How to register with a GP surgery

Written and reviewed by the UK Hospitals editorial team
Last reviewed: 22 October 2026 · Next review due: 22 April 2027

This guide brings together information from the NHS and other official sources, listed at the end of the page. It is not medical advice.

Anyone in England can register with a GP surgery. It is free, and you do not need proof of address, proof of immigration status, ID or an NHS number. This guide explains how.

Before you register

You do not need
  • Proof of address
  • Proof of immigration status
  • ID
  • An NHS number
  • Most people register with a surgery near where they live. Check that the surgery covers your address. The surgery or its website can tell you.
  • Some surgeries also accept patients who live outside their area, for example near where you work. This can affect home visits and some local services, so ask the surgery how it works.
  • Some surgeries are not taking new patients at the moment.
  • If you are staying in an area for up to 3 months, for example while living away from home or visiting from abroad, you can register as a temporary patient.
  • If you do not have a permanent address, you can use a temporary address or the surgery’s address.

How to register

  1. Find a surgeryFind a GP surgery near where you live.
  2. RegisterRegister online through the NHS website or the surgery’s own website, or fill in a paper registration form (form GMS1) and take it to the surgery.
  3. Wait to hearThe surgery should tell you when you are registered, usually within 5 days. If you are changing surgery, your old surgery is told automatically.

You only need to give basic details, such as your name, date of birth and address. A surgery cannot refuse to register you because you do not have proof of address or ID, because of your immigration status, or because you do not have an NHS number. It can refuse if it is not taking new patients, if you live outside its area, or if you have been removed from its list before. If it refuses, it must write to you within 14 days to explain why.

If you are not registered, any GP surgery can give you emergency treatment for up to 14 days.

After you register

You can book appointments by phone, at the surgery or online. Once you are registered, you can also use the NHS App to request appointments, order repeat prescriptions and view things like test results. You need to be 13 or over to use the app.

Find a GP surgery near you, or use the NHS website to find a GP surgery. Read more about how to register with a GP surgery on the NHS website.

Sources

We checked this guide against these official pages on 22 October 2026.

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