Apply for a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

A European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) gives you the right to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in the EU.

The UK has reached an agreement on healthcare when visiting the EU.

You can continue to use an EHIC or get a provisional replacement certificate (PRC) if you need treatment and do not have a card.

If you apply for a card now, you'll get a new UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) instead of an EHIC. These pages and the application portal will still refer to EHIC until 4 January 2021.

You do not need to apply for a GHIC if you already have an EHIC. Your EHIC remains valid in the EU until it expires.

Beware of unofficial websites, which may charge if you apply through them. An EHIC or GHIC is free of charge.

GHICs and most UK EHICs do not cover you in Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland.

If you’re visiting those countries, make sure you have travel insurance with health cover and check the GOV.UK travel advice.

If you were already visiting Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland before 1 January 2021, your UK EHIC entitlements will continue until you leave that country.

Using a new UK EHIC from 1 January 2021

Some people may still be able to get a new UK-issued EHIC.

You can apply if you're:

• an EU, Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic or Liechtenstein citizen, and you've been living in the UK since before 1 January 2021
• a UK State Pensioner or receiving some other exportable benefits, and you have a registered S1 form or E121
• a frontier worker (someone who works in one state and lives in another) and you've been one since before 1 January 2021, for as long as you continue to be a frontier worker in the host state, and you’re eligible for an S1 form or E106
• a worker posted to work in another EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland by your UK employer, and you've been there since before 1 January 2021, where the country has agreed to let the posting continue
• an eligible family member or dependant of one of the above
• a UK student studying in the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, and you've been there since before 1 January 2021

EU, Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic or Liechtenstein citizens living in the UK

If you’re eligible for a new EHIC, you may also be able to apply for EHICs for your spouse or partner, children and other family members, as long as they meet certain nationality and residency conditions.

Read more about who can get a new EHIC.

Healthcare for UK students in Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland

If you were already in Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland before 1 January 2021 because you're studying there, or on a placement as part of a recognised UK university course, you need to apply for a new EHIC.

This covers you for medically necessary healthcare until the end of your study period abroad.

If you live in Ireland

You may be able to get a new UK-issued EHIC if you’re:

• a UK State Pensioner or receiving some other exportable benefits and you’ve been living in Ireland since before 1 January 2021
• a frontier worker (someone who works in one state and lives in another) and you've been one since before 1 January 2021, for as long as you continue to be a frontier worker in the host state
• an eligible family member or dependant of one of the above

You cannot currently apply online for your EHIC, you should call the Overseas Healthcare Services. This is part of the NHS Business Services Authority (BSA).

NHS Overseas Healthcare Services

Telephone +44 (0)191 218 1999

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

You should only apply for an EHIC within 3 months of planned travel to the EU.

What the EHIC covers

The EHIC covers medically necessary state-provided healthcare at a reduced cost or, in many cases, free of charge, until your planned return home.

This includes treatment of a chronic or pre-existing medical condition that becomes necessary during your visit.

It also includes routine maternity care, as long as you're not going abroad to give birth.

But if the birth happens unexpectedly, the EHIC will cover the cost of all medical treatment linked to the birth for mother and baby.

The EHIC covers the provision of oxygen and kidney dialysis, although you'll have to arrange and pre-book these treatments before you go on holiday. You can ask a GP or hospital for advice.

Check that you're not booked with a private healthcare provider, as these are not covered by the EHIC.

The EHIC also covers routine medical care for people with pre-existing conditions that need monitoring.

What's not covered

Each country's health system is different and might not include all the things you might expect to get free of charge from the NHS.

This means you may have to make a patient contribution to the cost of your care.

Find out more in the GOV.UK country healthcare guides

In some countries, patients are expected to directly contribute a percentage towards the cost of their state-provided treatment. This is known as a patient co-payment.

If you receive treatment under this type of healthcare system, you're expected to pay the same co-payment charge as a patient from that country.

