Guidance

Healthcare forafter visitorsBrexit: tocitizens of the UKEU, fromNorway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland visiting the EUUK

Information on accessingaccess to NHS healthcare for visitorsresidents toof the UK from EU countries, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.Switzerland visiting the UK after the UK leaves the EU.

Published 19 March 2019

Last updated 3 October 2019
— see all updates
From:
Department of Health and Social Care
Published:
19 March 2019
Last updated:
9 March 2021, see all updates
to date

Coronavirus

The (COVID-19)UK testingwill andleave treatment

Overseasthe visitorsEU toon England,31 includingOctober. anyoneThis livingpage intells theyou UKhow withoutto permission,prepare willfor notBrexit. It will be chargedupdated for:

What you need to do

If you are visiting the UK frombefore theor EU,after Norway,Brexit, Iceland,make Liechtensteinsure or Switzerland, you should:you:

  • have travel or health insurance that covers the duration of your trip
  • bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) ifwith you are eligible to continue using it in the UK
  • bringhave yourtravel S1insurance formthat ifcovers you are eligible to continue using it in the UK
  • bringduration of your S2trip form– ifan youEHIC areis eligiblenot foran one
  • checkalternative ifto youtravel needinsurance tobecause applyit fordoes annot S2cover Healthcare Visaeverything

Getting healthcare in England

This informationsection is about getting healthcare in England. The way you access healthcare in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland could be different from England.England if there is a no-deal Brexit.

The NHSUK operatesgovernment ais residence-basedaiming to agree reciprocal healthcare system.arrangements Thiseither meanswith visitorsthe toEU, Englandor maywith haveindividual tocountries, payIceland, forLiechtenstein, NHSNorway healthcare,and dependingSwitzerland onif theirthere circumstances.

Someis services,a suchno-deal asBrexit. accidentReciprocal andhealthcare emergencyprovides (A&E)urgent, andimmediate visitsor toplanned amedical generaltreatment practitionerat (GP),a arereduced freecost toor, everyone.in Urgentsome treatmentcases, orfree.

This treatmentwould thatnot cannotaffect safelythe waitrights untilof youindividuals leavecovered by the countrycitizens’ andrights returnagreements homewith willNorway, alwaysIceland beand provided,Liechtenstein and theSwitzerland.

Your matterhealthcare ofcover paymentmay dealtchange withif later.there Onlyis a clinicianno-deal canBrexit, decideand ifthe yourcountry treatmentyou islive urgentin orhas immediatelynot necessary.

Medicallyagreed necessaryreciprocal treatment

Ifhealthcare youarrangements arewith visiting the UKUK. fromCheck anwith EUyour countryhealth andinsurance youauthority fallwhat illhas orbeen haveagreed.

Make asure medicalyou emergencyhave duringadequate yourtravel temporaryand stayhealth ininsurance England,so that you can usereclaim aany validhealthcare EHICcosts issuedthat byyou yourare homerequired country to access healthcare.pay.

YourYou can still use your EHIC alsoor coversProvisional youReplacement forCard (PRC) issued by the treatmentcountry ofwhere pre-existingyou medicallive conditionsif andyou forstart routineyour maternityvisit care,to providingEngland before the reasonUK forleaves yourthe visitEU. isThis notcover specificallywill tolast giveuntil birththe orend receiveof treatment.

Theyour EHICvisit, iseven notif anit alternativefinishes toafter travelexit insurance.day. It will not coverapply on any privatefuture medicalvisits healthcare,to beingthe flownEngland.

Travel backinsurance

The home,government oralways lostadvises orvisitors stolento property.

Ifthe yourUK EHICto hastake beenout losttravel orinsurance. stolenThis duringmeans yourthat visityou tocan Englandreclaim andany healthcare costs you needare arequired replacement,to thenpay youfrom shouldyour contactinsurer.

Check theyour relevantinsurance organisationhas inthe yournecessary homehealthcare countrycoverage to requestmake asure Provisionalyou Replacementcan Certificateget (PRC).

Ifthe treatment you doneed notduring haveyour anvisit.

European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC)

Make andsure cannotyou obtainbring ayour PRCEHIC, with you maywhen havevisiting tothe payUK.

EHICs forissued treatment.by Youan willEU becountry, chargedNorway, atIceland, 150%Liechtenstein ofor theSwitzerland, nationalwill NHSstill rate.

Ifbe youvalid areuntil visitingthe day the UK fromleaves Norway,the youEU. willThey may not be entitledvalid toin medicallyEngland necessaryafter healthcare.this Youdate, willdepending needon towhat showagreements athe validUK Norwegianmakes passport.with individual countries.

