Visa and Immigration Health Surcharge Reimbursement Scheme

This scheme is available for international staff across all job families and is effective for claims from 1 January 2026. There are separate schemes for support with removal and relocation expenses.

VR成人视频 offers financial support for the immigration-related costs of international staff incurred during their employment at the University. Reimbursement of specific costs, including visas and the immigration health surcharge cost is available according to the terms of the Scheme.

An interest free loan is available for other immigration-related expenses, including those associated with dependents, in addition to the standard Relocation Reimbursement Scheme.

 

Allowance and eligibility

The University will reimburse the visa application and immigration health surcharge costs up to £4,000 for the employee for the following visas:

  • Skilled worker
  • Global Talent, including the endorsement fee

The reimbursement applies to prospective employees who are offered, accept and commence appointments of at least one year and who are relocating from outside the UK to join the university.

Excluded costs

The following items are not covered by this scheme:

  • Regular, priority or premium postage service fees
  • English language test fees
  • UK ENIC Certificate fees
  • Life in the UK test fees
  • Visa costs other than for Skilled Worker or Global Talent
  • Indefinite Leave to Remain, British Citizenship or Naturalisation fees
  • Visa costs for non-employees or dependents
  • Unsuccessful visa application costs
  • Retrospective visa application costs
  • Visa or health surcharge costs for positions under one year
  • Visa extension costs

 

Claims process

  • All claims needs to be made using the Form and will be subject to the HR department approvals process.
  • Employees are expected to meet costs in the first instance and provide a paid invoice or receipts. 
  • Reimbursement will only be made upon provision of relevant receipted invoices and in line with the university's financial procedures.
  • Claims should be received by HR Services by the 5th day of the month, for payment at the end of that month, subject to the approval process.
  • No claim will be considered until after the start date of employment.
  • Any deviation from the claims process will be at the discretion of the Director of Human Resources.

Taxable status

The form will require you to complete fields about your taxable status so that your claims can be processed appropriately. 

For expenses to be reimbursed free of tax and National Insurance contributions per HMRC regulations, you must meet certain criteria and answer the following:

  • Are you relocating from outside the UK?
  • Date you first arrived in the UK to work
  • Have you been present in the UK for any purpose in the 2 years period prior to your arrival date?
  • Have you been resident in the UK for tax purposes (e.g. been in paid employment) in either of the two UK tax years prior to your arrival date?
  • Do you have 'Domicile or Deemed Domicile' status in the UK? 

 

In order to answer No to 'Domicile' or 'Deemed Domicile' status in the UK; 

  1. You were not born in the UK, and
  2. Your 'Domicile of Origin' is not the UK (i.e the country that your parents (usually father) considered to be their permanent home at your date of birth, and
  3. You were not resident in the UK for 2017/2018 (i.e. 6 April 2017 until 5 April 2018), or later years, and
  4. You have not been UK resident for at least 15 of the last 20 tax years before the relevant tax year (unless you have left the UK and there are at least 6 years as a non-UK resident in the 20 tax years before the relevant tax year.)

Payment

Once your application has been approved, the reimbursement will be processed via payroll and will be visible on your next payslip. It is important to note the UK tax authority (HMRC) classifies the reimbursements of visa/surcharge fees as earnings, so you will need to be on the University's payroll to be reimbursed.