What the GHIC covers — and what it doesn’t
The GHIC entitles you to medically necessary state healthcare — treatment that can’t reasonably wait until you’re back in the UK — in EU countries, plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, on the same basis as a local resident. It can also be used as proof of UK residency for state-funded treatment in a small number of other places (including Montenegro) — check the current country list on nhs.uk before you go.
| Covered | Not covered |
|---|
| Emergency treatment and A&E visits | Repatriation — being flown home if you’re seriously ill |
| Treatment that can’t wait until you’re home | Mountain rescue (e.g. ski accidents on the slopes) |
| Routine care for pre-existing conditions — e.g. managing diabetes, or pre-arranged dialysis and oxygen therapy | Private treatment or private clinics — state healthcare only |
| Routine maternity care (unless you’re going abroad specifically to give birth) | Lost bags, cancellations, delays — that’s luggage rights and flight compensation, or your travel insurance |
One catch worth knowing: “the same as a local resident” is sometimes not free. Many European countries charge their own residents a patient co-payment for GP visits, prescriptions or a hospital stay — and with a GHIC you pay the same. It makes healthcare dramatically cheaper, not always £0.
The trap: copycat websites charging for a free card
Search “GHIC” or “EHIC” and you’ll find official-looking websites offering to “process”, “fast-track” or “check” your application for a fee — typically £15–£40. They add nothing. They simply pass your details to the same free NHS service (or worse, harvest them).
Never pay for a GHICThe GHIC is
free, renewing it is free, and replacing a lost card is free. The NHS itself warns: avoid unofficial websites — they may charge you a fee to apply. Only apply through the official NHS website (search “GHIC” on
nhs.uk). If a site asks for card details before your application, close it.
Already been charged? Ask your card provider for a chargeback and see our
ripped-off guide — and run any suspicious site through
Scam Check.
GHIC vs EHIC — which one do you have?
The GHIC replaced the old EHIC for most UK residents after Brexit. The rules:
- Your old EHIC still works until its expiry date — if it’s in date, you don’t need to do anything yet. When it expires, apply for a free GHIC.
- Old EHICs are no longer valid in Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein — the newer GHIC covers those countries; an expired-into-GHIC upgrade actually widens your cover.
- A “new UK EHIC” still exists, but only for certain groups protected by the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement — for example EU, Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic or Liechtenstein nationals who have lived in the UK since before 1 January 2021, and some UK students who started studying in the EU before then. If that’s you, the application service offers you the right card — it’s free and lasts up to 5 years too.
Forgot your card — or it hasn’t arrived?If you need treatment abroad and don’t have your card with you, apply for a free Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC) from NHS Overseas Healthcare Services — it gives exactly the same cover and can be arranged while you’re abroad (the treating hospital usually needs your National Insurance number). You can’t get a PRC in advance — it’s only issued once the need for treatment has come up.
How to apply — free, in about 10 minutes
- Go to the official NHS service. Search “GHIC” on nhs.uk — it links to the NHS “Get healthcare cover for travelling abroad” application.
- Have your details ready. Name, date of birth and National Insurance (or NHS) number.
- Add your family. Every family member needs their own card, including babies and children — you can add them to the same application.
- Allow around 2 weeks. NHS guidance is to apply at least 2 weeks before you travel so the card arrives in time (earlier in peak season).
Renewals & replacements are free tooA GHIC lasts up to 5 years and you can apply for a new one up to 9 months before your current card expires. Lost or damaged cards are replaced free. Nobody legitimate will ever charge you for any of this.
The honest limit — a GHIC is not travel insurance
Always buy travel insurance as wellThe GHIC only covers state healthcare that can’t wait. It will not pay to fly you home, fund mountain rescue, cover private clinics (common in tourist areas), or cover cancellations, delays and lost belongings. The NHS’s own advice is to have travel insurance with healthcare cover for every trip — carry both. Insurers often ask whether you have a GHIC, and some waive part of the medical excess if you use it.
Do this now
Dig out your GHIC or old EHIC and check the expiry date. Expired, missing, or new baby in the family? Apply free on the official NHS website tonight — it takes about 10 minutes and the card arrives in around 2 weeks. Then make sure your next trip has travel insurance with healthcare cover alongside it.
Paid a website for a “GHIC application”? That was a copycat — see how to get your money back and check the site on Scam Check.
Related guides — travel & money back
Source verification
Primary sources: NHS — Applying for healthcare cover abroad (GHIC and EHIC) (
nhs.uk), NHSBSA — Get healthcare cover for travelling abroad + where you can use your card + the Provisional Replacement Certificate, and GOV.UK — Applying for healthcare cover abroad. Last verified 3 July 2026 — that the GHIC is free via the official NHS service and unofficial websites may charge a fee; validity up to 5 years with renewal possible up to 9 months before expiry; the “apply at least 2 weeks before travel” guidance; medically-necessary-state-healthcare scope (incl. pre-existing conditions and routine maternity care) at the same cost as a local resident, which can include co-payments; coverage in EU countries plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein (old EHICs no longer valid in those four); existing EHICs valid until expiry; the new-style UK EHIC restricted to Withdrawal-Agreement-protected groups; each family member (incl. children) needing their own card; free replacements; and the PRC route were all web-checked against NHS.uk / NHSBSA / GOV.UK. Confidence: High on the free-card, validity, EHIC-transition and copycat facts (published NHS guidance); the exact country list and co-payment rules vary by country and can change — check nhs.uk’s country guides before travelling. The £15–£40 copycat-fee range is an observed market range, not an official figure. Scope: UK-wide. Not insurance advice.
GHIC — common questions
Is the GHIC card free?
Yes — completely free from the official NHS website, and it lasts up to 5 years. Copycat websites charge £15–£40 for the same free application and add nothing. Only apply via nhs.uk.
What does the GHIC cover?
Medically necessary state healthcare — treatment that can’t wait until you’re home — in EU countries plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, on the same basis as a local resident. That includes emergencies and routine care for pre-existing conditions. Sometimes there’s a co-payment, because locals pay one too.
Is my old EHIC still valid?
Yes, in the EU, until the expiry date on the card — then apply for a free GHIC. Old EHICs no longer work in Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein. The new-style UK EHIC is only for certain Withdrawal-Agreement-protected groups.
What if I need treatment abroad without my card?
Apply for a free Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC) from NHS Overseas Healthcare Services — same cover as the card, arranged while you’re abroad. You can’t get one in advance.
Do I still need travel insurance?
Yes, always. The GHIC won’t fly you home, cover mountain rescue, private treatment, or lost bags and cancellations. The NHS advises travel insurance with healthcare cover for every trip — carry both.