI may refund the unused IHS period from the original visa.
⚠️ Important:
Refunds apply only to the overlapping period, not the full amount
The refund is paid back to the original payment method
🔍 Checks Before Contacting UKVI (Applies to Both ISC & IHS)
Before raising an enquiry, confirm all of the following:
1️⃣ Visa Has Been Granted
UKVI will not process refunds while a new visa application is pending
The applicant’s immigration record must show the new visa
2️⃣ Enough Time Has Passed
Refunds usually take 6–8 weeks
In some cases, up to 28 working days after visa approval
UKVI will not respond to refund queries made too early
3️⃣ Refund Hasn’t Already Been Paid
Refunds go to the original payment method
If the employer paid → refund goes to the employer
If the individual paid → refund goes to the individual
📞 When & How to Contact UKVI
If all checks above are complete and no refund has been received:
➡️ Submit a request via the UKVI refund contact form. Alternatively, send an email to the designated ISC administration address at the Home Office. Attach supporting documents, including a screenshot of the CoS termination and other relevant details.
Provide:
Full name & date of birth
Home Office reference numbers (for relevant applications)
IHS or ISC payment reference
Date the visa was granted or sponsorship ended
Confirmation that 28 working days have passed
Sponsor licence number (SLN)
Time remaining on the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
⚠️ Important: Only the person or organisation that paid the fee can request a refund.
🚫 When No Refund Will Be Issued
ISC
Sponsorship ran for the full duration
The worker never started employment
The refund has already been processed
IHS
No visa overlap
The original visa was fully used
The overlap is less than 6 months (in some cases)
The application was withdrawn or the applicant left the UK
The refund has already been issued