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Overseas visitors from EEA, EU and non EEA/EU Countries

If you are visiting the UK from another country and use our services, you may have to pay for your healthcare.

Some NHS services are free at the point of use for all patients. These include:

  • Accident and emergency services (within an A&E or minor injury unit department).
  • Family planning services (excluding maternity care and assisted conception).
  • Diagnosis and treatment of specified infectious diseases.
  • Diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections.
  • NHS services provided for COVID-19 investigation, diagnosis, and treatment.
  • Services for treating a physical or mental condition caused by torture, female genital mutilation, domestic violence, or sexual violence.
  • Palliative care services provided by a registered palliative care charity.

Some categories of overseas patients are exempt from charge:

  • Those who have paid the Immigration Health Surcharge, except for assisted conception services.
  • Those with entitlements under an EU/EEA/EFTA reciprocal healthcare agreement.
  • Vulnerable patients, including refugees, asylum seekers and victims of modern slavery, victims of violence, detainees. Workers on ships and NATO personnel.
  • UK Government employees and war pensioners.
  • Children looked after by a local council.
  • Those who are receiving compulsory treatment under a court order.
  • Those with entitlements under other reciprocal healthcare agreements with certain non-EU countries.

National regulations stipulate that patients must be ‘ordinarily resident’ in the United Kingdom to receive free NHS-funded hospital care. This means living in the UK on a lawful and properly settled basis for the time being and you will be asked to prove this. 

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.

Paying for your care

If you are not eligible for free treatment, you will be charged for any treatment that is provided by staff employed by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust – this can be in one of our hospitals or in the community.

If you fail to pay for NHS treatment for which charges are appropriate, your future application to enter or remain in the UK may be denied.

Necessary (non-clinical) personal information will be passed via the Department of Health and Social Care, to the Home Office for the purposes of debt recovery.

Contact the Overseas Visitors Team

  • Email: whcnhs.contractsteam@nhs.net for further advice.
  • Service hours: 8.30am to 5pm
  • Location: Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, 2 Kings Court, Charles Hastings Way, Worcester, WR5 1JR
  • Team members: Phil Elias and Ann Parker.

Visitors from inside the European Economic Area

If you are a visitor from inside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, you will be required to show your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and/or proof of travel insurance. If you do not have an EHIC you can apply for a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC) at the point of receiving medical treatment. To make sure you have healthcare before you travel apply for the European Health Insurance Card .

From 1st January 2021, visitors from Iceland and Liechtenstein may need to pay for NHS healthcare. Any treatment that must be paid for will be charged at 150% of the national NHS rate. 

Visitors from Norway can access medically necessary healthcare using a valid Norwegian passport.

Visitors from Switzerland can only use an EHIC if they are eligible for an EHIC in Switzerland. This will depend on nationality and status, enquiries should be made with the Swiss healthcare provider about eligibility. 

An EHIC covers all immediate and clinically necessary treatment during your visit until you return home. It does not cover medical repatriation to your home country. It is important to also have private travel insurance. 

If you are unable to provide an EHIC you may be charged for the healthcare, you receive.

If you are coming to the UK for elective treatment, then you will need to provide a copy of S1 Apply for healthcare cover for living abroad - NHSBSA or S2 The Planned Treatment (S2 funding) route - NHS.

If you have lost your EHIC, please visit the European Commission website and choose your country of origin.

Visitors from outside the European Economic Area

Visitors from outside of the EEA, visiting the UK for 6 months or less, must pay for treatment unless exemption applies (details available from the Overseas Visitor Management Team).

The Biometric Residence Permit has been replaced by eVisa. An eVisa is a digital record of your identity and immigration status. You can view your eVisa and get a share code to prove your immigration status on the GOV.UK website.

If your visa allows you to stay in the UK for longer than six months, and you have paid the Immigration Health Surcharge, you can start using the NHS free of charge from the date your visa becomes valid. When you access health care in the UK you may need to prove your immigration status using a share code. 

You will still need to pay for certain types of services, such as prescriptions, dental treatment, eye tests and assisted conception.

Pre-attendance form

On arrival for your appointment, you may be asked to fill in a pre-attendance form which will enable us to verify your eligibility to free NHS care.

Documents which we may ask you to provide include:

  • Current signed passport.
  • eVisa or valid UK Biometric Residence Permit.
  • National ID card.
  • Valid UK photo driving licence.
  • EU or Swiss national identity photo-card.

For proof of residency:

  • Water, gas, electricity, or telephone bill (excluding mobile phone bill).
  • Tenancy agreement.
  • Council tax bill for the current year.
  • Bank/building society statement
  • Payslip.
  • P60.
  • Statement from HMRC or DWP.

Please make sure these documents are less than 3 months old.

Should you be unable to provide this information you may be liable to pay for any appropriate charges for the treatment you receive.

The pre-attendance forms are available to download below in English, and other languages: