Overseas visitors who are visiting the UK for six months or less

Overseas visitors visiting the UK for six months or less (including those on multiple-entry visas), non-resident UK nationals, or those in the UK without immigration permission will be charged for services they receive beyond the emergency departments unless an exemption applies.

Emergency care is free for everyone, regardless of immigration status. This includes life-saving treatments and actions to prevent immediate life-threatening conditions, which will be provided to any patient in the Emergency Department (ED). However, once you are admitted as an inpatient to a ward, including any observation wards in the ED such as ambulatory care or Clinical Decision Unit (CDU), attend an outpatient appointment or receive a virtual telephone consultation, the services provided are NOT free and therefore potentially chargeable to those not ordinarily resident in the UK.

For all overseas patients deemed ineligible for free NHS treatment, charges will be set at 150% of the NHS tariff following Department of Health guidelines. The hospital will initially issue an estimated invoice, which will be reviewed within weeks to determine the actual cost once the episode has been clinically coded.

Please be aware that based on immigration rules 320, 321, 321A, and 322, individuals with outstanding debts over £500 for NHS treatment may be denied future entry or stay in the UK or re-entry on an existing visa if they do not pay within two months of being invoiced.

Your situation depends on whether you are entitled to free NHS treatment when visiting England from overseas. Here’s a quick guide:

Visitors from EU countries: Your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will cover some treatment if you fall ill or have a medical emergency during your visit. Be sure to bring your EHIC with you when visiting the UK. An EHIC also covers the treatment of pre-existing medical conditions and routine maternity care, provided the reason for visiting is not specifically to give birth or receive treatment.

Visitors from other countries: If you are from a non-EU country, you will be charged for NHS hospital care in England unless it falls under one of the exemption categories. These exemptions include:

needing emergency treatment
being pregnant or giving birth
being under 18 years old
being a student enrolled on a full-time course of six months or more

Some reciprocal healthcare agreements also exist with non-EU countries, so it’s worth checking with your local embassy or consulate in the UK to see if your country has one.

If you are not exempt and must pay for treatment, you will be charged 150% of the national NHS rate.

When visiting the UK, it’s essential to have travel insurance that includes coverage for your bleeding disorder in case you need medical attention, as recommended by the NHS.

Holiday insurance / private medical insurance

You may not be able to use your travel insurance directly to pay for treatment upfront. Depending on the type of treatment, you might be required to pay some upfront charges, including prescriptions or dental fees.

Ensure your travel insurance covers medical expenses for your trip. Some travel insurance plans might have a cap on medical expense reimbursement, so check the limits beforehand.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If you are travelling from a European country to the UK, you will need to show a valid EHIC, otherwise you will have to pay for your care directly. You will also be asked to provide the following documents:

a copy of your passport
your full address abroad

The EHIC (or a provisional replacement certificate) must be produced before hospital discharge or an outpatient appointment. Otherwise, you will be liable to pay all fees associated with your care and claim your care back through your home country.

Please note that your EHIC does not apply if you have elective planned treatment or treatment that can be carried out in your country of origin.

Patients from countries with reciprocal arrangements with the UK for healthcare

The UK has reciprocal healthcare agreements with some countries in the non-European economic area.

Overseas visitors who can present evidence that they are nationals, citizens or lawful residents of one of these countries may be treated as exempt from charges regarding treatment that the relevant agreement entitles them to.

Reciprocal agreements do not apply if you have elective planned treatment or treatment that can be carried out in your country of origin.

Please note that the information on this page is provided by GOV.UK and NHS.UK for general information only and is subject to change without notice.