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 1. Home
 2. Services
 3. Healthcare abroad

Back to Healthcare abroad


APPLYING FOR HEALTHCARE COVER ABROAD (GHIC AND EHIC)

There are 2 types of cover available.

You can apply for either:

 * a UK Global Health Insurance Card (UK GHIC)
 * a UK European Health Insurance Card (UK EHIC), if you have rights under the
   Withdrawal Agreement

Find out more about the Withdrawal Agreement on GOV.UK

For most people, the UK Global Health Insurance Card (UK GHIC) replaces the
existing European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for new applications.

Apply for a new UK EHIC or UK GHIC

A UK GHIC and new UK EHIC are free of charge. Beware of unofficial websites,
they may charge you a fee to apply.

Before going abroad, make sure you check the latest COVID-19 travel guidance on
GOV.UK.


IMPORTANT: IMPORTANT

There is no deadline to apply for a GHIC or EHIC. If you have an existing EHIC,
you can continue to use it until it expires.


IF YOU HAVE AN EXISTING EHIC

If you have an existing EHIC, it will remain valid until the expiry date on the
card.

You can apply for a new card up to 6 months before your current card expires.

Information:

It’s currently taking longer than usual to process new UK EHIC and GHIC
applications due to high demand. We’re working to resolve this and will process
all applications as soon as possible.

If you need emergency treatment while you’re visiting another country and
haven’t received your card, you can apply for a Provisional Replacement
Certificate (PRC).


HOW TO USE YOUR CARD

You can use your card to access medically necessary state-provided healthcare
when you're visiting an EU country or Switzerland.

Medically necessary healthcare means healthcare that cannot reasonably wait
until you come back to the UK. Whether treatment is necessary is decided by the
healthcare provider in the country you're visiting.

Medically necessary healthcare includes things like:

 * emergency treatment and visits to A&E
 * treatment for a long-term or pre-existing medical condition
 * routine medical care for pre-existing conditions that need monitoring
 * routine maternity care, as long as you're not going abroad to give birth
 * oxygen therapy and kidney dialysis

You'll need to pre-arrange some treatments with the relevant healthcare provider
in the country you're visiting – for example, kidney dialysis or chemotherapy.

Check the Foreign Office country guides on GOV.UK for information on how to
access treatment in the country you’re visiting

Not all state healthcare is free within the EU and Switzerland and so you may
have to pay for services that you would get for free on the NHS.

Information:

Your EHIC or GHIC is not a substitute for travel insurance. It may not cover all
health costs and never covers repatriation costs. Make sure you have travel
insurance as well as your card.


IF YOU'RE ABROAD AND DO NOT HAVE YOUR CARD WITH YOU

You can get a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC) to prove your
entitlement to medically necessary healthcare if you travel to Europe without
your existing EHIC, UK GHIC or new UK EHIC and need treatment during your visit.

If you need a PRC outside opening hours, you should call as soon as possible the
next working day.

The PRC will give you the same cover as an existing EHIC, UK GHIC or new UK EHIC
until you return home.

When calling for a PRC, you'll need to give:

 * your National Insurance number
 * your name
 * your address
 * your date of birth
 * the name of the treatment facility
 * the email address for the specific department of the organisation providing
   your treatment

To apply for a PRC contact NHS Overseas Healthcare Services.

Someone else can apply for a PRC on your behalf.


WHERE YOU CAN USE YOUR CARD

You can use a UK GHIC or existing EHIC while visiting:

 * an EU country
 * Switzerland (only UK nationals, Swiss nationals and EU citizens)

A UK GHIC may become valid in more countries in the future. Check this page
before you travel.

You can only use a UK GHIC in Switzerland if you're a UK national, a Swiss
national, a citizen of an EU Member State, a refugee, a stateless person, or a
family member, dependant or survivor of someone who holds one of these
nationalities or statuses.

You may be asked for proof of your nationality or your status when using your UK
GHIC in Switzerland.

You can use a new UK EHIC (identifiable by a Union flag hologram in the
top-right corner) while visiting:

 * an EU country
 * Norway
 * Iceland
 * Liechtenstein
 * Switzerland

The EU countries are:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,
Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.


