How to Benefit of Health Care as an Immigrant in UK

From the beginning, we remind that emergency treatments are free for all citizens no matter where they come from. The National Health Service in the UK (NHS) is one of the most appreciated in the world, with experienced doctors, complete treatments, and innovative medicine. If you want to relocate to the UK, we recommend soliciting assistance and guidance from our immigration solicitors in London when applying for a UK visa. They can also help you obtain a residence permit in UK or British citizenship.

National Health Service for migrants in the UK 

Any foreign citizen who lives in the UK lawfully (settled, or a visa holder who paid the Immigration Health Surcharge) can register with a GP and receive an NHS number which is necessary to obtain different medical treatments, besides the ones offered in emergency cases. There is no NHS health card; you are identified by this number when scheduling an appointment at the doctor. It is true, the waiting list can be long, but the emergency situations will always be treated in time. Citizens also have the possibility to receive private medical treatments in special clinics with particular tariffs. We remind you that you can ask for details from our UK immigration lawyer about the needed visa to enter the UK. In addition, if you are interested in obtaining a UK investor visa, our lawyers can assist you. Note that Tier 1 investor visas closed to new applicants on 17 February 2022, despite demand among foreign investors looking to invest in the United Kingdom. Individuals can live and work in the United Kingdom while also contributing to the economy. However, certain requirements must be met in order to apply for this type of visa. So, if you want to learn more about those requirements, contact our lawyers.

Free treatments for expats in the UK

Once registered with a GP in the UK (and, for visa holders, after paying the Immigration Health Surcharge), any individual can benefit from all kinds of treatments, no matter if they solicit medical help in normal periods of the year or during a holiday. The following treatments are free for all expats in the UK:

•     emergency aid in case of accidents;
•     suitable treatments for patients with tuberculosis, meningitis, malaria or cholera;
•     HIV tests;
•     family planning;
•     psychiatric treatments.

We remind that the medical staff in the UK may check your eligibility (immigration status) before offering non-urgent treatments. Our UK immigration lawyer can help you in this matter and also with the formalities of UK residence card or British citizenship. Besides this, if you are interested in applying for a UK innovator visa, our lawyers can offer you practical help with the application procedure. Since 13 April 2023 (Innovator Founder visa) there is no minimum investment requirement. As a business person, please keep in mind that your business proposal or idea should be approved by an endorsing body. To learn more, get a consultation from our lawyers.

Who else can benefit from health care in the UK

The legal residents, the students, the self-employed individuals, and the persons working in the UK can benefit from free NHS treatments. People who live and work in the UK have access to the health care system in the country under the NHS rules and conditions. EU/EEA nationals with EU Settlement Scheme status, refugees and asylum seekers have full access (EU/EEA visitors use their EHIC) to the available treatments in the country. This is also available for people who lived in the UK for the last ten years and now have residency in a non-EU or EU/EEA state. More about how to obtain a residence permit in UK can be solicited from our London immigration lawyer.

Additional information about the health care system in the UK can be obtained from our immigration solicitors in London who can also offer complete and correct assistance in visa matters for the UK, so do not hesitate to contact us. Talk to our London immigration lawyer.