A UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) lets you get necessary state healthcare in the EEA and some other countries on the same basis as a local resident. The NHS says that, as of Nov 2026, it's free, lasts for up to 5 years and should be applied for through the NHS website.
If you're heading to Europe, the GHIC is the card to sort before you pack. It replaced the old European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), it's free from the official site, and without it you'll pay in full for treatment abroad. It also has limits that catch travellers out, which is why the NHS still tells you to take out travel insurance. Here's what the NHS page on healthcare abroad says.
Where a UK GHIC works
The NHS lists these places for each card:
| Destination | UK GHIC | UK EHIC |
|---|---|---|
| Countries in the European Economic Area (EEA) | Yes | Covered |
| Switzerland | Yes, if you're a British, Swiss or EU national, a refugee, a stateless person or a family member of one | Covered |
| Montenegro | Yes | Not on the EHIC list |
| Australia | Yes | Not on the EHIC list |
| Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man | Yes | Not on the EHIC list |
| St Helena, Tristan and Ascension | Yes | Not on the EHIC list |
The NHS says the UK government is negotiating with other countries to expand where the GHIC can be used, so always check coverage before you travel. Anywhere else, you'll have to pay for treatment unless the UK has a healthcare agreement with that country.
Montenegro works a little differently. You can get free emergency treatment there, but you'll pay for prescribed medicines and other medical treatment. UK nationals can get emergency healthcare with a UK passport; UK residents who aren't UK nationals need their passport and a GHIC or EHIC.
What the card pays for and what it leaves out
The card covers state healthcare that can't reasonably wait until you're back in the UK, sometimes called medically necessary healthcare. That includes:
- emergency treatment and visits to A&E
- treatment or routine medical care for long-term or pre-existing conditions
- routine maternity care, as long as you're not going abroad to give birth
Some treatments, such as kidney dialysis or chemotherapy, need to be arranged in advance with the healthcare provider in the country you're visiting, because local providers won't always have the capacity. Whether treatment is medically necessary is decided by the healthcare provider in that country.
The card doesn't cover being flown back to the UK (medical repatriation), treatment in a private medical facility, or ski and mountain rescue. That's the gap travel insurance is there to fill.
State healthcare abroad isn't always free
This is the part most travellers don't expect. The GHIC gets you care on the same terms as a local resident, and the NHS is clear that not all state healthcare is free outside the UK. If a local resident would be expected to pay for something, you may have to pay too, even if it's free on the NHS at home. The NHS suggests checking the GOV.UK country guide for wherever you're going.
Some countries ask patients to pay a contribution towards their care, called a co-payment or patient share. You can claim back the difference between the total bill and the co-payment, but the co-payment itself isn't refundable. Depending on the country, you may pay all or part of the bill upfront and claim a refund afterwards, so keep every receipt and make sure you're treated by a public health provider, not a private one.
Who qualifies and how to apply
You're entitled to a UK GHIC if you're ordinarily and legally resident in the UK and you don't have healthcare cover provided by an EEA country or Switzerland. You may also be entitled if you're based in the EEA or Switzerland with a registered S1 form or an A1 document issued by the UK, or you're a family member or dependant of someone who's entitled. Here's how the application works:
- Go to the NHS website. The NHS warns against unofficial websites, which may charge you a fee to apply.
- Enter your own details first: full name, address, date of birth and National Insurance number, plus your Health and Care number if you're from Northern Ireland.
- Add your spouse, civil partner and children when prompted. Every member of your family needs their own card.
- Watch your inbox. The NHS says it'll email you within 24 hours to say whether your application is approved, so check your junk folder if nothing arrives. It may ask for more information or documents first.
- Wait for the card by post. Once approved, it should arrive within 15 working days.
If you've already applied and want to add family members, contact NHS Overseas Healthcare Services with your reference number, name, date of birth and address.
Old EHICs, renewals and student cards
If you still have an EHIC, you can use it until the expiry date on the card, then apply for a GHIC to replace it. You can apply for a new card up to 9 months before your current one expires. If you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement, you can choose a new UK EHIC instead; like the GHIC, it's free and lasts up to 5 years, and GOV.UK explains who has those rights.
Students need a letter from their university or college showing the UK institution's name and address if they're travelling as part of the course, where they're studying in the EEA or Switzerland, the qualification, the dates the study period starts and ends, and their permanent address in the UK. Students who've been studying in the EEA or Switzerland since before 2021 may get a UK Student EHIC. Anyone who started later, or is planning to study there, applies for a UK Student GHIC.
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If you're abroad without the card
If you need emergency treatment in another country and don't have your card with you, or your card hasn't arrived yet, you can apply for a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC). It gives you the same level of cover as a GHIC or EHIC. Without a GHIC, EHIC or PRC, you'll pay in full for treatment, so ask for a copy of the invoice and a receipt.
To claim a refund for care your card covers, download the refund claim form, fill it in and send it to NHS Overseas Healthcare Services with your receipts and supporting documents. If you think you've been charged when you shouldn't have been, contact the same team and keep every document relating to your treatment, such as invoices, discharge papers and proof that the care was state-provided.
Use the card only when you're entitled to it. The NHS says that using it for healthcare you're not entitled to can leave you liable for the full bill for all treatment received, or facing prosecution. If your circumstances change, contact NHS Overseas Healthcare Services.
My advice before you travel with a GHIC
Apply through the NHS website, never an unofficial site, and do it well before you go so the card arrives in time. Then buy travel insurance anyway, because the NHS page on healthcare abroad, GHIC and EHIC says the card isn't a replacement for it and won't fly you home or pay for private care. Check the FCDO travel advice on GOV.UK for your destination too.
Packing for the trip? This travel backpack round-up helps, and if your flight runs late on the way out, here's how UK flight delay compensation works.
Frequently asked questions
Is the GHIC card free?
Yes. As of Nov 2026, the NHS says a UK GHIC is free and lasts for up to 5 years. Unofficial websites may charge a fee, so apply through the NHS website.
Does a GHIC replace travel insurance?
No. It doesn't cover medical repatriation, private treatment or ski and mountain rescue, and the NHS advises having private travel and medical insurance too.
Can I still use my old EHIC?
Yes, until the expiry date on the card. After that you'll need a UK GHIC, unless you have Withdrawal Agreement rights and choose a new UK EHIC.
How long does a GHIC take to arrive?
The NHS emails you within 24 hours about approval, and once approved the card should arrive by post within 15 working days.
Can I use a GHIC in Switzerland?
Yes, if you're a British, Swiss or EU national, a refugee, a stateless person, or a family member of someone in one of those groups.
Does each family member need their own card?
Yes. Every member of your family needs their own card, and you can add your spouse, civil partner and children when you apply.