WHO CAN APPLY FOR A UK GHIC

You may be eligible for a UK GHIC if you meet 1 of the following criteria:

 * you're legally living in the UK and you do not have healthcare cover provided
   by an EU country or Switzerland
 * you're living in the EU or Switzerland with a registered S1, E121, E106 or
   E109 form issued by the UK
 * you're living in the EU or Switzerland with an A1 document which is issued by
   the UK
 * you're a family member or dependant of an entitled individual already listed


WHO CAN APPLY FOR A NEW UK EHIC UNDER THE WITHDRAWAL AGREEMENT

You may be eligible for a new UK EHIC if you meet 1 of the following criteria:

 * you're living in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein, and
   have been since before 1 January 2021 with a registered S1, E121, E106 or
   E109 form issued by the UK
 * you're living in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein,
   since before 1 January 2021 with an A1 issued by the UK
 * you're a national of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein
   who has legally resided in the UK since before 1 January 2021 and are covered
   under the Withdrawal Agreement; you may not be covered if you‘re also a UK
   national or if you were born in the UK
 * you're a family member or dependant of an entitled individual already listed.
 * you're a Chen or Ibrahim/Teixeira carer


DUAL NATIONALS

If you live in the UK and jointly hold UK and EU, Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic or
Liechtenstein citizenship, you will not normally be eligible for a new UK EHIC
unless you:

 * hold British citizenship through naturalisation
 * were a citizen of an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or
   Liechtenstein before also becoming a British citizen

You'll usually be eligible for a UK GHIC.


PEOPLE BORN IN THE UK

If you were born in the UK to British parents or parents who were settled in the
UK and have lived in the UK from before 1 January 2021, you're not normally
eligible for a new UK EHIC even if you're an EU, Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic or
Liechtenstein citizen.

This includes people of Northern Ireland who are Irish citizens.

You'll usually be eligible for a UK GHIC.


INFORMATION FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN IRELAND

You may be able to get a new UK EHIC if you are:

 * a UK State Pensioner or are receiving some other exportable benefits and
   you’ve been living in the Republic of Ireland since before 1 January 2021
 * a frontier worker, this means you're working in one country while living in
   another, and have been since before 1 January 2021

If you live in Ireland and think you’re eligible for a UK EHIC you cannot
currently apply online and need to contact NHS Overseas Healthcare Services.


APPLYING FOR FAMILY MEMBERS

Every family member needs their own card. You can add a spouse, civil partner,
durable partner and children to your application when you apply. You must enter
your own details first and apply for any additional cards when prompted.

If you’ve already completed your application and wish to add additional family
members you'll need to contact NHS Overseas Healthcare Services. You should
provide us with your reference number, name, date of birth and address so we can
access your record.


STUDENTS STUDYING IN THE EU, NORWAY, ICELAND, LIECHTENSTEIN, OR SWITZERLAND

If you normally live in the UK and have been studying in the EU, Norway,
Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland since before 1 January 2021, you may be
eligible for a new UK Student EHIC for use in the EU and your country of study.

You will not be able to use this card for treatment in Norway, Iceland or
Liechtenstein unless one of these countries is your country of study.

If you started your course after 1 January 2021, or you're planning to study in
an EU country, you'll need to apply for a Student GHIC.

You can use the Student GHIC in the EU, Switzerland and your country of study,
but not yet in Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.

To apply you'll need a letter from your university or college showing:

 * the name and address of the UK educational institution if you're travelling
   as part of your course
 * the address of where you're studying in the EU or Switzerland
 * details of the qualification you're studying for
 * the dates your study period in the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, or
   Switzerland started and is due to finish
 * your permanent residential address in the UK

If the letter from your university or college does not include your permanent
residential address in the UK, you will be asked to provide further evidence to
confirm this.

Apply for a new UK Student EHIC or UK Student GHIC


WHO CANNOT APPLY USING THIS ONLINE SERVICE

Most people can apply using our online service.

You should contact NHS Overseas Healthcare Services if you fall into one of the
following groups as you will not be able to use the online service to apply.


