Healthcare for UK nationals living in Ireland
How to get state healthcare if you바카라 사이트檙e living, working or studying in Ireland.
Stay up to date
This guidance will be updated if anything changes to how you get state healthcare in Ireland.
This information is about living in Ireland. There바카라 사이트檚 different guidance if you바카라 사이트檙e visiting Ireland.
If you바카라 사이트檙e a UK national living in Ireland, you바카라 사이트檙e entitled to state healthcare in Ireland on the same basis as an Irish citizen.
You can access state health services if you바카라 사이트檙e 바카라 사이트榦rdinarily resident바카라 사이트� in Ireland. This means that you have lived or you intend to live in Ireland for at least a year.
You바카라 사이트檒l need to pay a fee for some services. The amount you pay for healthcare depends on your circumstances.
Ways to get healthcare in Ireland
If you바카라 사이트檙e ordinarily resident in Ireland, you can access Irish healthcare system in one of 2 ways:
- paying standard patient charges
- with a medical card
Some people who pay charges may also be able to get a GP visit card which entitles them to free GP services.
If you바카라 사이트檙e temporarily living in Ireland but normally live in the UK, for example because you are studying or posted to work in Ireland, you may qualify for necessary healthcare paid for by the UK.
Medical card
You can get a range of health services and medicines for free if you have a medical card, including:
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GP services
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public hospital services
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dental, optical and aural services
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community care and personal social services
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prescription drugs and medicines, subject to a small charge for each item
Medical cards are 바카라 사이트榤eans tested바카라 사이트�, which means they바카라 사이트檙e based on your income and personal circumstances.
If you do not have a medical card
If you do not have a medical card, you바카라 사이트檙e entitled to the following:
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public hospital services
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maternity and infant care services
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child health services
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some other needs-based health services
You may have to pay inpatient and outpatient hospital charges.
GP services are not free in Ireland. You can apply for a GP visit card to access GP services for free.
You바카라 사이트檒l qualify for a GP visit card if you바카라 사이트檙e:
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over 70 years old
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under 6 years old
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earning below the qualifying income limit
Registering with a GP
If you have a medical card or GP visit card, you need to register with a聽.
If you do not have either of these, you바카라 사이트檒l have to register as a private patient. Private patients can register with any doctor, but you바카라 사이트檒l be charged for GP services.
You can聽. You can also contact them by phone.
HSE infoline
Telephone (from Ireland): 1850 24 1850
Telephone (from outside Ireland): +353 41 684 0300
Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm
Saturday, 10am to 5pm
Frontier workers living in the UK or Ireland
If you live in the UK or Ireland but work in the other country and return to your country of residence at least once a week, you can access healthcare in both countries.
All frontier workers are entitled to healthcare in Ireland on the same basis as an Irish resident and can apply for a if eligible.
UK-funded healthcare in Ireland
Some people can get their healthcare in Ireland paid for by the UK. This could be because you바카라 사이트檙e:
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temporarily living in Ireland and normally live in the UK
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receiving a UK State Pension or some other benefits
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living in Ireland and working in the UK as a frontier worker
If your UK employer has sent you to Ireland temporarily (바카라 사이트榩osted workers바카라 사이트�)
础听posted worker聽is someone who is employed or self-employed in the UK but temporarily sent to another country to work.
As a posted worker, you바카라 사이트檙e entitled to necessary healthcare in Ireland paid for by the UK.
Not all state healthcare is free in Ireland and you may have to pay for services that you바카라 사이트檇 get for free on the NHS.
When you use a health service, show one of the following alongside photo ID:
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UK-issued聽Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
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UK driving licence
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UK biometric residence permit
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Northern Ireland voter바카라 사이트檚 card or medical card
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2 documents showing your UK address (for example, a bank statement or utility bill), issued in the last 3 months
You may also be asked to provide documentation demonstrating the nature and length of your posting.
HMRC has a聽helpline for National Insurance enquiries from non-UK residents. They can answer questions about posted worker status and explain which documents you will need to get healthcare while posted.
If you바카라 사이트檙e studying in Ireland
You should apply for a Student GHIC to get medically necessary, state-provided healthcare for the duration of your study period in Ireland, whether this is for part or all of your course. This means that you바카라 사이트檒l get necessary healthcare services on the same basis as an Irish citizen either for free or at a reduced cost.
If you already hold a valid Student EHIC you can use this until the card expires.
If you바카라 사이트檙e a UK resident living and studying in Ireland, you바카라 사이트檙e entitled to 바카라 사이트榥ecessary healthcare바카라 사이트� paid for by the UK.
Not all state healthcare is free in Ireland and you may have to pay for services that you바카라 사이트檇 get for free on the NHS.
When you use a health service, show one of the following alongside photo ID:
-
UK-issued聽Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
-
UK driving licence
-
UK biometric residence permit
-
Northern Ireland voter바카라 사이트檚 card or medical card
-
2 documents showing your UK address (for example a bank statement or utility bill), issued in the last 3 months
You may also need a letter from your educational institution confirming you바카라 사이트檙e enrolled in study.
If you were living in Ireland before 1 January 2021
If you바카라 사이트檝e been living in Ireland since before 1 January 2021, you may be entitled to an Irish funded by the UK if you바카라 사이트檙e an Irish resident and:
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a frontier worker (someone who works in one state and lives in another) who began frontier work in the UK before 1 January 2021
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receiving a UK State Pension
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receiving another 바카라 사이트榚xportable benefit바카라 사이트�
Not all UK benefits that can be claimed while abroad entitle you to UK-funded healthcare in Ireland. Read more about聽claiming benefits if you move abroad.
If you are in scope, you will also be entitled to:
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a UK-issued for travel in the EU
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UK-funded in other EU countries
Planned treatment
UK and Irish residents can access pre-approved healthcare in the other country via the .
Getting treatment in the UK
Because the NHS is a residency-based system, under NHS rules UK nationals who move abroad on a permanent basis may lose their entitlement to free NHS healthcare.
If you are a UK national and move to the EU, you should not expect to be able to use NHS services for free when visiting the UK unless you have an EHIC, PRC or S2 to show your healthcare costs are funded by the EU country in which you now live, or another exemption applies.
Some former UK residents do not have to pay for NHS treatment when visiting England. This includes:
- UK war pensioners
- UK government employees
- UK nationals living in the EU on or before 31 December 2020, once they have a registered, UK-issued S1
Read more about using the NHS when you no longer live in the UK (see 바카라 사이트楿K nationals who no longer live in the UK바카라 사이트� in Healthcare for visitors to the UK from the EU).
If you return to live in the UK you바카라 사이트檒l be able to use the NHS like any other UK resident.
Read more about using the NHS when you return to live in the UK.
Updates to this page
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Updated 'Studying in Ireland' to include more information on Student GHIC and Student EHIC cards. Updated 'Getting treatment in the UK' to provide additional detail about NHS access when visiting the UK.
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Page updated to reflect healthcare arrangements for UK nationals in Ireland under the new rules of the UK바카라 사이트檚 deal with the EU. New sections added: 'Ways to get healthcare in Ireland' and 'Frontier workers living in the UK or Ireland'.
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Details on the ways that you access healthcare have been updated. The guidance now only covers living, working and studying. Information on visiting has been moved to: /guidance/uk-residents-visiting-the-eueea-and-switzerland-healthcare
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First published.