Register with a GP surgery near your home as soon as you have an address. In England you can do it online in about 15 minutes, and you do not need ID, proof of address, an NHS number or proof of immigration status. Your Immigration Health Surcharge already covers GP care, so appointments are free.
In the UK your GP (general practitioner) is the gateway to almost all NHS care. You cannot usually see a hospital specialist, get a non-urgent scan or get repeat medicines without a GP referral or prescription. Registration can take a few days to process, so do it before you need it, not when your child has a fever at 10pm.
If you came on a visa of more than six months, you paid the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) as part of your application. Health and Care Worker visa holders and their dependants are exempt from paying it but get the same access. It gives you access to the NHS on broadly the same basis as a UK resident from the date your visa starts. GP visits, hospital treatment and maternity care are free. Prescriptions, dental and eye care can still carry the normal charges. For the current IHS amount for your route, use the UK visa checker.
NHS England guidance is clear: you do not need proof of address, photo ID, an NHS number or proof of immigration status to register with a GP. A practice may ask for documents to match your records or confirm you live in its catchment area. It must not refuse you only because you cannot provide them.
A practice can lawfully refuse you only for limited reasons, mainly:
If you are refused, the practice must give the reason in writing within 14 days. In England you can complain to the practice manager or contact NHS England on 0300 311 2233. Doctors of the World runs a helpline (0808 1647 686) for people who are wrongly turned away.
Useful to have anyway: your passport, your UK address and postcode, your date of birth, and a list of current medicines with the generic (salt) names, not Indian brand names. A UK pharmacist will not recognise 'Dolo 650' but will know paracetamol 500mg.
In England, go to nhs.uk/register. Enter your postcode, pick a practice that covers your address and accepts online registration, and fill in the form. It takes about 15 minutes per person, and each family member needs their own registration. Some practices use their own online form or a paper form called GMS1.
Tips for choosing:
In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland you register directly with the practice (NHS inform, NHS 111 Wales and nidirect list local surgeries). The rule that you do not need proof of immigration status to register is broadly the same.
Once registered, you receive or can look up your NHS number (10 digits). Download the NHS App in England to book appointments, order repeat prescriptions and see test results.
| Nation | Prescription charge 2026/27 |
|---|---|
| England | £9.90 per item (about ₹1,250) |
| Scotland | Free for everyone living in Scotland |
| Wales | Free if registered with a Welsh GP and dispensed in Wales |
| Northern Ireland | Free since April 2010 |
In England, if you need several items regularly (for thyroid, diabetes or blood pressure, for example), a Prescription Prepayment Certificate caps the cost. A 12-month PPC costs about £114.50, which beats paying per item once you need more than about 11 items a year. Some groups get free prescriptions, including children under 16, people aged 60 and over, pregnant women and new mothers with a maternity exemption certificate, and people with certain conditions such as diabetes treated with medication.
Pharmacies are more useful than in India for minor illness. In England, Pharmacy First lets pharmacists treat some common conditions, such as sinusitis, sore throat and urinary infections in women, without a GP appointment. Antibiotics are not sold over the counter.
Dentists are separate from GPs. You do not register for life. Instead, you find a practice taking on NHS patients (search on nhs.uk) and start a course of treatment. NHS dental places are hard to find in many areas, so ask several practices. England's NHS charges from 1 April 2026 are £27.90 (Band 1: check-up and X-rays), £76.60 (Band 2: fillings, root canal, extractions) and £332.10 (Band 3: crowns, bridges, dentures). Private dentists charge much more. Many Indians combine NHS check-ups with major work done during trips home.
Mental health: moving countries is stressful, and the NHS treats anxiety and depression as ordinary health problems. In England you can self-refer to NHS Talking Therapies online without seeing a GP first. Your GP can also refer you or prescribe treatment. In a crisis, call 111 and choose the mental health option, or call 999.
Maternity: if you or your partner are pregnant, tell your GP or self-refer to the local maternity service as early as possible, ideally before 10 weeks. NHS antenatal care, scans, birth and postnatal care are free for IHS payers. In England, ask your midwife for a maternity exemption certificate (MatEx). It gives free prescriptions and free NHS dental care during pregnancy and for 12 months after the birth. Babies are registered with the GP after birth and get their own NHS number. Planning to bring family over? See bringing dependants to the UK.
No. NHS England guidance says you do not need proof of address, ID or immigration status. A practice may ask, but it should not refuse you only because you cannot provide them.
Yes. If you paid the Immigration Health Surcharge, GP appointments, hospital care and maternity care are free. Prescriptions in England and dental care still carry charges.
£9.90 per item in England. Prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales (for Welsh GP patients) and Northern Ireland.
The online form takes about 15 minutes. Practices usually process it within a few working days.
Practices can decline patients who live outside their boundary. Some accept out-of-area patients without home visits, so ask the practice.
No, not for most adults in England. NHS charges from April 2026 are £27.90, £76.60 or £332.10 per course of treatment, depending on the band.
Checked against these sources on 14 October 2026. Rules and fees change; confirm with the authority before you apply.
