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Yes, Australians in the UK get full NHS access once they’ve paid the Immigration Health Surcharge. Once you’ve paid it, GP visits and hospital care are free. The catch is that it works quite differently to Medicare — and if nobody explains it before you arrive, the first few weeks can be confusing.
Here’s how it actually works.
What is the NHS for Australians in the UK?
The NHS is the UK’s public healthcare system. Free at the point of use, funded by taxes, been around since 1948. Everyone who lives in the UK gets access: citizens, residents and most visa holders.
On paper it sounds a lot like Medicare. In practice, the big difference is this: in Australia you can walk into almost any GP clinic and bulk bill. In the UK you register with one specific surgery and that’s your surgery. You can’t just go anywhere.
It felt more restrictive to me when I first arrived. Once you’re used to it, it’s fine. But don’t expect the walk-in-anywhere experience from back home.
Do Australians have to pay for NHS healthcare in the UK?
It depends on how long you’re here and what visa you’re on.
On a UK visa longer than 6 months: you pay the Immigration Health Surcharge upfront as part of your visa application. Once you’ve paid it, NHS care is free for the length of your visa. No gap payments and no annual excess.
Just visiting for under 6 months: there’s a Reciprocal Healthcare Agreement between Australia and the UK. You can access medically necessary NHS care using your Australian passport and Medicare card. This isn’t full coverage. It only applies to treatment that genuinely can’t wait until you get back to Australia.
What is the Immigration Health Surcharge?
The IHS is a fee you pay upfront when applying for your UK visa. Think of it like a Medicare levy, except you pay the whole lot at once before you arrive rather than having it deducted from your wages over time.
It’s non-refundable. Even if you leave the UK early you don’t get it back. And it needs to be paid before your visa application is processed. It’s not optional.
Once you’ve paid it, you’re in. No private health insurance required for everyday healthcare.
How much does the IHS cost?
The amount depends on your visa type:
- Skilled Worker Visa holders and their dependants: £1,035 per person, per year of the visa
- Youth Mobility Scheme (Working Holiday): £776 per year
- Children under 18: £776 per year
So a 3-year Skilled Worker Visa costs £3,105 in IHS per person. If your partner joins as a dependent they pay the same again. It adds up fast and catches a lot of Australians off guard. It’s on top of the visa application fee.
In our case the IHS was covered by my wife’s employer as part of her relocation package. Employers aren’t legally required to do this but plenty do, especially for sponsored Skilled Worker visas. If your partner’s employer is sponsoring their visa it’s worth asking whether dependants are covered. Some do, some don’t — but it’s worth the question.
One other exemption worth knowing: if you or your partner is on a Health and Care Worker Visa you’re both fully exempt from the IHS entirely. Nurses, doctors and certain allied health workers coming to work in the NHS pay nothing.
How to register with a GP in the UK
This is the first thing you should do when you arrive. Not when you get sick. Do it now, before you need it.
I registered through the NHS website shortly after we arrived and found it pretty painless. Here’s how it works:
- Go to nhs.uk and use the “Find a GP” tool. Enter your postcode. It shows nearby surgeries, whether they’re accepting new patients and their opening hours.
- Pick one close to where you live. This matters more than it sounds. More on that below.
- Register online. Most surgeries let you register through the NHS website or the NHS App. As of 2025, 98% of GP practices in England offer online registration. The form takes about 15 minutes.
- Wait for confirmation. Most practices confirm within five days.
- Your NHS number arrives by post. It’s a unique 10-digit number used across all NHS services: GP, hospital, prescriptions, everything. It turns up a few days to a few weeks after registration. Don’t stress if it takes a while.
The only real decision is which surgery to pick — the NHS website makes it easy to compare what’s available near you.
Do you need documents to register?
Officially, no. NHS rules are clear that surgeries cannot refuse to register you because you lack ID or proof of address.
In practice most will ask for something. A passport and a tenancy agreement is the standard combination. Have them ready. But if you’ve just landed and haven’t got everything sorted yet, you can still register. They can’t legally turn you away for missing paperwork.
How is a UK GP different from an Australian GP?
This is the thing that trips up almost every Australian.
In Australia you can go to any GP clinic, switch whenever you feel like it and bulk bill. It’s flexible and fairly immediate.
