Student Visa NHS Access Guide
International students who pay the Immigration Health Surcharge can use the NHS like UK residents. This guide explains what is covered, how to register, and what costs to expect.
- Section
- Student & Graduate
- Reading time
- 7 min
- Last checked
- 15 March 2026
- Source
- The published Immigration Rules and GOV.UK guidance, linked throughout this guide.
- Rowan does not
- Look at your own case, tell you which route to choose, or say what the Home Office will decide. This guide shows the published rules and where to read them.
In short
- The healthcare surcharge for students and their dependants is £776 a year, not the £1,035 standard rate. It is paid upfront with the visa application.
- It is charged on the length of the visa, which GOV.UK notes may be longer than the course.
- Once paid, you can use the NHS like a UK resident.
- The NHS says you do not need ID, proof of address or proof of immigration status to register with a GP surgery in England.
- Dental and eye care have separate charges for everyone.
- Prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland; in England they are £9.90 an item.
As an international student in the UK, you access the NHS through the Immigration Health Surcharge paid with your visa. This covers GP visits, hospital care, and most treatments. This guide explains how to register, what is free, and what still costs money.
The Immigration Health Surcharge
When you apply for your Student visa, you pay the healthcare surcharge as part of the application. Students, their dependants, people on the Youth Mobility Scheme, and applicants who are under 18 at the time of application pay £776 a year. Everyone else pays £1,035 a year.
It is paid upfront and calculated on the length of the visa you are given. GOV.UK is explicit that "a visa may last longer than your course of study", and a Student visa normally covers the course plus a wrap-up period after it ends, so the amount charged is usually more than the number of years of teaching. Where a visa runs for more than a year and up to 18 months, GOV.UK charges the yearly cost plus half; for more than 18 months and less than 2 years, it charges 2 full years.
Once paid, you are entitled to NHS treatment on the same basis as a UK resident. You do not need private health insurance to access the NHS, although some students choose to have it for additional cover. For a full breakdown of Student visa costs, including the surcharge, see our cost guide.
Registering with a GP
Your first step after arriving in the UK should be to register with a GP (General Practitioner) practice near where you live. To register:
- Find a GP practice near your accommodation using the NHS GP finder.
- Register online, on a paper form at the surgery, or through the surgery's own website.
- Give your name, date of birth and address, plus the name and address of an emergency contact, of any GP you are registered with now, and of your carer if you have one.
The NHS says you do not need identification, proof of address or proof of immigration status to register, and that you do not need an NHS number. It says online registration usually completes within 5 days of the surgery getting your details. Your university health centre may also offer GP registration.
What Is Covered
- GP appointments: Free (no charge per visit)
- Hospital treatment: Free, including A&E, surgery, and specialist care
- Mental health services: Free through NHS referral
- Maternity care: Free
- Sexual health clinics: Free
- COVID and flu vaccinations: Free
What Costs Extra
- Prescriptions (England only): the NHS gives the current charge as £9.90 per item. Exemptions exist, including for people on a low income, who can apply through the NHS Low Income Scheme for an HC2 certificate.
- Dental treatment: NHS dental care in England has its own band charges. The NHS gives these as Band 1 £27.90, Band 2 £76.60 and Band 3 £332.10, with urgent dental treatment charged at £27.90. Where treatments from different bands are combined, only the highest band is charged.
- Eye tests and glasses: private sight tests are charged by the optician, so the price varies. NHS sight tests are free for some groups, including people on a low income — check the NHS list of who qualifies.
University Health Services
Most UK universities have their own health and wellbeing services, including:
- On-campus GP practice or health centre
- Counselling and mental health support
- Disability support services
These services are often free and can be a quicker alternative to NHS waiting lists for mental health support. Check your university's website for details. If you are considering council tax exemption or your bank account options, see our related guides.
Emergency Care
If you have a medical emergency, go to the nearest A&E (Accident and Emergency) department or call 999. Emergency treatment is free. For non-emergencies, call 111 for NHS advice.
Next Steps
Registering with a GP surgery is what opens up appointments, referrals and prescriptions, and the NHS asks only for basic details. Biometric residence permits stopped being issued at the end of 2024, so your immigration status is now held online as an eVisa and proved with a share code that lasts 90 days.
Related guides:
Questions and answers
Do international students get free NHS treatment?
Yes, once you have paid the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of your visa application, you are entitled to use the NHS on the same basis as a UK resident. This covers GP visits, hospital treatment, and most other NHS services. Dental and eye care have separate charges that apply to everyone.
How much is the healthcare surcharge for students?
Students and their dependants pay £776 a year, rather than the £1,035 standard rate. GOV.UK charges it on the length of the visa you are given, not the length of your course, and notes that a visa may last longer than the course. So 3 years of permission is £2,328, but a Student visa for a 3-year degree usually runs beyond the course end date. The surcharge is paid upfront when you submit your visa application.
Do I need to register with a GP?
Registering with a GP surgery near where you live is what gives you access to appointments, referrals and prescriptions, and the NHS says everyone in England can register for free. The NHS also says you only give basic information — name, date of birth and address — and that you do not need ID, proof of address or proof of immigration status.
Are prescriptions free for students?
In Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, prescriptions are free for everyone. In England, you pay a standard charge per prescription item, currently £9.90, unless you qualify for an exemption.
This guide is general information about published immigration rules. It is not advice about an individual application under s.82 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, and Rowan is not regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority. Immigration rules change several times a year. For advice on a particular situation, contact an adviser authorised by the Immigration Advice Authority or an immigration solicitor. Always check GOV.UK for the authoritative current rules.