How to apply for a GHIC card
Apply for a free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) through the official NHS website so you can get state healthcare in the EU at the same cost as locals.
- Time
- 10 minutes to apply; up to 15 working days to arrive
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 6
- Checked
What you’ll need
- Your National Insurance number (or CHI number in Scotland, H&C number in Northern Ireland)
- Details for each family member you're applying for
- Email address
Safety first
- Never pay for a GHIC – the official card is free.
- A GHIC won't cover the cost of getting you home if you're ill or injured, which can be very expensive. Get travel insurance.
Step by step
-
Step 1: Check you're eligible
You can apply if you're ordinarily and legally resident in the UK and don't have healthcare cover from an EEA country or Switzerland. Some people, such as UK State Pensioners living in the EU, apply differently.
Next: step 2 -
Step 2: Go to the official NHS site
Apply on nhs.uk via the 'Apply for a free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)' page (GOV.UK links there too). The card is free. Unofficial websites may charge a fee to 'help' – avoid them.
Next: step 3 -
Step 3: Fill in the form
Enter your details. You can add your partner and dependent children to the same application – check the eligibility notes on the form.
Next: step 4 -
Step 4: Wait for your card
You'll get an email confirming your application within 24 hours. Once approved, the card should arrive within 15 working days. It lasts up to 5 years.
Next: step 5 -
Step 5: Card not arrived before you travel?
If you need treatment abroad without your card, you can apply for a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC) to cover you temporarily.
Next: step 6 -
Step 6: Take it with you – and travel insurance
Carry your GHIC (or valid EHIC) when you travel. It covers medically necessary state healthcare at the same cost as a resident – which may not be free – but not private treatment, mountain rescue or flights home (repatriation). The NHS says it's not a replacement for travel insurance.
Tips
- Your old EHIC can still be used until the expiry date on it, then apply for a GHIC.
- Check the NHS country guides – what's free and what you pay for differs between countries.
- If you have a pre-existing condition, check the rules on planned treatment and declare it on your travel insurance.
Questions people ask
Is a GHIC valid in Switzerland, Norway and Iceland?
UK GHIC coverage in these countries depends on your circumstances – check the NHS country guide before you go.
How long does a GHIC last?
Up to 5 years. Check the expiry date before each trip.
Does GHIC cover existing conditions?
It covers medically necessary treatment, including for existing conditions such as routine care, but not travelling specifically to get treatment.
Sources
Checked 9 October 2026. We wrote this guide in our own words, using:
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