If you entered the UK before 31 December 2020
Am I eligible to apply for the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
To be eligible for an EHIC you must be insured by or covered by a state social security system in any EU member country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. The European Commission’s EHIC webpage has more information on applying for an EHIC.
If you do not hold a valid EHIC card or are ineligible for one, then you might be asked to pay for your medical treatment and therefore, we strongly recommend that you ensure you are covered by an insurance policy that includes coverage of medical expenses.
If you are on a programme of study of 6 months or more
You must meet the following criteria below:
- You're a full-time student in UK higher education
- Your visa started on or after 1 January 2021
- You have an EHIC issued in an EU community
- You do not work in the UK
You should consider carefully your healthcare needs before deciding whether to apply for a reimbursement. If you intend to apply for a refund of your immigration health surcharge payment, you should use your EU EHIC for medically necessary treatment during your studies.
Once you have received your reimbursement, you may have to pay for any NHS healthcare you receive that is not deemed medically necessary.
If you obtain an immigration health surcharge reimbursement, you should not work in the UK. Working in the UK is very likely to invalidate your EHIC and you will need to be prepared to pay for any NHS healthcare you receive.
Important to know: If you obtain an immigration health surcharge reimbursement, you should not work in the UK. Working in the UK is very likely to invalidate your EHIC and you will need to be prepared to pay for any NHS healthcare you receive.
If you are on a programme of study of 6 months or less and enter the UK as a visitor you should ensure that you obtain health insurance before you enter the UK.
Important to know: Take a look at UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) webpage on healthcare for EU/EEA/Swiss students in light of Brexit.