The Immigration Health Surcharge
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a one-time upfront fee for NHS access, paid when you apply for a UK visa longer than 6 months.
| Visa type | IHS per year |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker, Family, most work | £1,035 |
| Student | £776 |
| Youth Mobility Scheme | £1,035 |
| Health/Care Worker (exempt) | £0 |
If you're on a 5-year Skilled Worker visa, you pay £5,175 IHS at the point of application — in addition to the visa fee of £719-1,420.
Registering with a GP
GP (General Practitioner) registration is your access to the NHS. You must register with a surgery near your home.
- Find nearby GP surgeries at nhs.uk/service-search
- Call or drop in to register — bring passport + visa/BRP + proof of address
- Fill in GMS1 form (registration)
- Sometimes asked for a "new patient check" — 20 min with a nurse
- You now have access to GP appointments, referrals, prescriptions
🏥 No "family doctor" system — you can't usually pick a specific GP within a surgery. You see whoever is available. Continuity is possible after multiple visits.
What the NHS Covers
- GP visits — free
- Specialist referrals — free (wait can be 6 weeks to 6 months)
- A&E (emergency) — free
- Hospital care — free
- Prescriptions — £9.90 per item in England; free in other home nations
- Dental — NHS dental is limited/subsidised; private common (£50-200/visit)
- Eye exams — free for under 16, over 60, some medical conditions
- Mental health — free NHS therapy; long waits; private £80-140/session
⏱️ Reality check: NHS GP wait times can be 2-4 weeks for routine appointments. A&E wait for non-urgent cases can be 4-12 hours. Private GPs cost £80-150 for same-day visits.
Private Health Insurance
- Major providers: Bupa, AXA Health, Vitality, Aviva, WPA
- Cost: £40-120/month for individual, £100-300/month for families
- Covers: faster specialist access, private rooms, some drugs not on NHS
- Does NOT replace NHS — most policies require you to use NHS for A&E
- Common employer perk — especially in finance, tech, law
Prescriptions
| Country | Cost |
|---|---|
| England | £9.90 per item |
| Scotland | Free |
| Wales | Free |
| Northern Ireland | Free |
England Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC): £32.05 for 3 months or £114.50 for a year covers unlimited prescriptions — worth it if you take 2+ regular medications.
📞 NHS 111: 24/7 non-emergency medical helpline. Free call. Can advise whether to go to A&E, GP or home care. Use this before going to A&E for non-urgent issues.