Patients Travelling Abroad – FAQs
Updated August 2026
This guidance summarises current NHS and GOV.UK advice for general practice teams supporting patients travelling overseas.
Also See:
Provision of Medical Care
- The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) enables access to medically necessary state healthcare in participating countries on the same basis as residents.
- Existing EHICs remain valid until expiry. Eligible individuals may qualify for either a UK GHIC or a UK EHIC depending on their circumstances.
- The GHIC is free, usually valid for up to five years, and is not a substitute for travel insurance.
- Patients should review both NHS Overseas Healthcare guidance and FCDO travel advice before departure.
- Coverage arrangements include EU countries and may extend to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein depending on eligibility.
Useful resources:
Overseas Healthcare Services | NHSBSA
Foreign travel advice – GOV.UK
Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)
- Each traveller requires their own card.
- Applications should only be made through official NHS channels.
- GHICs do not cover private healthcare, mountain rescue, repatriation, or most travel-related costs.
- Some planned services, such as dialysis or oxygen therapy, require advance arrangements.
Useful resources:
Applying for healthcare cover abroad (GHIC and EHIC) – NHS
Provisional Replacement Certificates (PRCs)
- Patients requiring medically necessary treatment who do not have their GHIC/EHIC available may be eligible for a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC).
- A PRC provides temporary evidence of entitlement to healthcare abroad.
- Patients should contact NHS Overseas Healthcare Services as soon as possible if a card has been lost, stolen, forgotten or not yet received.
Useful resources:
Get temporary cover for emergency treatment abroad (Provisional Replacement Certificate) | NHSBSA
Healthcare in Non-EU Countries
- The UK has reciprocal healthcare agreements with a range of countries and territories.
- Entitlements vary significantly; some agreements cover urgent treatment only.
- Travel insurance remains essential regardless of destination.
Useful resources:
UK reciprocal healthcare agreements with non-EU countries – GOV.UK
Prescriptions for Patients Travelling Out of the Country
- Patients travelling for up to three months may receive appropriate supplies of regular medication where clinically suitable.
- For absences exceeding three months, only sufficient medication should normally be supplied to allow patients to reach their destination and arrange ongoing care locally.
- Prescribers remain responsible for clinical monitoring and safe prescribing decisions.
- Practices should not arrange NHS prescriptions to be collected by relatives on behalf of patients who are living abroad.
- Just-in-case medicines for conditions not currently present are generally not appropriate for NHS prescribing.
Travelling with Prescribed and Controlled Drugs
- Patients should carry medicines in their original packaging.
- Patients should carry either a copy of their prescription or a signed clinician letter detailing medication, dose, and quantity.
- Destination-country restrictions should always be checked with the relevant embassy or authority.
- Most travellers carrying less than three months of prescribed controlled drugs do not require a Home Office licence, but supporting documentation is strongly recommended.
Useful resources:
Take medicine in or out of the UK – GOV.UK
Travelling with medicine containing controlled drugs – GOV.UK
Controlled drugs list – GOV.UK
Email dflu.ie@homeoffice.gov.uk for more advice on leaving the UK with controlled drugs
Advice for Patients Whilst Abroad
Administrative requests may continue to be managed by practices.
Requests for records or information must comply with data protection legislation and confidentiality requirements.
Clinicians should exercise caution when providing clinical advice to patients outside the UK because of assessment limitations, jurisdictional issues and indemnity considerations.
Patients requiring healthcare overseas should usually be advised to access local medical services.
Useful resources:
Guide to telemedicine and remote consultation in healthcare
How our professional standards can be applied to remote consultations – GMC
Indemnity Cover – CNSGP – Wessex LMCs (opens a separate guidance page)
The Planned Treatment Scheme (S2 Funding Route)
- The S2 route remains available for eligible NHS patients seeking planned state-funded treatment abroad.
- Prior approval is required before travelling.
- The treatment must meet NHS eligibility criteria and be available through the destination country’s state healthcare system.
- The former EU Directive route is no longer available for new applications and remains relevant only to legacy claims.
Useful resources:
The Planned Treatment (S2 funding) route – NHS
Other Useful Links