Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)

On this page you will find:

• Information on international students who are eligible for the GHIC
• Information on international students who are not eligible for the GHIC
• Information on UK students who eligible for the GHIC
• Information on UK students who are not eligible for the GHIC
• More information on the GHIC/EHIC and how to apply

The Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) was introduced in January 2021 and will replace the old European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). 

The Global Health Insurance Card allows some people residing in the UK to access state-funded essential and emergency healthcare during a temporary stay in any of the 27 countries of the European Union (EU). 

International students who are eligible for the GHIC:

• Non-EU students on a course for 6 months or longer in the UK can apply for a GHIC. 
• EU students who arrived in the UK after 31 December 2020 will have paid the Immigration Health Surcharge and can apply for a GHIC. 

Please visit the NHS website for information on how to apply for a GHIC. 

International students who are not eligible for the GHIC:

• Non-EU students on a course for less than 6 months cannot apply for a GHIC. You should take out private travel insurance if you travel out of the UK.

You can check out student travel insurance on 'Compare the Market'.

• EU students who were living in the UK before 31 December 2020 and have received pre-settled/settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme can continue to use their existing EHIC's until expiry. At which point they can then apply for a new EHIC. 

Please visit the NHS website for more information on how to apply for a new EHIC. 

UK students who are eligible for the GHIC:

• UK students who are planning to study in an EU country need to apply for the GHIC that is time-limited to their course. This cannot be done online and needs to be sent off via post. 

Please visit the NHS website for information on how to apply for the time-limited GHIC by post.

UK students who are not eligible for the GHIC: 

• UK students who were already studying in the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland since before January 2021 should apply for the new EHIC. 

Please visit the NHS website for information on how to apply for the new EHIC. 

More information and how to apply:

The GHIC is free! The new EHIC is free! There are some fake websites which charge a fee but there are no booking or delivery fees! You should only order these from the NHS website. 

There are certain circumstances which may change the above rules so please read the details carefully on the NHS website and the application form. 

Please visit the NHS website for full details on the GHIC and how you can apply.

Please visit the NHS website for full details on the new EHIC and how you can apply.

Please visit the UCL website for more details on accessing healthcare in the UK.