IF YOU'RE AN EU OR SWISS NATIONAL STUDENT

If you're an EU or Swiss national ordinarily resident in the UK, but studying in
the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein you may be entitled to a
new UK EHIC or UK GHIC.


IF YOU HOLD A UK-ISSUED A1

If you work in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein and have a
UK-issued A1 document you may be entitled to a new UK EHIC or UK GHIC.


IF YOU'RE AN AU PAIR OR NANNY

If you're a UK or Irish national who usually lives in the UK permanently and
you're going to work as an au pair or nanny in an EU country or Switzerland, you
can apply for a UK GHIC.


CHEN AND IBRAHIM/TEIXEIRA CARERS

If you're an adult carer of a child who is from the EU, Norway, Iceland,
Liechtenstein or Switzerland, but you're not from any of these countries or from
the UK or Ireland, you may be eligible to apply for a new UK EHIC for yourself
and for any other children you have who are not nationals of these countries.

You cannot apply if your right to reside in the UK is derived from your caring
for a British citizen (Zambrano carer).


DEPENDENT GRANDPARENTS AND GRANDCHILDREN

You can add a grandchild to your new UK EHIC application if they’re a non-UK
national, are a national of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or
Liechtenstein and are one of the following:

 * under 18, living in the UK and were born before 1 Jan 2021
 * older than 18 but born on or after 1 January 2000, and arrived in the UK
   after 31 December 2020
 * older than 18, born before 1 January 2000, arrived in the UK after 31
   December 2020, and are dependent on you

You can add a parent or grandparent to your new UK EHIC application if they’re
dependent on you or your partner. Their relationship with you must have begun
before 1 Jan 2021, they must live with you and also:

 * be a non-UK national,
 * be a national of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein
 * they must have arrived in the UK after 31 December 2020

If they're a national of any other country, they can be added if they have
settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS).
If they do not have settled or pre-settled status, they can be added if their
relationship with you began before 1 January 2021.


CLAIMING A REFUND

Depending on the country you visit you may be expected to pay all or part of
your bill upfront and then claim a refund afterwards.

Some countries ask patients to pay a contribution towards the cost of their
care, such as for prescription costs. This is known as a co-payment or patient
share.

You can claim back the difference between the total bill and the co-payment, but
the actual co-payment is not refundable.

Keep all receipts and any paperwork. You or your insurance company may need them
if you're applying for a refund.


WHAT TO DO IF YOU BELIEVE YOUR EXISTING EHIC, UK GHIC OR NEW UK EHIC HAS BEEN
WRONGLY REJECTED

If you believe that your UK GHIC, new UK EHIC or existing EHIC has been wrongly
rejected by a hospital or other healthcare provider in the country you're
visiting, you should try and resolve the issue with them.

Explain that the card entitles the holder to necessary healthcare. It may be
useful to direct them to the European Commission’s EHIC webpage, which provides
images of all valid UK-issued EHICs and the UK GHIC.

If you need more help, contact NHS Overseas Healthcare Services. They can give
you advice on what to do.


WHAT TO DO IF YOU THINK YOU'VE BEEN INCORRECTLY CHARGED FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT BY
AN EU MEMBER STATE OR SWITZERLAND

It's important that you keep documents relating to your treatment. The Overseas
Healthcare Services at the NHSBSA may ask you for more information to check your
eligibility and the cost of the treatment you had. This could include:

 * receipts or invoices relating to treatment
 * confirmation of payments made to healthcare institutions
 * documents relating to insurance cover if your insurer paid for treatment
 * discharge documents

They'll look at your claim to decide whether you were charged when you should
have been covered. If they determine that your treatment should have been
covered by the UK GHIC, new UK EHIC or existing EHIC, they’ll reimburse you or
your insurer for the costs of treatment which are covered by your card. This may
not include the full cost of treatment.

You can contact NHS Overseas Healthcare Services.

Page last reviewed: 29 June 2021
Next review due: 29 June 2024


HEALTHCARE ABROAD

 * Applying for healthcare cover abroad (GHIC and EHIC)
 * Going abroad for treatment
 * Moving abroad


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