Lori Meadows
International students in the UK are eligible to use the NHS if they are studying in the country for six months or more. To register with the NHS, international students must pay a surcharge when they apply for a UK student visa. This surcharge is called the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) and costs £470 per year. Once registered, students will receive an NHS number, which is used to prove eligibility for NHS services. To register, students must provide proof of address, their student visa, and fill out a GMS1 registration form. This can be done online, by phone, email, or in person.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who is eligible for NHS services? | International students studying in the UK for longer than six months are eligible for NHS services. |
| What are the costs involved? | International students have to pay an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) of £470 per year for health insurance. This is paid during the visa application process and covers free medical treatment and reduced-price dental care. |
| How to register with the NHS? | To register with the NHS, international students need to register with a local General Practitioner (GP) clinic. This can be done online, by phone, email, or in person. |
| What documents are required for registration? | Students need to provide proof of address, their student visa, and their IHS reference number. They may also need to fill out a GMS1 registration form. |
| How to obtain an NHS number? | Once registered with a GP, students will receive an NHS number, which is used for identification and record-keeping. |
| Can NHS services be accessed without an NHS number? | Yes, emergency care and GP registration are accessible without an NHS number. |
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What You'll Learn
Eligibility for international students
International students in the UK are eligible for NHS treatment. However, to access the NHS, international students must pay an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) of £470 per year of their intended stay in the UK. This is paid during the visa application process and covers free medical treatment, including emergency or hospital care, and reduced-price dental care at an NHS dentist. International students studying in the UK for less than six months are not eligible to use the NHS and must take out private health insurance.
If you are an international student in the UK and you have a spouse, civil partner, or children with their own visas, they will be entitled to free NHS hospital treatment. However, each dependent must pay the immigrant health surcharge individually and register with a GP to access the full range of NHS services.
To receive an NHS number, international students must register with a local General Practitioner (GP) clinic as soon as they arrive in the UK. The NHS number is used to prove that an individual is eligible for NHS services. It is not required to book a doctor's appointment or access NHS services.
It is important to note that the NHS may not cover all health-related costs, and international students may wish to purchase additional health insurance to cover any potential gaps in their healthcare coverage.
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Registering with a GP
As an international student in the UK, you can benefit from the NHS just like British citizens. The NHS is the UK's state healthcare system, providing a wide range of healthcare services. Most healthcare services are free at the point of use, but some procedures may require additional payment.
If you are a full-time international student in the UK for longer than six months, you are eligible to use NHS services. If you are studying for less than six months, you will not be eligible for NHS services. To access these services, you must register with a General Practitioner (GP) at a local doctor's surgery or medical centre.
To register with a GP, visit your local doctor's surgery, clinic, or medical centre during consulting hours with the following documents:
- A letter from your university proving your enrolment
- Your passport
- Any further immigration or visa documents
- Proof of address (such as a tenancy agreement)
You will receive an NHS number when you register with a GP. This number is unique to each individual and is used by medical providers for identification and record-keeping. It is important to keep this number safe, as it will be used for all your healthcare interactions in the UK.
It is advisable to register with a GP as soon as you arrive in the UK. This will ensure that you can access primary NHS services and receive medical care if you need it. You can use the NHS search tool to find your nearest GP service.
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Paying the surcharge
As an international student, you will need to pay an immigration health surcharge (IHS) to use the NHS. This is a mandatory fee that must be paid as part of your student visa application. The IHS costs £470 per year of your intended stay in the UK. If your visa duration includes a part of a year that is six months or less, you will be required to pay £235 for that portion of your stay. This fee cannot be avoided, even if you choose to take out private medical insurance.
Once your student visa has been accepted and you have paid the NHS surcharge, you will need to register with a general practitioner (GP) at a local doctor's surgery or medical centre. You will receive an NHS number when you register with a GP. This number is used to prove that you are eligible for NHS services in the UK. It is a unique, 10-digit number that helps healthcare staff identify you correctly and match your details to your health records.
