How to Register with a GP (NHS) and See a Doctor
Register with an NHSNational Health Service — The UK's publicly funded healthcare system. Most services are free at the point of use; access depends on immigration status and the immigration health surcharge.Click for official info ↗ GPGeneral Practitioner — Your local NHS family doctor — the first point of contact for healthcare in the UK. Register with a GP surgery to access care.Click for official info ↗ surgery near you. You do not need proof of address to register. You do not need to show your immigration status. Book appointments online or by phone. Use 111 or A&E only when you really need them.
At a glance
- Cost:
- Free at the point of use
- Total time:
- Same week (most surgeries)
- Steps:
- 6 steps
- Where to apply:
- nhs.uk
Last reviewed October 2026 against official sources. Re-checked every 6 months · next review due April 2027.
The Steps
Follow these in order
Each card shows the phase, expected time, and any cost. Data checked against official UK sources(October 2026).
0 of 6 steps
- Go 20 min
Find a GP surgery near you
Use the NHS service finder at nhs.uk/service-search. It lists surgeries in your local area. You can ask any surgery to take you. A surgery outside your local area may say no. Check the opening hours before you choose. You can also read online reviews.
Click to mark as done
- Fill / Prepare 30 min
Register with the surgery
Fill in the GMS1 registration form. You can get a paper form at the surgery. Some surgeries let you do it online. You do NOT need proof of address to register. You do not need to show your immigration status. You do not need an NHS number. NHS guidance is clear about this. Most surgeries will register you on the same day or in the same week.
Click to mark as done
- Wait A few days
Get your NHS number
Once you register, your records move to the surgery. This usually takes a few days. You get an NHS number. It is a 10-digit ID. You use it across all NHS services. Download the NHS App. You can use it to see your records, order repeat prescriptions, and book appointments.
Click to mark as done
- Go
Book appointments the smart way
Most surgeries release new appointments at 8am. Call then, or book online with the NHS App. Ask about appointments outside normal hours. Ask about same-day "urgent" slots too. For a minor illness, a pharmacist can often help you. You do not need an appointment, and you may not need to see a GP.
Click to mark as done
- Follow Up
Know the alternatives before A&E
If it is urgent but not life-threatening, call 111 for help. It is free and open 24/7, all day and all night. Or use 111 online. They will ask about your symptoms and can book an out-of-hours GP for you. Use A&E or 999 for things like chest pain, heavy bleeding, or trouble breathing. Migrants may have to pay for some hospital care. But GP and A&E services are still the way to get care.
Click to mark as done
- Receive —
Use your records as you go
Write down your NHS number and keep it safe. Keep the NHS App on your phone. Your GP is your main contact for referrals, vaccinations, and repeat prescriptions. Travel vaccines go through the surgery. Cervical screening and childhood immunisations do too.
Click to mark as done
Be Careful
Don't make these mistakes
Thinking you need proof of address or ID to register. You do not need proof of address to register, and you do not need to show your immigration status or an NHS number. NHS guidance is clear, and a surgery must not refuse to register you because you have no ID, no address, or a particular immigration status.
Choosing a surgery outside your area without checking. You can ask any surgery to take you, but a surgery outside your local area may say no. Check the opening hours before you choose, and use the NHS service finder to find surgeries in your local area.
Going to A&E for a problem that is not an emergency. If it is urgent but not life threatening, call 111 for help. It is free and open 24 hours a day, and they can book an out of hours GP for you. Use A&E or 999 for things like chest pain, heavy bleeding, or trouble breathing.
Trying to see a specialist without a GP referral. In the NHS, care starts with your GP. You need your GP to refer you before you can see a hospital consultant on the NHS. This does not apply to A&E or sexual health services.
Assuming all hospital care is free for everyone. GP appointments are free for everyone, and A&E visits are free too. But you may have to pay for hospital treatment that is not urgent if you are not ordinarily resident, so check before you assume a hospital stay costs nothing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I register with a GP if I am an undocumented migrant?
Yes. NHS guidance is clear. A surgery must not refuse to register you because you have no ID. It must not refuse because you have no address or because of your immigration status. You can register as an "NHS patient without a permanent address". You may have to pay for hospital care. Care from a GP is free.
Is the NHS really free for immigrants?
GP appointments are free for everyone. A&E visits are free too. Most public health services are also free. You may have to pay for hospital treatment that is not urgent if you are not "ordinarily resident". Some people do not have to pay. This includes refugees, EUSSEU Settlement Scheme — The scheme that granted settled or pre-settled status to EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens living in the UK before 31 December 2020.Click for official info ↗ holders with a valid S1, people in some visa categories, and people who paid the immigration health surchargeIHS — The fee most UK visa applicants pay upfront to use the NHS — £1,035 per year for most adults (2025 rate).Click for official info ↗.
How do I see a specialist?
In the NHS, care starts with your GP. You need your GP to refer you before you can see a hospital consultant on the NHS. This does not apply to A&E or sexual health services. Your GP sends the referral. You then book through the NHS e-Referral Service. You can choose your hospital if there is a choice.
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