The NHS operates a residence-based healthcare system.
Most NHS services operate a residence-based healthcare system. Most NHS services are free to people who are ordinarily resident in the UK.
Being ordinarily resident is not dependent on nationality, payment of UK taxes, National Insurance (NI) contributions, being registered with a GP, having an NHS Number or owning property in the UK.
Ordinarily resident means living in the UK on a lawful and properly settled basis for the time being, and you'll be asked to prove this.
Indefinite leave to remain (ILR)
If you're subject to immigration control, you can only be considered ordinarily resident if you've been given the immigration status of indefinite leave to remain (the right to live here on a permanent basis).
But if you're a family member of an EEA national who's resident in the UK, you may not be subject to immigration control, even though you yourself are from outside the EEA.
Family members of people of Northern Ireland
If you have a family member who is an eligible person of Northern Ireland and who lives in the UK, you may be able to join that person in the UK without paying the immigration health surcharge.
See GOV.UK for a definition of an eligible person of Northern Ireland
Otherwise you may be eligible to apply for pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme on the basis of that relationship. Once you have either pre-settled or settled status you will not be charged for your healthcare, as long as you live in the UK on a properly settled basis for the time being.
Immigration health surcharge
If you're applying to come to the UK on a temporary stay of more than 6 months, you may be required to pay an immigration health surcharge at the time of your visa application.
The standard surcharge fee is:
- £776 per year per person for people applying for a student visa or a Youth Mobility Scheme visa
- £776 per year for visa and immigration applicants aged under 18 at the time of application
- £1,035 per year per person for everyone else
You'll usually need to pay the same amount for any dependents aged 18 years old or over.
The full amount will be paid upfront for the duration of your visa. You'll get a refund if your visa application is refused or you withdraw your application.
There are circumstances when you do not have to pay the surcharge, such as if you're the dependant of a member of the armed forces who is not subject to immigration control.
You can find full details about healthcare surcharges, including exemptions, on GOV.UK
If you've paid the surcharge or were exempt from paying it, and your visa allows you to be here for more than 6 months, you'll be entitled to free NHS hospital treatment in England on a similar basis to an ordinarily resident person.
This will apply from the date your visa is granted until it expires.
But any new course of treatment for NHS-funded assisted conception services will not be free to surcharge payers (or people exempt from paying it), unless another exemption applies.
If your visa is curtailed or ended earlier than planned by the Home Office, you can be charged for any further NHS hospital treatment from that date on, even if you have paid the surcharge.
You'll also have to pay for any chargeable treatment you received before the start date of your visa.
If you apply for an extension of your visa, you might also have to pay a further surcharge.
If you apply for, and are granted, indefinite leave to remain, you will not have to pay the surcharge.
Paying the surcharge only gives you access to services the NHS provides. Paying the surcharge does not mean you're treated faster.
Doctors will assess the urgency of your condition in the same way ordinarily resident patients are assessed and, if necessary, you'll be placed on a waiting list.
Patients in England are required to make contributions towards the cost of their NHS care, such as paying prescription costs or dental charges. You're required to make the same contributions.
Find out more about paying NHS charges
If you're coming to England for 6 months or less or did not pay the surcharge when you were required to, you'll be charged for certain NHS services unless an exemption applies.
Children born in the UK to those here lawfully for more than 6 months
If you give birth to a child in the UK, your child will be entitled to free NHS hospital treatment in England on the same basis as someone who's ordinarily resident up to 3 months of age, but only if they remain in the UK during that period.
You'll also need to meet one of these criteria:
- you have a valid visa of more than 6 months and paid the surcharge for that visa
- you have a valid visa of more than 6 months, but were exempt from paying the surcharge
- you have a valid visa of more than 6 months, which you applied for prior to 6 April 2015
You should apply for a visa for your child during the 3-month period after your child's birth.
If required, you may have to pay the surcharge for your child. Failure to do so means you may be charged for NHS services provided for your child after the 3-month period.