Information for Overseas visitors

Entitlement to free NHS treatment

The NHS provides free hospital treatment to people who live in the UK permanently. You must live here lawfully and on a settled basis to receive free treatment. If you are not ordinarily resident in the UK, you may have to pay for your hospital treatment.

NHS trusts have a statutory obligation to identify patients who are not entitled to free NHS treatment and to charge them for the treatment they receive.

We will always provide treatment that is immediately necessary or urgent, but we reserve the right not to provide treatment that, in the opinion of a clinician, is not immediately necessary or urgent. In this event we will not provide care until the cost has been paid in full, in advance.

Emergency and maternity treatment is always regarded as ‘immediately necessary or urgent’ and NHS care will always be provided regardless of your ability to pay. Treatment in our emergency department (A&E) is exempt from charges, but patients receiving any other emergency care, including maternity and gynaecology, will still be charged if they are not eligible for free treatment.

To establish your eligibility, we may ask you questions about your residential status when you register for a clinical appointment. This can apply to any patient regardless of nationality or if you’ve paid National Insurance contributions, or taxes in the past, or have an NHS number.

Visitors to the UK

There are a number of circumstances when you might still be entitled to free healthcare.

• If you are visiting the UK and you normally live in a country with a reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK, you might be entitled to free healthcare if you become unwell during your visit.
• If you are visiting the UK and you normally live in a country that is a member of the European Economic Area healthcare arrangement you will be entitled to free healthcare if you have a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This card covers emergency treatment only (not pre-planned). You need to bring this card with you to hospital – it must be in your name and within the expiry date.
• You are a refugee or an asylum seeker whose formal application to the Home Office is being considered. A refugee is someone who has been granted asylum in this country. If you are a refugee or an asylum seeker, you will still have to pay for all prescribed medications.
• You may be entitled to free healthcare if you have come to study or take up employment in the UK. You need to show evidence, such as a visa and a payslip, that you are working for a UK-based employer. Your ‘right to work’ does not count as evidence in this case. If you are studying full-time you need to show evidence that you are attending a full-time course lasting at least six months.
• Some relevant services are free to everyone, even if the patient would be liable to pay for other services. Accident and emergency (A&E) services, at an A&E department or similar e.g. urgent care centre, walk-in centre or minor injuries unit) but not including services provided after the overseas visitor is accepted as an inpatient or at a follow-up outpatient appointment.
• The diagnosis and treatment, including routine screening and routine vaccinations, of the conditions specified in Schedule 1 to the Charging Regulations which is necessary to protect the wider public health.

For more information please visit this page.

How to prove you are entitled to free NHS treatment

If you have received a request to provide your identification documents, you should provide these to your requesting hospital as soon as possible.

To help us to check if you are entitled to free healthcare, you will need to provide three separate documents – one to prove your identity and two to prove your address. See section below for which documents you can bring.

Identity

• Current signed passport
• Residence permit issued by the Home Office
• EU or Swiss national identity photo-card
• Valid UK photo-card driving licence
• Valid armed or police forces photographic identity card
• Citizen card

It’s best to bring proof of your right to reside in the UK. This will help us to determine your eligibility quicker and avoid delays to your treatment. For example, this could be a:

• UK or Irish Passport
• Settled/Pre-Settled status
• Visa or residence permit issued by the Home Office biometric residence card or permit
• Asylum registration card
• Share code to digital Visa

Address

• Recent original utility bill (gas, electric, water, telephone) (mobile not acceptable)
• Council tax bill (valid for current year)
• Bank, building society or credit union statement or passbook
• Recent original mortgage statement from recognised lender
• Current council/housing association rent book or tenancy agreement
• Notification letter from Department for Work and Pensions or HM Revenue and Customs confirming your right to benefit or state pension

Please note this list is non-exhaustive and other documents may be considered.

Important information

We may provide non-clinical information about you to external agencies for:

• the purpose of confirming your entitlement to free NHS treatment, or
• to recover debts owed to us for treatment provided

We always try to recover monies owed for treatment provided. We may use external debt collection agencies or take court action. We always advise the Home Office about outstanding debts in excess of £500 for more than 2 months. The Home Office may prevent you from returning to the UK for as long as this debt remains unpaid.

Contact information