Health care for people coming to Scotland to study

What happens when I register as an NHS patient?

• When you go to the GP surgery, the staff will ask you for some personal information – for example, your name, address and date of birth.
• They will ask to see some documents to help them decide if you can register as an NHS patient. If you need hospital care, staff at the hospital will also ask to see these documents.
• If you are from the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, NHS staff may ask to see your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
  They will also ask to see a letter from your university or college which confirms that you have a place on a full-time course. The letter should say when your course starts and how long it lasts for.
  
• If you are not from the EEA or Switzerland, they will ask for documents that prove you have a place on a full-time course at a university or college. For example: your student visa, and ­a letter from your university or college. The letter should confirm that you have a place on a full-time course, and say when your course starts and how long it lasts for.

The United Kingdom has special health care arrangements with some countries outside the EEA. If you are from one of those countries, you can get some health care from the NHS in Scotland. UKCISA can give you more information on this.

• If you don’t have the documents they ask for, staff at the GP surgery may not be able to register you as an NHS patient. 

• If you receive health care from the NHS before you are registered as an NHS patient, you may be asked to pay for this. This may happen, for example, if you are waiting to get the documents you need for registering as an NHS patient. After you are registered, any money you have paid will be returned to you. 

Page last edited: 20 October 2011