You’re eligible to apply for a UK GHIC if you’re legally living in the UK and do not have healthcare cover provided by:
- a European Union (EU) country
- Switzerland
- Norway
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
UK residents are not entitled to a UK GHIC if their healthcare is paid for by another country. They can apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from the country that pays their healthcare.
As part of your UK GHIC application, we'll complete a residency check.
If we're unable to confirm your entitlement, you must send 2 pieces of evidence to support your application including:
- one or more different utility service bills such as a gas, electric, water, home broadband, mobile phone, TV license, landline telephone, or satellite television bill dated within the last 6 months of the application date or any date after
- a Local Authority council tax bill, council tax demand notice or council tax reduction notice dated for the current financial year of the application or any financial year after
- a housing association rent card or tenancy agreement, council or letting agency tenancy letter or rent agreement which is valid on or after the time of application
- a benefit book or award notice dated within the last 6 months of the application date or any date after
- a letter from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) dated within the last 6 months of the application date
- a bank or credit card statement showing all transactions dated within the last 6 months of the application date or any date after
- a building society, credit union statement or passbook dated within the last 6 months of the application date or any date after
- an electoral register entry dated for the financial year of application or any date after
- a letter from a hospital or GP on headed paper dated within the last 6 months of the application date or any date after
- a mortgage statement from a recognised lender dated within the last 6 months of the application date or any date after
- an HMRC self-assessment letter or tax demand for the financial year of application or any financial year after
- a solicitor's letter dated within 6 months of the application date
- a letter from a support worker or other professional confirming you’re being cared for by them
- a student loan letter dated for the academic year of the application date or any year after
- polling cards if the date of the election is within the last 6 months of the application date or any date after
- payslips showing a UK address dated within the last 6 months of the application date or any date after
- an employment contract or letter from your employer if you’re a live in carer
- a car insurance or car tax letter issued within the last 6 months of the application date or any date after
- an insurance policy such as home, contents, pet or travel dated with the last 6 months of the application date or any date after
- a P45 certificate showing a UK address dated within the last 6 months of the application date or any date after
- a P60 End of Year Certificate showing a UK address for the current tax year or any tax year after
Upload your evidence to the Overseas Healthcare Services (OHS) online application using the link provided on the email sent to you.
If you cannot access the online application, you can send your evidence by email to nhsbsa.ghicapplicationsohs@nhsbsa.nhs.uk or by post to:
Overseas Healthcare Services
PO BOX 854
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE99 2DE
You do not need to provide original documents. You can send scanned or photographed images by email if all information needed is clearly visible.
If you're posting original documents, you must confirm they need to be returned and provide a return address.
If you cannot provide 2 of the documents listed, send us all alternative evidence you have available. This must show your full name, the address you've used for your application and the date. You must tell us why you're sending alternative evidence.
If we’re unable to accept the alternative evidence, we'll contact you to advise further.
Non-UK or Irish nationals
If you’re a non-UK or Irish national, we'll carry out an EU Settlement Scheme (EU SS) status check when processing your UK GHIC application.
If the check is unable to confirm you hold EUSS status, we'll contact you to ask you to provide evidence such as:
- evidence of your EUSS status - visit www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status for details on how to supply evidence such as your share code
- UK or Irish passport
- UK birth certificate
- eVisa Share Code
- stamp or vignette in passport stating Indefinite Leave to Remain or Indefinite Leave to Enter and copy of personal details in passport
- copy of Army, RAF or Navy pass or ID
- certificate of UK naturalisation
- a permanent residence certificate
- an Accession State Worker Registration Scheme certificate
- both sides of a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) up until the expiry date - most BRPs have expiry dates of 31 December 2024