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Visitors from outside the European Economic Area (EEA)

COVID-19 services

Overseas visitors to England, including anyone living in the UK without permission, will not be charged for:

No immigration checks are required.

See GOV.UK: Migrant Health Guide for further information, and GOV.UK: NHS entitlements for migrants for information in other languages.

The rules may be different in Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland.

Unplanned treatment on a temporary visit to England

If you're visiting England from outside the European Economic Area (EEA), even if you're a former UK resident, you'll be charged for NHS secondary care at 150% of the standard NHS rate, unless an exemption from the charge category applies to either you or the treatment.

Make sure you're covered for healthcare through personal medical or travel insurance for all of your visit.

You'll need to pay the full estimated cost in advance, unless this would prevent or delay treatment that a clinician determines is urgent. If so, you can pay afterwards.

Future immigration applications may be denied if you are subject to immigration control and do not pay for NHS treatment when a charge applies. Debts for NHS treatment of £500 or more, that have been unpaid for at least 2 months, will be reported to the Home Office.

Some NHS services or treatments are exempt from charges so that they're free to all (although prescription, dentistry and other charges may still apply).

These include:

There are also certain categories of people who are exempt from charges.

Find out more about visitors who do not need to pay for NHS treatment

Page last reviewed: 13 April 2022
Next review due: 13 April 2025