IfThis youwould begannot studyingaffect atthe anrights accreditedof UKindividuals highercovered educationby institute in the UKcitizens’ onrights oragreements beforewith 31Norway, DecemberIceland, 2020,Liechtenstein youand maySwitzerland.

Your use your EHIC foris medicallynot necessaryan healthcarealternative untilto thetravel endinsurance ofand youryou course,should irrespectivehave ofboth yourwhen nationality.you Youtravel must apply to the EUUK.

Seeking Settlementplanned Schemetreatment ifin your course extends beyond 30 June 2021.

England

If youryou courseare ofcoming studyto in the UK began after 1 January 2021 and lasts for moreplanned thanhealth 6treatment, months, you will need to paymake all the immigrationnecessary healtharrangements surchargeyourself asin aadvance. partPlanned oftreatment youris studentnot visacovered application.by your EHIC. You maywill be eligiblecharged for atreatment reimbursementif ofyou yourdo surchargenot paymenthave invalid certain circumstances.documentation.

FindThis outwould whennot youaffect canthe haverights yourof immigrationindividuals healthcovered surchargeby reimbursed

Seekingthe plannedcitizens’ treatmentrights inagreements England

Ifwith youNorway, areIceland, comingLiechtenstein toand theSwitzerland.

The UKS2 fromroute

The anS2 EUroute countrywill forno plannedlonger healthwork treatment,if youthere willis needa tono-deal makeBrexit alland thethere necessaryare arrangementsno yourselfreciprocal healthcare arrangements in advance.

Plannedplace, treatmentexcept isfor notindividuals covered by the EHIC.citizens’ Yourights willagreements needwith toSwitzerland, arrangeNorway, anIceland S2and formLiechtenstein.

However, if you have requested authorisation from the relevant organisation in your home country beforefor youplanned traveltreatment tounder England.

Thethe S2 onlyroute coversbefore state-providedexit treatmentday, and you will not be requiredable to paycomplete anythingthat yourself,treatment exceptin anyEngland, mandatoryeven patientif contributions that patientstreatment inhappens Englandafter wouldexit haveday.

You towill pay,be suchcharged asfor prescriptiontreatment costs.if Youyou mayare havecoming to payEngland after exit day for anyplanned health treatment that is not covered by your S2 form.by:

If

  • a youreciprocal arehealthcare comingagreement
  • a topre-arranged S2
  • the UKcitizens’ fromrights Norway,agreements Iceland,with LiechtensteinSwitzerland, orNorway, SwitzerlandIceland and requestedLiechtenstein

Visit authorisationthe NHS website for plannedmore treatmentinformation fromon the relevantS2 authorityroute

The inEU yourDirective homeroute

The countryEU beforeDirective 31route December,will younot willapply bein ablethe toUK completeif thatthere treatmentis ina theno-deal UK,Brexit evenand ifthere itare takesno placereciprocal afterhealthcare arrangements in place that date.include it.

UK

The nationalsEU whoDirective noroute longerdoes livenot inapply theto UK

visitors from Switzerland.

BecauseVisit the NHS iswebsite afor residency-basedmore system,information underon NHSthe rulesEU UKdirective nationalsroute

Studying whoin moveEngland

You abroadcan oncontinue ato permanentuse basisyour loseEHIC theiror entitlementProvisional Replacement Card (PRC) to access free NHS healthcare.

UKhealthcare nationalsif livingyou andhave workingbegun ina EUcourse countries,of Norway,education Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerlandtraining onin orEngland before 31exit Decemberday. 2020This andwill theirapply familyuntil membersthe mayend beof eligibleyour tocourse, useeven NHSif servicesit withoutfinishes charge.after Youexit day.

Your EHIC may not be askedvalid toif provideyou evidencestart of your residency.education Pleaseor checktraining within England after the authoritiesUK inleaves the memberEU. stateYou inshould whichbuy insurance to cover your healthcare as you residewould forif furthervisiting information.another non-EU country.

IfThis youwould arenot aaffect UKthe nationalrights andof moveindividuals tocovered by the EU,citizens’ yourights shouldagreements notwith expectNorway, toIceland, beLiechtenstein ableand toSwitzerland.

People usewith NHSpre-existing serviceshealth forconditions

You freeshould whenbuy medical travel insurance before visiting the UK unlessif you have ana EHIC,pre-existing PRChealth orcondition. S2You tomust showtell yourthe healthcareinsurance costscompany areabout fundedany byhealth theconditions EUyou countryhave into whichmake sure you nowcan live,get orthe anothercover exemptionyou applies.need.

YouSpeak shouldto takeyour outdoctor appropriatefor advice before you travel insuranceand whenmake visitingplans thefor UK,how asto youcare wouldfor whenyour visitingcondition anywhen otheryou country.are Anyin treatmentthe youUK. mayYou haveshould toalso paytake foryour willhealth becondition chargedidentification ator 150%letter ofsaying thewhat nationalmedication NHSyou rate.are taking.