To register with a GP, you will need to visit your local doctor's surgery, clinic, or medical centre during consulting hours with the following documents:
- A letter from your university proving your enrolment
- Your passport
- Any further immigration or visa documents
It is advisable to register with a GP as soon as you arrive in the UK. You can use the NHS search tool to find your nearest GP service. Once you have registered with a GP and received your NHS number, you are eligible to use NHS services free of charge. However, it is important to note that you may still need to pay for certain types of services, such as prescriptions, dental treatment, eye tests, and assisted conception.
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Accessing NHS services
The NHS is the UK's state healthcare system, providing a wide range of health care services. International students in the UK can benefit from the NHS, just like British citizens. To access NHS services, you must be a full-time international student studying in the UK for longer than six months. If you are studying for less than six months, you will not be eligible for NHS services.
Registering with a GP
To access NHS services, you must register with a local General Practitioner (GP) clinic as soon as you arrive in the UK. You can find a local GP on the NHS website using your town, city, or postcode. Most GPs will have a website through which you can register, but you can also call, email, or visit the clinic in person. You will need your student residence card, your IHS reference number, and a GMS1 registration form to register.
NHS number
Once you have registered with a GP, you will receive an NHS number, which is used by medical providers for identification and record-keeping. You will need this number to access NHS services.
Cost of NHS services
Although most NHS services are free at the point of use, some procedures may require additional payment. The cost of prescriptions and dental treatments depends on where in the UK you are registered. In England, prescriptions cost £9.65 per item unless you are under 19 and in full-time education, over 60, pregnant, or have a medical exemption certificate, in which case your prescription will be free. In Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, prescriptions are free of charge in most cases.
Dental treatments are not usually free for international students under the NHS, but preventative care and most procedures are affordable. There are three payment bands for dental care:
- Band 1 (£23.80): Examination, diagnosis, preventative care, and emergency care such as pain relief or a temporary filling.
- Band 2 (£65.20): Actual fillings, root canals, or tooth extractions.
- Band 3 (£282.80): All treatments in Bands 1 and 2, as well as certain more complicated procedures, such as crowns, dentures, and bridges.
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
To access NHS services, international students must pay an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) of £470-£594 per year as part of their student visa application. This fee covers free medical treatment, including emergency and hospital care, as well as reduced-price dental care at an NHS dentist.
Dependants
If you have brought a spouse, civil partner, or children with you to the UK, they will be entitled to free NHS hospital treatment as long as they have their own visas and have paid the IHS individually.
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Understanding your NHS number
The NHS, or National Health Service, is the UK's state healthcare system. It provides a wide range of healthcare services to UK residents and certain eligible groups, including international students. International students studying in the UK for six months or more are entitled to free healthcare under the NHS. This includes access to general practitioners (GPs), hospitals, and emergency care.
To access NHS services, international students must first register with a local GP. This can usually be done online, over the phone, via email, or in person. You will need proof of address, your student visa, and your IHS reference number. Once registered with a GP, you will receive an NHS number, which is unique to each individual and used for identification and record-keeping. This number is essential for accessing NHS services, although it is not required to book a doctor's appointment. You can find your NHS number on doctor's prescriptions, lab results, appointment letters, or via the NHS website.
It is important to note that while international students have access to free healthcare under the NHS, there may be additional costs for certain services. For example, international students usually have to pay for prescription medications and dental treatments. However, there are some exemptions for prescriptions, such as for those under 19 and in full-time education, over 60, or pregnant.
By understanding how the NHS works and what services are covered, international students can ensure they have access to essential healthcare during their time in the UK.
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Frequently asked questions
No, you can access emergency care and register with a GP even if you don’t have an NHS number yet.
You will receive an NHS number when you register with a GP. You can register with a local GP as soon as you arrive in the UK.
If you are studying in the UK for six months or more, you are eligible to use NHS services. You will need to pay an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) of £470 or £594 per year as part of your visa application fees.
The NHS provides access to general practitioners (GPs), hospitals, and emergency care. It also covers COVID-19 vaccinations, sexual health services, and mental health services.
