If you are visiting England or have just moved here, some NHS care is free for everyone, including A&E, seeing a GP and calling NHS 111. NHS hospital treatment is only free if you live in the UK on a settled basis, have paid the immigration health surcharge, or are exempt. Otherwise you may be charged.
In an emergency, get help first.
Call 999 if someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk. A&E is free for everyone. If doctors decide you need treatment urgently, you will get it even if you have not paid, and you may be asked to pay afterwards.
NHS care that is free for everyone
These are free whatever your immigration status, as long as you did not come to the UK to get that treatment:
- A&E, including walk-in centres, minor injuries units and urgent treatment centres (but not treatment after you are admitted to hospital, or follow-up outpatient appointments)
- GP and practice nurse appointments and treatment
- the NHS 111 phone line
- family planning, such as contraception (but not abortion or fertility treatment)
- diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, and of some other infectious diseases
- treatment for physical or mental health conditions caused by torture, female genital mutilation (FGM), domestic violence or sexual violence
To choose the right service, see where to go for medical help.
Seeing a GP
- If you are going to live and work in England, register with a GP surgery. Use exactly the same details on the registration form as on your visa.
- If you are in an area for more than 24 hours but less than 3 months, you can ask to register as a temporary patient.
- Surgeries do not have to ask for proof of identity, address or immigration status.
- If a surgery turns you down, it must still give you any treatment you need immediately, free, for up to 14 days.
- Being registered with a GP does not mean hospital treatment will be free.
Read more about how to register with a GP surgery.
What everyone pays for
Visitors pay the same NHS charges as people who live in England, such as prescription charges, NHS dental charges and eye tests, unless they qualify for help.
Hospital treatment
- Ordinarily resident in the UKFree
- Paid the immigration health surcharge, or exemptYou can use NHS hospital services in a similar way to people who live here
- Not ordinarily resident and not exemptYou will usually be charged 150% of the NHS cost of your treatment
NHS hospital treatment is free if you are “ordinarily resident” in the UK. This means living here lawfully and on a properly settled basis for the time being. If you are subject to immigration control, you usually need indefinite leave to remain or status under the EU Settlement Scheme. It does not depend on your nationality, paying UK taxes or having an NHS number.
If you are not ordinarily resident and not exempt:
- you will usually be charged 150% of the NHS cost of your treatment
- if your treatment can wait until you could go home, you must pay in full before it starts
- if doctors say treatment is urgent or immediately necessary, you will get it first and be billed afterwards
Most hospitals have overseas visitors managers who check whether you need to pay. They may ask you for evidence. If you owe the NHS £500 or more for 2 months or longer, this can be reported to the Home Office and may affect future immigration applications.
If you are visiting for 6 months or less, the NHS advises you to have personal medical insurance for your stay.
If you have a visa for more than 6 months
Most people applying for a visa to stay in the UK for more than 6 months pay the immigration health surcharge (IHS) as part of their application. Once you have paid it, or if you are exempt, you can use NHS hospital services in a similar way to people who live here, from the date your visa starts until it ends.
- You still pay charges such as prescriptions, dental treatment and eye tests.
- NHS-funded fertility treatment is not included.
- Paying the surcharge does not mean you are treated faster. You wait for treatment in the same way as everyone else.
Read more about paying for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application on GOV.UK.
Visitors from the EU
If you are visiting from the EU, bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). It covers some treatment if you become ill or have an emergency during your visit. If you do not have one, you can ask the health authority in your home country for a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC). For planned treatment you need an S2 form, arranged before you travel. Without these, you may be charged. An EHIC does not cover everything, so get travel insurance too.
Who does not have to pay for hospital treatment
Some people who are not ordinarily resident are exempt, including:
- refugees, and people seeking asylum whose claim or appeal has not been decided
- some people whose asylum claim was refused and who get certain support from the Home Office or a local council
- children looked after by a local council
- people identified as possible victims of modern slavery or human trafficking
- people detained in prison or by immigration authorities
- members of the UK armed forces, some UK government employees working abroad, and war pensioners, and some of their family members
This guide gives general information about NHS charges in England. It is not legal or immigration advice. Read more about using NHS services if you are visiting from abroad on the NHS website.
Sources
We checked this guide against these official pages on 22 October 2026.
- How to access NHS services in England if you are visiting from abroad (NHS website)
- Visitors who do not need to pay for NHS treatment (NHS website)
- Moving to England from outside the EEA (NHS website)
- NHS entitlements: migrant health guide (GOV.UK)
- Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application (GOV.UK)
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