Apply for a Free UK Global Health Insurance Card | 2026

Written by Ankit Sureja
Reviewed by Andrea Troy
5 min read
Updated: 13 Nov 2026
Health Insurance Guides
Apply for a Free UK Global Health Insurance Card | 2026

The free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) lets you get medically necessary, state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in the EU and a handful of other countries, on the same basis as a local resident. It is issued free of charge by the NHS Business Services Authority, lasts up to five years, and you only ever apply through the official NHS route. If a website asks you to pay a fee to apply, check, forward or fast-track your application, it is not the NHS.

A GHIC is not private medical insurance and it is not a substitute for travel insurance. It covers state healthcare abroad, not private hospitals, not repatriation to the UK, and not cancellation or lost baggage. Most travellers need both a GHIC and a travel or health policy. Below is exactly how to apply, what the card does and does not cover, and where it is valid.

Quick Answer: Apply for a Free UK Global Health Insurance Card

  • A GHIC is free. Never pay a fee to apply.
  • Apply via the official NHS service; it lasts up to 5 years.
  • Cards usually arrive within about 15 working days.
  • It covers state healthcare abroad, not repatriation or private hospitals.
  • Children under 16 are added to a parent’s or guardian’s application.

Last updated: October 2026

Written by the Free Price Compare editorial team | Reviewed October 2026

Content in this article

How do I apply for a free GHIC?

You apply for a free UK Global Health Insurance Card through the official NHS Business Services Authority service, and the only legitimate route is via the NHS website. The gov.uk and NHS pages link straight to the application, where you confirm your eligibility and enter your name, date of birth, National Insurance number and UK address. There is no charge at any stage.

The NHS aims to confirm by email within around 24 hours whether your application has been approved, and the physical card is then posted to you. Apply at least two weeks before you travel so the card arrives in time. You do not need to print anything; the card itself is what you present abroad.

  • Go to the NHS service (never a site offering a “review”, “forwarding” or “fast-track” service for a fee).
  • Confirm you are covered by the UK social security system.
  • Enter each applicant’s details, adding children under 16 to your own application.
  • Submit and wait for email confirmation, then for the card by post.

If you need help with the process, you can also compare your wider options and read our plain-English explainer of the EU health insurance card rules before you travel.

Compare health insurance cover for travel

How much does a GHIC cost and how long does it take?

A GHIC costs nothing to apply for, and it is valid for up to five years from the date it is issued. The NHS Business Services Authority issues it free on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care, so any payment request is a warning sign that you are on an unofficial copycat site rather than the NHS.

A UK GHIC can take up to 15 working days to arrive, according to the NHS Business Services Authority, so apply in good time before departure. Unofficial websites may charge processing fees for the same card, which is free through the NHS, and these services add no value. You can apply up to nine months before your current card expires, and your new card still runs for a fresh five-year term.

Feature Official UK GHIC
Cost to apply Free
Validity Up to 5 years
Typical arrival Around 15 working days
Early renewal Up to 9 months before expiry
Who issues it NHS Business Services Authority

Figures are indicative and may change.

Does a GHIC replace travel insurance?

A GHIC does not replace travel insurance, and the NHS is explicit that it is not a substitute for it. A GHIC gives you access to state-provided healthcare on the same terms as a local resident, which may be free or part-cost, but it does not cover the many non-medical risks of a trip.

A GHIC will not pay for treatment in a private hospital or clinic, medical repatriation back to the UK, mountain or ski rescue, cruise-ship medical centres, trip cancellation, flight delays, lost baggage or a stolen passport. Medical repatriation or evacuation can be very expensive, which is why a separate travel or health policy matters. The two work together: the GHIC reduces the cost of state treatment, and insurance covers the gaps.

If you want to understand where each one pays, our guide on health insurance for a trip to Europe and GHIC cover sets out the differences in detail, including how pre-existing conditions are treated.

See travel and health cover options

Where is a UK GHIC valid?

A UK GHIC is valid across the European Economic Area and Switzerland, plus several other territories, and is accepted in the same countries as the UK EHIC since reciprocal arrangements with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein took effect from January 2024. That means the EEA member states, Switzerland, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man.

The GHIC also works as proof of UK residency to access state-funded treatment in Ascension Island, Montenegro, St Helena and Tristan da Cunha. It does not cover popular destinations outside these arrangements, including the USA, Canada, Turkey and most of Asia, where only travel or health insurance will protect you. Ireland is reached through the Common Travel Area, so UK residents can access necessary care there without relying on a GHIC.

Where is a UK GHIC valid

Travelling further afield this year?

A GHIC only covers Europe and a few territories, so check cover for the rest of the world.

Compare health cover

Do children need their own card and can I have both EHIC and GHIC?

Children under 16 do not apply separately; you add each child to your own application as a dependant, and they receive their own card in their name. For a school trip without a parent, the parent or guardian still completes the application on the child’s behalf before travel.

UK residents can now only apply for a GHIC, not a new EHIC, but if you already hold a valid UK EHIC you can keep using it until its printed expiry date. You do not need both at once, and there is no benefit to holding a GHIC and an EHIC together. Once your EHIC expires, apply for a GHIC to continue your cover. There is no deadline to apply for either card.

Proof of UK residency is occasionally requested, usually two documents in the applicant’s name and address, which can surprise long-term UK residents. Have these ready if the service asks for them. For a fuller breakdown of the two cards, see our explainer on the European Health Insurance Card and what changed.

