NHS Guide for Romanians in the UK: How to Register & What's Covered (2026)
Romanians moving to the UK on a visa longer than six months pay the Immigration Health Surcharge upfront, which gives full NHS access at the same level as UK residents. This guide covers GP registration, what the NHS covers, prescription charges, dentistry, and when private care makes sense.
The NHS is the first practical question most Romanians ask about before moving. The answer is simpler than it appears: if your visa is longer than six months, you have already paid for NHS access through the Immigration Health Surcharge. You are entitled to the same treatment as a UK resident from the day you arrive — GP appointments, hospital care, maternity, mental health, and most specialist referrals are free at the point of use.
The Immigration Health Surcharge
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is paid as part of your visa application, before you arrive. It is not optional — it is a condition of most long-term UK visas. For most adults, the current rate is £1,035 per year, charged for the full duration of your visa at the time of application. Students and Youth Mobility Scheme applicants pay £776 per year.
Paying IHS is what gives you NHS access on the same basis as a UK resident. You do not pay again at the point of treatment, and you do not need to show proof of IHS payment to access GP or hospital services — your entitlement is confirmed through your visa status.
Short-stay visitors do not pay IHS and are not entitled to free NHS treatment. If you are visiting the UK on a Standard Visitor Visa (up to six months), you should have travel health insurance. Emergency treatment at A&E is available to all, but follow-up care and non-emergency treatment will be charged.
Registering with a GP
Your GP surgery is your entry point into the NHS. Most NHS treatment is accessed by referral from your GP — you cannot typically self-refer to a hospital specialist. Registering as soon as you have a UK address is one of the most important first steps after arrival.
How to find and register
Use the NHS website (nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-gp) to find surgeries near your address that are accepting new patients. Most surgeries allow you to register online or in person by completing a registration form. You can register at more than one surgery's website to increase your chances if your nearest surgery has a waiting list.
Once registered, it typically takes a few days to a week before your registration is active and you can book appointments. Some surgeries offer immediate same-day or next-day slots for urgent concerns even while registration is being processed.
Documents — what you do and do not need
No documents are legally required to register with a GP in England. A surgery may ask for proof of address to confirm you live within their catchment area, but they cannot refuse registration if you cannot provide it. You do not need your NINO, BRP, or passport to register. If a surgery refuses to register you citing immigration status or lack of a NINO, this is incorrect and you can report it to NHS England.
No NINO required: you can register with a GP and attend appointments before your National Insurance number arrives. The NHS does not use your NINO as an eligibility check.
What the NHS covers
For Romanians who have paid the IHS, the following are free at the point of use:
- GP appointments and GP-referred specialist consultations
- Hospital treatment — inpatient, outpatient, and day surgery
- Accident and Emergency (A&E)
- Maternity care — antenatal, birth, and postnatal
- Mental health services via GP referral
- Diagnostic tests ordered by a GP or hospital consultant
- Most prescribed medications (subject to prescription charge)
What is charged separately
| Service | Cost (2026) |
|---|---|
| NHS prescription (England) | £9.90 per item |
| NHS dental — Band 1 (check-up, cleaning) | £26.80 |
| NHS dental — Band 2 (fillings, extractions) | £73.50 |
| NHS dental — Band 3 (crowns, dentures, bridges) | £319.10 |
| NHS eye test | Free for some groups; £20–30 privately |
| Glasses / contact lenses | Not covered except for specific groups |
Prescriptions are free in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The charges above apply in England only.
Prescription prepayment
If you take regular medication and are not exempt from prescription charges, a Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) significantly reduces costs. A three-month PPC currently costs £32.05 and covers all your prescriptions for that period, regardless of how many items. An annual PPC costs £114.50.
Prescription exemptions include: children under 16, people over 60, pregnant women and those who have given birth in the last 12 months, people receiving certain benefits, and people with specific long-term conditions including diabetes and epilepsy. If you are exempt, you complete an exemption declaration on the prescription form.
Dental care
NHS dental treatment is available but access is more limited than GP services. Many dental practices have closed their NHS lists, and waiting times for new NHS patients can be long in some areas. It is worth registering with an NHS dentist early — do not wait until you have a problem.
If you cannot find an NHS dentist, NHS 111 can direct you to emergency dental services. For routine care that cannot wait, private dental treatment is available and does not require a referral, though costs are significantly higher than NHS charges.
Mental health services
Mental health services are accessed through your GP in most cases. Your GP can refer you to NHS talking therapies (IAPT/NHST services), to a community mental health team, or to specialist psychiatric care depending on your needs. Waiting times for non-emergency mental health referrals can be significant.
You can also self-refer to NHS Talking Therapies in England without going through your GP — search for your local service at nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies. This is often faster than waiting for a GP referral for anxiety and depression.
When to consider private care
Private healthcare in the UK is not a replacement for NHS registration — it is a supplement. Most Romanians in the UK use the NHS as their primary system and turn to private care selectively for shorter waiting times for specific procedures or specialist appointments.
Private GP appointments typically cost £80–150 and can usually be booked within a few days. Private specialist consultations range from £150–300 for an initial appointment. Private health insurance is available from providers including Bupa, AXA, and Aviva, typically costing £60–150 per month depending on coverage level and age.
NHS vs private healthcare in the UK — a comparison for expats.
NHS 111 — when you need help urgently
NHS 111 is the first call for urgent medical advice when your GP is closed or unavailable. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, it is free to call from any phone. The service will assess your symptoms, give advice, and arrange an appointment at an urgent treatment centre, an out-of-hours GP, or, if necessary, dispatch an ambulance.
Use 999 only for life-threatening emergencies — cardiac arrest, severe bleeding, suspected stroke, difficulty breathing, or loss of consciousness. NHS 111 handles everything below that threshold.
The NHS can feel opaque when you first arrive — the mix of free services, fixed-charge services, and waiting times takes some adjustment. The most important early actions are registration with a GP and, if you take regular medication, finding an NHS dentist and understanding prescription charges before you need them.
The IHS you paid is real value — it covers a breadth of treatment that would cost significantly more in most European countries, and it applies from your first day in the UK. Use it. Register early, before you need care rather than when you do.
If anything in this guide has changed or does not match your experience, use the contact form at the bottom of any page — NHS charges and policies change annually and corrections are applied quickly.
Frequently asked questions
This guide is for general informational purposes. NHS charges and policies change annually. Always verify current information at nhs.uk before relying on specific figures. Last verified: April 2026.