GovWire

This information is about visiting the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Theres different guidance for healthcare if youre:

• visiting Spain
• visiting Ireland
• going to live, study or work in the EU

When you travel to an EU country or Switzerland you should have either:

• a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)
• a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

You should also have travel insurance with healthcare cover.

An EHIC or GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance. Make sure you have both before you travel.

Each healthcare system is different, and in some countries youll need to pay to have treatment.

Apply for a GHIC

A GHIC lets you get medically necessary state healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes for free.

If your EHIC is still in date, you do not need to apply for a new GHIC.

Theyre both valid if youre travelling to an EU country or, if youre eligible, in Switzerland.

Apply for a GHIC for free on the NHS website.

Visiting Switzerland

You can use your GHIC or EHIC in Switzerland to get state-provided, medically necessary healthcare at a reduced cost (or sometimes for free) if you are a:

• UK national
• Swiss national
• EU citizen
• refugee
• stateless person
• dependant or survivor of someone with one of these nationalities or statuses

You can only use your GHIC or EHIC in Switzerland if one of the above applies to you even if you can use your GHIC or EHIC in the EU.

You may also be asked to show evidence of your nationality when accessing healthcare using a GHIC or EHIC in Switzerland.

Visiting Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein

You can use a UK passport to get medically necessary healthcare in Norway.

GHICs and most UK EHICs are not valid in Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Make sure you take out travel insurance with medical cover for your trip.

You may not have access to free emergency medical treatment and could be charged for your healthcare if you do not get health cover with your travel insurance.

Visits that started in 2020 and end in 2021

If you started your visit to Iceland or Liechtenstein before 1 January 2021, your UK EHIC entitlements will continue until you leave that country.

Who can use a UK-issued EHIC

Some people can get a new UK-issued EHIC which is valid for visits to Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.

Youll be able to apply if youre:

• an EU, Norwegian, Icelandic, Liechtenstein or Swiss national, and started living in the UK before 1 January 2021
• receiving a UK State Pension or some other exportable benefits, and started living in the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland before 1 January 2021
• a frontier worker (someone who works in one state and lives in another), and started being one before 1 January 2021, for as long as you continue to be a frontier worker in the host state
• an eligible family member or dependant of one of the above

Apply now for your new UK EHIC on the NHS website.

UK students using an EHIC

If you started living and studying in Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein before 1 January 2021, you need to apply for a new UK-issued EHIC.

This entitles you to medically necessary state healthcare until the end of your course.

Using your EHIC or GHIC

An EHIC or GHIC covers state healthcare, not private treatment.

With an EHIC or GHIC you can get emergency or necessary medical care for the same cost as a resident in the country youre visiting. This means that you can get healthcare at a reduced cost or for free.

Find out what your card covers in each country. You can select the country you are planning to visit from the drop-down list.

An EHIC or GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance it does not cover everything, such as mountain rescue or being flown back to the UK (medical repatriation). Make sure you have both before you travel.

Youll need to pay in full for treatment if you do not have an EHIC, GHIC or provisional replacement certificate (PRC).

The following European countries do not accept the EHIC or GHIC:

• the Isle of Man
• Jersey
• Monaco
• San Marino
• the Vatican

If you do not have your EHIC or GHIC with you

Youll need to apply for a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC) if you need treatment and you do not have your EHIC or GHIC, or your card is lost or stolen abroad.

Call the Overseas Healthcare Services. This is part of the NHS Business Services Authority (BSA).

Travelling with a health condition

Buy travel insurance with healthcare cover for your condition. Your EHIC or GHIC will cover medically necessary treatment.

Read the Money and Pensions Advice Service guidance for buying travel insurance for people with pre-existing medical conditions.

If you need to have treatment while youre abroad, you may need to pre-arrange it. For example, if you need dialysis or oxygen treatment. Speak to your doctor in the UK for advice before you travel.

You cannot take some products prescribed for health conditions with you into the EU. These include special food required for medical reasons containing meat or dairy. There are some exemptions. Read more about taking animal products, food or plants with you

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