The EHIC is not an alternative to travel insurance. It will not cover any private medical healthcare or costs, such as mountain rescue in ski resorts or being flown back to the UK.

The EHIC is not valid on cruises.

It's important to have both an EHIC and a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes healthcare in place before you travel.

Some insurers now insist you hold an EHIC, and many will waive the excess if you have one.

The EHIC will not cover your medical treatment if you're travelling abroad specifically to have medical treatment, including giving birth.

Find out about going abroad for medical treatment

You may not be able to use the card in some parts of the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, as state-provided healthcare may not be available in certain areas.

Be cautious if healthcare arrangements are made by a hotel or travel representative. They can sometimes reassure visitors that they can claim back whatever is paid out.

This may be the case if your individual travel insurance provides for this.

But costs may not necessarily be recoverable under the EHIC scheme, particularly if treatment is not from a state provider.

Who's eligible

The following eligibility information applies until 4 January 2021 when this page will change to reflect GHIC.

Residents of the United Kingdom

Entitlement to an EHIC is not based on your nationality. It's based on insurability under EU law. This applies to all EU countries, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

The UK operates a residency-based healthcare system (in the form of the NHS), which means access is generally determined by residency and not by the past or present payment of National Insurance contributions or UK taxes.

If you're resident in the UK and not insured by another EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, you're likely to be considered to be insured by the UK under EU law and will be entitled to a UK-issued EHIC.

You'll need to provide the necessary evidence when applying. There are certain circumstances where you may be entitled to a UK-issued EHIC despite living in another country in the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

You're not entitled to a UK-issued EHIC if you're insured by another country in the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland but live in the UK.

You should contact the relevant authority in the country you're insured by and request an EHIC.

Families

Every family member requires an EHIC. You can make an application for yourself and on behalf of your partner and any dependent children under the age of 16.

If you already have an EHIC, you must enter your own details first and apply for any additional cards when prompted.

If you're under the age of 16, a parent or guardian will need to apply for you. Boarding school teaching staff can apply on behalf of any children in their care.

You'll need to give the following information for each person you're making an application for:

• full name
• date of birth
• National Insurance (NI) number or NHS Number (CHI number in Scotland, or Health and Care Number in Northern Ireland)

Temporary NI numbers cannot be used to apply for an EHIC. A temporary NI number uses the prefix "TN", the person's date of birth, and "M" or "F" to denote gender – for example, TN131160M.

Your card will normally arrive within 10 days if you apply using the official EHIC website.

Non-EEA nationals

If you or a family member are not an EU, Norwegian, Icelandic, Liechtensteiner or Swiss national, you'll have to provide further evidence that you're eligible.

You'll need to complete an EHIC application form (PDF, 546kb), attach a copy of your visa or UK residence permit, and post it to:

Overseas Healthcare Services
NHS Business Services Authority
Bridge House
152 Pilgrim Street
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 6SN

If you're abroad and do not have your EHIC with you

You can be issued with a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC) to prove your entitlement to the EHIC if you travel to Europe without your EHIC but then need medical treatment during your visit.

You'll need to apply for a PRC by calling Overseas Healthcare Services at the NHS Business Services Authority on +44 (0)191 218 1999, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

Someone else can apply for a PRC on your behalf.

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

The PRC will give you the same cover as an EHIC until you return home.

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

• 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

Claiming a refund

Your EHIC provides you with the right to access state-provided healthcare that becomes necessary during your trip.

You'll be treated on the same basis as a resident of the country you're visiting.

In some countries you may be expected to pay your bill upfront and then claim a refund afterwards.

Remember to keep all receipts and any paperwork (make copies if necessary). You or your insurance company may need them if you're applying for a refund.

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 patient share, but the actual patient share is non-refundable.

It's the responsibility of the authority of the country of treatment to decide the amount of the patient share and therefore how much is refundable from the total bill.

For further advice, contact the Overseas Healthcare Service on 0191 218 1999, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.