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Health care in Scotland for overseas holidaymakers
- I live in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. Can I get free NHS care when I visit Scotland?
- I don’t live in the EEA or Switzerland. Can I get NHS care when I visit Scotland?
- I don’t live in a country listed on this page. Can I get NHS care when I visit Scotland?
I live in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. Can I get free NHS care when I visit Scotland?
- Yes. If you normally live in the EEA or Switzerland, you will not have to pay for treatment that is necessary while you are here.
- This includes treatment for an illness or condition you had before coming to Scotland, as well as treatment you need if you become ill while you are here.
- You must get a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) in your own country before your trip.
- You will need to show your EHIC card to NHS staff.
- If you don’t have an EHIC card, NHS staff may not be able to treat you as an NHS patient. You may need to pay for any care you receive.
I don’t live in the EEA or Switzerland. Can I get free NHS care when I visit Scotland?
- You may be able to. The UK has special arrangements with some countries outside the EEA.
- If you come from one of those countries you will be able to get some free health care from the NHS while you are here.
- You should ask the health service in your own country about this.
You will get some free NHS care if you live in one of the following countries:
Anguilla, Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Falkland Islands, Isle of Man, Montserrat, St Helena, or the Turks and Caicos Islands.
What happens if I need treatment?
- NHS staff will need to see some documents to make sure you can get NHS care.
- NHS staff may need to see documents that show where you live, for example your driving licence or other documents to prove you are registered for work or health care in your own country.
- If you don’t have the documents they ask for, NHS staff will not be able to treat you as an NHS patient. You may need to pay for any care you receive.
You will get some free NHS care if you are a national of, and you live in one of the following countries:
New Zealand, the Russian Federation, a former Soviet Union State (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine) or former Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro; Bosnia, Macedonia and Croatia).
What happens if I need treatment?
- NHS staff will need to see some documents to make sure that you can get NHS care.
- You may need to show:
- your passport or national identity card, and
- documents showing where you live, for example, your driving licence or other documents to prove you are registered for work or health care in your own country.
If you don’t have the documents they ask for, NHS staff will not be able to treat you as an NHS patient. You may need to pay for any care you receive.
If you don’t normally live in a country listed on this page, you will need to pay for all of your health care (other than the health care services that are free to everyone).
Page last edited: 02 August 2010