Spouse Visa and NHS Access: Healthcare Guide
What you need to know
- •The IHS gives you access to most NHS services including GP and hospital care.
- •Register with a GP as soon as possible after arriving in the UK.
- •Dental care and prescriptions in England have separate charges.
- •Maternity care is fully covered under the NHS.
- •After ILR, you no longer pay the IHS.
Spouse visa holders who pay the IHS have access to NHS services on the same basis as permanent residents. This covers GP care, hospital treatment, maternity services, and more. Dental care and prescriptions in England have separate charges.
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The Immigration Health Surcharge
When you apply for a spouse visa, you pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) as part of the application. The IHS is currently £1,035 per year and is paid upfront for the full duration of your visa. This payment gives you access to NHS services.
The IHS applies at each stage of the 5-year route — initial visa, extension, and (for the period of the extension). Once you receive ILR, you no longer pay the IHS and access the NHS as a permanent resident.
Full details on the IHS are on the GOV.UK IHS page.
What Is Covered
- GP services: Consultations, referrals, and ongoing care
- Hospital treatment: Emergency, outpatient, and inpatient treatment
- Maternity care: Antenatal, delivery, and postnatal care
- Mental health services: Through your GP or NHS referral
- Sexual health services: Free to everyone regardless of visa status
- Accident and emergency: Free to everyone
What Is Not Covered by the IHS
- NHS dental care: Dental treatment has its own charges (currently in bands from £26.80 to £319.10 in England). Emergency dental care is available through NHS 111.
- Prescriptions in England: Standard charge of £9.90 per item. A prescription pre-payment certificate (PPC) saves money if you need regular prescriptions. Prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
- Eye tests and glasses: Not covered. You pay for optical care privately, though some people qualify for NHS-funded eye tests.
Registering with a GP
Registering with a GP should be one of your first steps after arriving in the UK. The process is simple:
- Find your nearest GP surgery using the NHS website or app
- Contact the surgery and ask to register as a new patient
- Complete a registration form (GMS1)
- You may be offered a new patient health check
GP surgeries cannot refuse to register you based on your immigration status. You do not need proof of address to register, although it helps to have one. If a surgery turns you away, contact NHS England.
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Maternity Care
Maternity care is fully covered under the NHS for IHS payers. This includes:
- Antenatal appointments and scans
- Hospital delivery or home birth with NHS midwife
- Postnatal care
- Health visitor services for you and your baby
Register with a GP and tell them you are pregnant as early as possible. They will refer you to midwifery services.
No Recourse to Public Funds
Spouse visa holders are subject to a "no recourse to public funds" (NRPF) condition. This means you cannot claim most means-tested benefits (Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, etc.). However, NRPF does not affect your NHS access — the IHS covers your healthcare.
Some benefits that are not affected by NRPF include Child Benefit (though this is under review) and disability benefits in certain circumstances. For more on the NRPF condition, see the complete spouse visa guide.
After ILR
Once you receive indefinite leave to remain, you are treated as a permanent resident for NHS purposes. You no longer pay the IHS on future applications, and you access the NHS on the same terms as a British citizen. This is one of the practical benefits of reaching settlement.
Next Steps
Register with a GP as soon as possible after arriving. Familiarise yourself with the NHS services available to you. If you need dental care or regular prescriptions, factor these costs into your budget.
Related guides:
This guide is general information, not immigration advice. Immigration rules change frequently. For advice on your specific situation, consult an OISC-registered adviser or immigration solicitor. Always check GOV.UK for the latest rules.
Preparing a UK visa application?
Get a personalised document checklist and eligibility check — free.