UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC): Guide & Application

If you’ve traveled to Europe since 2021, you may have noticed your old EHIC no longer works the same way it used to. The UK’s departure from the EU brought a new card — the Global Health Insurance Card — and with it, a fresh set of rules about what medical care you can access abroad and where. The good news is that the card itself is completely free, valid for up to 5 years, and covers state healthcare across all EU countries plus several others. The catch is that it doesn’t work everywhere, and it definitely doesn’t replace travel insurance. Here’s everything you need to know before your next trip.

Cost: Free · Validity period: Up to 5 years · Issuer: NHS Business Services Authority · Replaces: UK EHIC · Usage: EU/EEA countries and some others

The table below consolidates the essential facts about the GHIC for quick reference.

What does the UK Global Health Insurance Card cover?

The GHIC grants you access to necessary state-provided healthcare in the EEA and several other countries on the same terms as a local resident. That means if you fall ill or have an accident while traveling in a covered country, you receive treatment at a reduced cost or sometimes free, depending on that country’s healthcare system.

State-provided healthcare

The card covers medically necessary treatment that cannot reasonably wait until you return to the UK. This includes consultations with doctors, hospital stays, and prescriptions dispensed at a public pharmacy. According to the NHS official guidance, the GHIC covers all EEA countries as well as Montenegro, Australia, Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, St Helena, Tristan da Cunha, and Ascension Island.

Emergency treatment

A visit to an emergency department in France, Germany, or Spain costs you the same as it would a local resident — typically much less than the full private rate charged to uninsured tourists. The NHSBSA FAQ confirms that UK GHIC and EHIC also cover French overseas territories including Martinique, Mayotte, Guadeloupe, Réunion, French Guiana, Saint-Martin, and Corsica.

Limits and exclusions

The GHIC explicitly does not cover private treatment, repatriation to the UK, or pre-booked treatments. It also does not replace travel insurance, which means cancellations, lost luggage, and adventure activities requiring specialist cover still need separate policies. As Uswitch notes, the card is not a substitute for comprehensive travel insurance — it’s specifically for state healthcare access.

What is the difference between a GHIC card and an EHIC card?

Both cards serve the same purpose — accessing state healthcare abroad at reduced cost — but they stem from different agreements and cover slightly different territory. Understanding which you hold matters for your next trip.

Post-Brexit changes

The UK EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) was tied to EU membership and ceased being issued to new UK applicants after Brexit. The GHIC replaced it, but unlike the EHIC, the GHIC is a UK-specific card based on reciprocal agreements the UK has negotiated individually since leaving the EU. According to the NHS, existing EHICs remain valid until their expiry date, so there’s no urgent need to replace a card that hasn’t expired.

Application process

Both cards are free when applied for through official channels. The EHIC application is no longer available to new UK residents, but the GHIC application is open to anyone ordinarily and legally resident in the UK. The NHS official guidance warns explicitly against unofficial websites that charge fees for what should be a free service.

Coverage scope

The GHIC covers all EEA countries plus Australia, Montenegro, and several Crown dependencies and overseas territories. The EHIC covered EEA and Switzerland but did not extend to Australia or Montenegro. The NHSBSA coverage table confirms that the GHIC covers Ascension Island, Australia, and EU nations where the old EHIC did not for some territories.

How do I apply for a UK Global Health Insurance Card?

Applying for a GHIC is straightforward, but the process requires a few specific pieces of information. The application takes roughly two weeks to process, and you can apply up to 9 months before your current card expires to ensure continuous coverage.

Online application steps

1. Navigate to the official NHS GHIC application portal at nhs.uk
2. Fill in your personal details including your National Insurance number
3. Submit the form and wait for processing
4. Receive your card by post within approximately two weeks

The application runs entirely through the official NHS website. The NHS recommends applying through their site to avoid unofficial platforms that may charge fees.

Required documents

The application asks for your National Insurance number, full name, date of birth, and UK address. You don’t need to upload passport photos or pay any fee — if a website asks for payment or credit card details, it’s not the official service.

Processing time

Once submitted, the NHS Business Services Authority typically processes applications within two weeks. Your card arrives by post, either to a UK address or to a nominated address if you’re applying from abroad. Family members and dependants can be added to the same application via the same NHS site, as confirmed by Uswitch.

Which countries accept the UK Global Health Insurance Card?

The GHIC covers a broad range of countries, but the rules differ significantly depending on where you travel. Some countries accept the card fully, others only for specific nationalities or statuses, and some don’t accept it at all.

EU/EEA list

All 27 EU countries are covered, along with the three EEA non-EU nations: Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. These three joined the reciprocal agreement effective from January 2024 following the EFTA agreement signed in June 2023, according to the Wikipedia timeline. This means the Nordics now accept GHIC where they didn’t in previous years.

Overseas territories and special cases

Switzerland accepts GHIC but only for British nationals, Swiss nationals, EU citizens, refugees, stateless persons, or their family members, per NHS official guidance. French overseas territories including Martinique, Guadeloupe, Réunion, and Corsica are covered under the same EHIC/GHIC framework, per the NHSBSA FAQ.

Non-EU countries and exclusions

Australia accepts the GHIC as proof for Medicare enrolment, making it useful for UK visitors needing emergency care there. Montenegro is also on the list. The GOV.UK reciprocal healthcare page confirms coverage for Guernsey with stays up to 6 months from state providers only. Countries like Turkey, the USA, and New Zealand do not accept GHIC — they have no reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK, per USPUK.

How do I renew or replace my GHIC or EHIC?

Renewing or replacing either card follows a similar process, but the rules depend on whether you’re covered under the Withdrawal Agreement or are a standard UK resident.

Renewal process

You can apply for a new GHIC up to 9 months before your current card expires, according to the NHS official guidance. The renewal process is the same as the initial application — fill in your details on the NHS site, and your new card arrives by post. There’s no fee for renewal either.

Login requirements

The NHS GHIC portal requires you to provide your National Insurance number and UK address. You don’t need to create an account or remember login credentials between applications — each application is completed as a standalone form.

Replacement for lost cards

If your card is lost or stolen, apply for a replacement immediately via the same official NHS portal. The process is identical to a new application, and there’s no separate “replacement” fee — it’s free as long as you use the official site.

The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) lets you get necessary state healthcare in the European Economic Area (EEA), and some other countries, on the same basis as a resident of that country.

— NHS official guidance

Avoid unofficial websites – they may charge you a fee to apply.

— NHS official guidance

It’s not a replacement for travel insurance and doesn’t cover things like private treatment, cancellations or lost luggage.

— Uswitch (Financial Guide)

For UK travellers heading to Europe or a handful of other destinations, the GHIC is a straightforward, cost-free way to access state healthcare abroad on the same terms as locals. The key is applying exclusively through the official NHS website, renewing before expiry, and understanding that the card fills a specific gap — state medical care — rather than replacing comprehensive travel cover. For anyone planning a trip to the EU, EEA, or supported non-EU destinations, requesting your GHIC now means one less worry before departure.