In the UK:
- You register with one surgery and that’s your surgery
- You’ll often see different doctors within that surgery, not always the same one
- You book ahead. There’s no equivalent of just walking in
- Your GP is the gatekeeper for specialists. Need to see a physio or dermatologist on the NHS? You need a GP referral first
Waiting times are the thing people complain about most. Getting a non-urgent appointment can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks depending on your surgery. For urgent issues that can’t wait, NHS 111 is the answer. Call or go online and they’ll triage you and tell you what to do.
For emergencies: A&E, same as back home.
What does the NHS cover?
Once you’re registered and your IHS is paid, you get:
- GP consultations (free)
- Hospital treatment (free)
- A&E (free)
- Mental health services via GP referral (free)
- Maternity care (free)
- Vaccinations and health screenings (free)
- Specialist referrals (free, though wait times vary)
What the NHS doesn’t fully cover
A few things aren’t free even with the IHS.
Prescriptions in England. There’s a flat charge per prescription item. Check nhs.uk for the current rate as it changes annually. Some people are exempt (under 16, over 60, certain conditions) but most working-age Australians will pay it. Worth knowing: Scotland and Wales don’t charge for prescriptions at all.
Dental care. NHS dentists exist but they’re genuinely hard to find in London and most major cities. Most have closed books or long waiting lists. Private dental care is common and it’s expensive. Budget for this separately and don’t assume your IHS covers a dentist.
Eye tests and glasses. Not free for most working-age adults. Exemptions exist but most Australians in the UK won’t qualify.
Non-urgent or cosmetic treatments. Anything the NHS deems not clinically necessary won’t be covered.
What happens when you move?
This is the one nobody warned me about.
Every GP surgery has a catchment area, a geographic boundary they’re set up to serve. If you move outside that boundary they’re entitled to ask you to re-register somewhere closer to your new address.
It doesn’t happen automatically. They won’t remove you from the list the moment you change address. But if you move to a different suburb or borough it’s worth re-registering with a surgery near your new place, especially since your GP needs to be able to see you in person when needed.
Some practices allow out-of-area registrations but the trade-off is they won’t do home visits.
It’s worth keeping in mind when you’re looking for a flat in London. Knowing which GP surgeries are nearby is more useful than it sounds.
The honest version of what to expect
I haven’t had to use the NHS yet since arriving. But I’ve got my GP registered, my NHS number sorted and I know exactly what to do when I need it.
That’s really the point. The NHS is genuinely good for serious things. Hospitals are competent. Emergency care works. GPs will refer you where you need to go.
What it’s less good at: routine appointments quickly, dental care and anything where speed matters but urgency is borderline.
Coming from Medicare the biggest adjustment is the registration piece and the fact that you can’t just walk into any clinic. Once you’re past that, it works.
Register with a GP when you arrive. Don’t wait until you’re sick.
Once you’ve got healthcare sorted the next thing most Australians tackle is their phone plan — here’s our guide to the best SIM cards for Australians in the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Australians use the NHS for free?
Yes, if you’re on a UK visa longer than 6 months and have paid the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of your visa application. GP visits, hospital care and A&E are all free.
How do Australians access the NHS?
Register with a GP surgery near where you live using the NHS website or NHS App. Your GP is then your access point for all other NHS services.
What is the Immigration Health Surcharge for Australians?
It’s a fee paid upfront as part of your UK visa application. It covers your NHS access for the duration of your visa. The standard rate is £1,035 per person per year. Youth Mobility Scheme holders pay £776 per year.
When do I get my NHS number?
Your NHS number is issued after you register with a GP and arrives by post, usually within a few days to a few weeks. You don’t need it to register or to be seen. It’ll come.
Do I have to change my GP if I move?
If you move outside your current surgery’s catchment area they may ask you to register with one closer to your new address. It’s worth re-registering proactively. Your medical records transfer automatically.
Is dental care free on the NHS?
No. NHS dental care has fixed charges for different treatment bands and in most cities NHS dentists with open books are genuinely hard to find. Budget for private dental as a backup.
What if I’m just visiting, not on a long-term visa?
There’s a Reciprocal Healthcare Agreement between Australia and the UK. Australians visiting for under 6 months can access medically necessary NHS care using their Australian passport and Medicare card. This only covers treatment that can’t wait until you get home.
The NHS information in this article reflects our research and one person’s experience at the time of writing. Healthcare policy, IHS rates and GP registration rules can change. Always verify current rates and eligibility directly with the NHS and the UK Home Office before making decisions. This article is for general informational purposes only and is not medical or legal advice. Always consult a qualified health professional for medical decisions specific to your situation.