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UK Global Health Insurance Card

UK Global Health Insurance Card
  United Kingdom
  Countries accepting the GHIC for access to healthcare
  Countries accepting a British passport for access to healthcare
Issued by United Kingdom
First issued1 January 2021
PurposeAccess to free or reduced cost health services in countries which have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK
Valid in European Union
 Gibraltar
Guernsey Guernsey
 Iceland
 Liechtenstein
 Montenegro
 Norway
 Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
  Switzerland
EligibilityUK residents;[a] UK state pension recipients living in an EU member state
CostFree

The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) is a card issued by the NHS Business Services Authority on behalf of the Department for Health and Social Care in the United Kingdom. It is issued free of charge to anyone covered by the social security system of the United Kingdom and provides evidence of entitlement to the provision of healthcare services under the UK's reciprocal healthcare agreements with the European Union, Switzerland,[1] Norway,[2] Iceland,[2] Liechtenstein,[2] Montenegro,[2] Guernsey and some British Overseas Territories.[3][2] It is also accepted by Australia as proof of eligibility to enrol in Medicare.[4]

Before January 2021, UK residents, students and European Economic Area/Switzerland-resident UK state pension recipients were entitled to a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Under the terms of the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the UK and EU agreed that reciprocal healthcare provision would continue. The UK launched the Global Health Insurance Card in January 2021 to partially replace the EHIC for this purpose. The UK continues to accept EHICs issued by EU member states and issue EHICs to certain individuals who maintain entitlement under previous treaties with the EEA and Switzerland.[5]

From January 2024, reciprocal healthcare arrangements similar to those with the EU were established between the UK and Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.[6] Consequently, the GHIC is accepted in the same countries as the UK EHIC.

Like the EHIC, the GHIC only covers healthcare which is normally covered by a statutory health care system in the visited country, so the UK government still advises travellers to purchase travel insurance.[7]


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  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Switzerland was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d e "Where can I use a UK Global Health Insurance Card (UK GHIC) or UK European Health Insurance Card (UK EHIC)?". NHS Business Services Authority. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  3. ^ "UK and Guernsey strike landmark reciprocal healthcare deal". Health and social care, UK Government. 31 August 2022.
  4. ^ "Reciprocal Health Care Agreements - visiting from the United Kingdom - Reciprocal Health Care Agreements - Services Australia". www.servicesaustralia.gov.au. Australian Government. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Everything we know about the new Ghic health insurance card". The Independent. 3 January 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Healthcare for UK Nationals visiting EEA". gov.uk. Gov.uk. 21 January 2024.
  7. ^ "UK launches Global Health Insurance Card" (Press release). Department of Health and Social Care, UK Government. 11 January 2021.

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