Why you still need private cover alongside a GHIC

A GHIC covers state treatment abroad, but it does nothing for your healthcare back in the UK, where private medical insurance (PMI) and the NHS sit side by side. PMI is insurance that pays towards private diagnosis and treatment of new, short-term (acute) conditions; it is regulated by the FCA and does not replace the NHS. Demand has risen sharply: 6.5 million people were covered by health insurance in the UK in 2024, up 4% on 2023, according to the ABI (published January 2026).

UK health insurers processed a record £4 billion in individual and workplace private medical insurance claims in 2024, according to the ABI (published January 2026), with 4.8 million people covered through workplace schemes. PMI generally does not cover ongoing management of chronic conditions, A&E and emergencies (that is the NHS), or pre-existing conditions, which are usually excluded or handled through a moratorium. If you have a medical concern, speak to your GP or NHS 111; we do not give medical advice.

How much does private health insurance cost?

Cover starts from £23 a month, with WPA promotional cover ranging from £22.90 to £38.58 a month across the single, couple and family tiers through Free Price Compare. Your own price depends on your age, where you live, the excess you choose and the plan terms. Underwriting also matters: moratorium underwriting assesses relevant medical history only if you claim, while full medical underwriting assesses it up front.

Premiums may vary depending on each individual’s circumstances. £22.90/month (about £5.28/week) for a 29-year-old non-smoker with Treatment Cover (£100 excess). £25.17/month (about £5.81/week) for a 35-year-old non-smoker with Treatment Cover (£250 excess). £38.58/month (about £8.90/week) for a 50-year-old non-smoker with Treatment Cover (£250 excess). All prices under WPA promotion. All include limited cancer cover and a £50,000 Treatment Cover limit per year. These are indicative UK examples; prices correct as of May 2026 and vary by individual circumstances, location, exclusions and plan terms.

Comparing across a panel of leading UK insurers, with help from our partnership with Health Window, lets you see how changing the excess or cover level moves the price before you commit. If you travel often, it is also worth reading our international health insurance cost and cover guide alongside your GHIC.

Compare private health insurance quotes

How to avoid GHIC copycat websites

GHIC copycat websites charge a fee for a card that is always free from the NHS, and they often appear at the top of search results describing themselves as review, checking, forwarding or fast-track services. They add no value and simply resubmit, or claim to resubmit, the same free application.

The simplest safeguard is to start from the official NHS or gov.uk route and never enter card payment details, because the genuine service never asks for money. If a site quotes a £20 to £40 processing fee, close it. For any card issue abroad, the NHS Overseas Healthcare Services team is the correct point of contact, not a paid intermediary.

How to avoid GHIC copycat websites

Explore our health insurance guides

FAQs about free UK Global Health Insurance Card

How do I apply for a free UK GHIC?

Apply through the official NHS Business Services Authority service, linked from the NHS and gov.uk websites. You confirm your eligibility and enter your name, date of birth, National Insurance number and UK address. It is free at every stage, and the NHS usually emails approval within about 24 hours before posting your card.

How much does a GHIC cost?

A GHIC is completely free to apply for. The NHS never charges a fee. Websites asking for around £20 to £40 to process, check or fast-track your application are unofficial copycat sites that add no value, and you should avoid them.

How long does a GHIC take to arrive?

A GHIC usually arrives within about 15 working days, which is roughly three weeks, so apply at least two weeks before you travel. The NHS aims to confirm whether your application is approved by email within around 24 hours, but the physical card itself is posted separately.

Do I need a GHIC if my EHIC is still valid?

No. If you already hold a valid UK EHIC, you can keep using it until the expiry date printed on the card. Once it expires, apply for a free UK GHIC to continue your cover. There is no benefit to holding both at the same time.

Can you have both a UK EHIC and a GHIC?

UK residents can now only apply for a GHIC, not a new EHIC, so you cannot obtain both as fresh cards. If you still have an unexpired EHIC alongside a GHIC, that is fine, but there is no advantage to holding two. Use whichever is valid until it expires, then rely on the GHIC.

Do children need their own GHIC card?

Children under 16 do not apply separately. You add each child to your own application as a dependant, and they receive their own card in their name. For a school trip without a parent present, the parent or guardian still completes the application beforehand.

Where can I use a UK GHIC?

A UK GHIC is valid across the European Economic Area and Switzerland, plus Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man, and it is accepted in the same countries as the UK EHIC. It does not cover the USA, Canada, Turkey or most of Asia, where only insurance protects you.

Can I use my NHS card outside the UK?

Your ordinary NHS number or medical card does not give you healthcare abroad. For state treatment in participating countries you need a UK GHIC, which proves you are covered by the UK social security system. Outside those countries, you rely on travel or health insurance instead.

Is Ireland covered by a GHIC?

Ireland is covered through the Common Travel Area between the UK and Ireland, not through the GHIC scheme. UK residents can access necessary healthcare in Ireland on that basis, so you do not need a GHIC specifically for a trip to Ireland, though travel insurance is still sensible.

Can I renew my GHIC before it expires?

Yes. You can apply for a new free UK GHIC up to nine months before your current card expires, and the replacement runs for a fresh term of up to five years. There is no deadline to apply or renew, but do it in good time before travelling.

What proof do I need to apply for a GHIC?

Most applicants only need their name, date of birth, National Insurance number and UK address. Occasionally the NHS may request proof of UK residency, usually two documents in your name and address, so have those ready in case they are asked for, even if you have lived in the UK all your life.

Also Read Related Articles

Information correct as of 24 October 2026. Prices, tariffs, policy details and providers change frequently, so please check the latest details before making a decision. This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice. Free Price Compare is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

4000+ reviews