Some

Agreement formerwith Switzerland

The UK residentshas doagreed nota havecitizens’ torights payagreement forwith NHSSwitzerland. treatment when visiting England. This includesagreement UKprotects warthe pensioners,rights UKof governmentSwiss employees,nationals andwho UKare nationalsvisiting or living in the EUUK on orexit beforeday, 31if Decemberthere 2020.is a no-deal Brexit. They will be able to access NHS healthcare as they do now.

YouIf shouldyou checkare beforea travellingSwiss tonational visiting the UK whetherafter exit day, you qualifymay fornot anbe exemptionable fromto charginguse your EHIC or willPRC beduring requiredyour tovisit payif forthere youris treatment.

Ifa youno-deal returnBrexit. You should buy insurance to thecover UKyour permanentlyhealthcare andneeds, as you arewould ordinarilywhen resident,visiting youany willother benon-EU ablecountry.

Find toout accessmore NHSinformation careon withoutthe charge.Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement

Visitors

Agreement fromwith Iceland,Norway, LiechtensteinIceland orand SwitzerlandLiechtenstein

IfThe youUK arehas visitingmade fromagreements Iceland,with LiechtensteinNorway, orIceland Switzerlandand Liechtenstein. There is a separation agreement if the UK leaves the EU with a deal, and begana separate citizens’ rights agreement if there is a temporaryno-deal visitBrexit. toThese agreements mean that citizens of these countries who are visiting the UK on orthe beforeday 31the DecemberUK 2020,leaves youthe EU will be able to accessuse medicallythe necessaryNHS treatmentas whilethey yourdo currentnow visituntil lasts,the end of their visit, even if it extendsfinishes intoafter 2021.exit day.

IfHowever, yourif visityou beganare onvisiting orthe UK after 1exit Januaryday, 2021, you may havenot be able to payuse foryour treatment.EHIC Anyor treatmentPRC. youYou haveshould buy insurance to paycover foryour willhealthcare beas chargedyou atwould 150%if ofvisiting another non-EU country.

Find out more information on the nationalEEA NHSEFTA rate.states Citizens’ Rights arrangements

Travel

Agreement insurancewith Ireland

TheIrish governmentcitizens alwaysvisiting advises visitors to the UKUK, toand takeBritish outcitizens travelvisiting orIreland, healthwill insurance.not Thisneed meansto thatpay youfor cantreatment reclaimif anythey healthcarefall costsill youor arehave requireda tomedical payemergency fromduring yourtheir insurer.visit.

CheckIrish yourcitizens insurancewho hasare living in the necessaryUK, healthcareand coverageBritish citizens who are living in Ireland, will continue to makehave surethe youright canto getaccess healthcare in the treatmentUK. youThis needis duringbecause yourof visit.longstanding arrangements under the Common Travel Area.

InsuranceFind isout particularlymore importantabout forthe thoseCommon withTravel aArea pre-existingbetween healththe condition.British Youand mustIreland

Visitors tellfrom yourSpain

If insurancethere’s companyno aboutdeal, anythe healthUK conditionsand youSpain have each taken steps to makeensure surethat youpeople canliving getin theeach covercountry youcan need.

Speakcontinue to youraccess doctorhealthcare foras advicethey beforedo younow traveluntil andat makeleast plans31 forDecember how2020.

This tomeans carethat forthat yourvisitors conditionfrom whenSpain youwill arebe inable theto UK.use Youtheir shouldSpanish-issued alsoEHIC, bringS1 youror healthS2 conditionform identificationafter orexit aday letteruntil sayingat whatleast medication31 youDecember are taking.2020.

Getting healthcare in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

ThisThe guidanceway isyou aboutaccess NHShealthcare entitlements in England.Scotland, ForWales moreand informationNorthern aboutIreland accessingmay healthcarebe indifferent Scotland,from WalesEngland andif Northernthere Ireland,is a no-deal Brexit.

For more information, visit the websites for health services in each country:

Published 19 March 2019

Last updated 93 MarchOctober 20212019 + show all updates

  1. In 'Medically necessary treatment' section, added that you may be eligible for a reimbursement of your immigration health surcharge payment in certain circumstances, and a link to find out more.

  2. Updated with information on visiting the UK now the Brexit transition period has ended, reflecting the terms of the UK–EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement on reciprocal healthcare arrangements.

  3. Added no-deal Brexit arrangement for Spanish visitors.

  4. Increased visibility of calls to action. Highlighted the different guidance for visiting England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland if there is a no-deal Brexit. Highlighted guidance for EU and EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland) citizens about agreements with EFTA states and studying in the UK.

  5. First published.

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