Overseas visitors
The National Health Service (NHS) provides free hospital treatment for people who live in the United Kingdom only.
If you do not normally live in this country and you do not meet one of the exemptions from charges criteria you will have to pay for any treatment you need. This is regardless of your nationality; whether you hold a British passport; have lived in and paid National Insurance and taxes in the UK in the past; or have been issued with an HC2 certificate.
There is also information for EU and EEA (European Economic Area) visitors, who are entitled to reduced cost or free healthcare that is clinically necessary if they have a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Eligible European visitors must show their EHIC otherwise they may have to pay for NHS treatment.
For further information, please see our patient information leaflet.
How to provide evidence of NHS treatment entitlement
All patients admitted to hospital, or attending an outpatient clinic, whatever nationality and residency, need to provide correct information and evidence of entitlement if requested.
To prove your entitlement, you will need to provide our Overseas Visitors department with one of each of the following documents:
Proof of identity
- Photographic disabled blue badge
- Passport (non-EEA and biometric residence permit (BRP) or digital version of BRP)
- EEA national ID photo card
- Valid UK Armed or Police Forces photo ID
- Digital ID (issued by Home Office)
- National ID card and passport
- UK BRP (or digital version of BRP)
Proof of address or residency
- Notification letter from Department for Work and Pensions or HM Revenue and Customs confirming your right to benefit or state pension
- Home Office letter with current address
- Water, gas, electric or council tax bill
- Telephone bill (landline)
- Bank or building society statement
- Mortgage or rental agreement
Documents to establish your eligibility
- Non-UK European health insurance card (EHIC)
- An immigration naturalisation service document (IND) and application registration card (ARC) (for patients claiming asylum) or digital version by Home Office
- Provisional replacement certificate (PRC) for EHIC
- Any other Home Office issued documents
- EUSS certificate of application (CoA)
- EUSS share code
Contact our Overseas Visitors Departments
King’s College Hospital
Tel: 020 3299 5858
Email: [email protected]
Princess Royal University Hospital and South Sites
Tel: 01689 864468 or 01689 865882
Email: [email protected]