The short version
A GP visit card gives you free visits to a participating family Doctor, including GP out-of-hours services. It is the narrower of Ireland's two public health cards — it makes the consultation free and nothing else.
Three groups get one automatically with no means test: children under 8, everyone over 70, and carers on Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit. Everyone aged 8 to 69 is assessed on weekly net income, at limits that are meaningfully higher than the medical card limits.
The mistake most people make
People see the headline figure — €418 a week for a single person living alone — decide they earn too much, and never apply. But rent, mortgage, childcare and travel-to-work costs are deducted before the HSE compares your income to that limit. If you pay Dublin rent, your assessable income can be far lower than your salary suggests. Apply and let the HSE do the arithmetic.
Who qualifies automatically
If you fall into one of these groups, your income is never assessed and the card is granted on the basis of your circumstances alone:
| Group | What you need to show |
|---|---|
| Children aged under 8 | Ordinarily resident in Ireland. Applied for by a parent or guardian; the card lapses on the child’s eighth birthday. |
| Anyone aged 70 or over | Age and residency. Note that over-70s on lower incomes should check the over-70s medical card instead, which covers far more. |
| Carer’s Allowance recipients | Proof you are getting the payment at full or half rate. |
| Carer’s Benefit recipients | Proof you are getting the payment at full or half rate. |
"Ordinarily resident" means you live in Ireland and intend to live here for at least one year. It is about residence, not nationality or immigration status.
Income limits if you are under 70
The HSE compares your weekly net income — after tax, PRSI and USC — to a basic rate that depends on your household. These rates have applied since 13 November 2023:
| Household | Weekly net income limit |
|---|---|
| Single person living alone | €418 |
| Single person living with family | €373 |
| Married or cohabiting couple, or lone parent with dependent children | €607 |
| Each of the first 2 children under 16 | + €57 |
| Third and each subsequent child under 16 | + €61.50 |
| Each of the first 2 children over 16 with no income | + €58.50 |
| Third and each subsequent child over 16 with no income | + €64 |
| Each dependant over 16 in full-time, non-grant-aided third-level education | + €117 |
Allowable expenses come off first
Before the HSE compares your income to the limit above, it deducts rent or mortgage payments, childcare costs, and reasonable costs of travelling to work. A couple on €700 a week paying €300 a week in rent is assessed well under the €607 limit.
What the card actually covers
- Free consultations with your chosen participating GP, with no cap on the number of visits.
- Free access to GP out-of-hours services such as SouthDoc, Caredoc, D-Doc and Shannondoc.
- Free GP care for any condition, including repeat consultations for a long-term condition.
Holding the card also means routine follow-ups stop being a financial decision — which matters most for conditions that need monitoring rather than a single visit.
What it does not cover
This is where people get caught out. A GP visit card does not pay for:
| Cost | What you pay | What can help |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed medicines | Full pharmacy price | The Drugs Payment Scheme caps household medicine costs at €80 a month |
| Emergency department visit without a GP referral | €100 per visit | A referral letter from your GP removes the charge |
| Consultant outpatient appointments (private) | €150–€300+ | A public referral is free but waiting lists are long |
| Routine dental, optical and aural care | Full private price | A medical card covers these; PRSI-based schemes cover some treatments |
| Physiotherapy, counselling and most therapies | Full private price | Limited public provision via GP referral |
Public inpatient charges were abolished in April 2023, so if you are admitted to a public hospital bed you are no longer billed a daily rate — with or without a card.
How to apply
Apply online through the HSE. The form asks for your PPS number, income details, and the expenses you want taken into account. You nominate a participating GP as part of the application.
- Check the automatic routes first. Under 8, over 70, or on a carer's payment means no means test at all.
- Collect proof of income — recent payslips, a social welfare statement, or accounts if you are self-employed.
- Collect proof of expenses — rent book or mortgage statement, childcare invoices, travel costs.
- Submit online at HSE.ie and upload everything at once. Missing documents are the main cause of delay.
- Register separately for the Drugs Payment Scheme so your medicine costs are capped.
No plastic card right now
The HSE has temporarily paused printing plastic GP visit cards and Drugs Payment Scheme cards. Your entitlement is unaffected — your GP and pharmacy can verify it electronically.
GP visit card vs medical card
If your income is low enough for a medical card, apply for that instead — it is a much wider entitlement. The same online application assesses you for both.
| GP visit card | Medical card | |
|---|---|---|
| GP visits | Free | Free |
| GP out-of-hours | Free | Free |
| Prescribed medicines | Full price (DPS caps at €80/month) | €1.50 per item, capped at €15/month |
| Public hospital care | Not covered | Covered, including the €100 ED charge |
| Dental, optical and aural | Not covered | Covered under public schemes |
| Community services | Not covered | Public health nursing, therapies, aids and appliances |
| Weekly limit, single person living alone | €418 | €184 (under 66) / €201.50 (66+) |
Read the full breakdown in our guide to medical card eligibility in Ireland, or see what care actually costs without a card in our guide to healthcare costs in Ireland.
Common questions
Who qualifies for a GP visit card in Ireland without a means test?
Children under 8, everyone aged over 70, and anyone getting Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Benefit at full or half rate qualifies automatically with no assessment of income. Everyone else aged 8 to 69 is means tested on weekly net income.
What is the income limit for a GP visit card?
The HSE weekly basic rates are €418 for a single person living alone, €373 for a single person living with family, and €607 for a married or cohabiting couple or a lone parent with dependent children. Child allowances of €57 to €64 per child are added, and allowable expenses such as rent and childcare are deducted before the comparison, so many people over the headline figure still qualify.
Does a GP visit card cover prescriptions?
No. A GP visit card covers the consultation only. Your prescribed medicines are charged at pharmacy prices, though the Drugs Payment Scheme caps what a household pays at €80 a month.
Does a GP visit card cover hospital charges?
No. The €100 emergency department charge still applies if you attend without a GP referral. Public inpatient charges were abolished in April 2023, so an overnight stay in a public hospital is not billed.
How is a GP visit card different from a medical card?
A GP visit card covers free GP visits only. A medical card also covers prescribed medicines at €1.50 per item, public hospital care, community services, and dental, optical and aural treatment. The income limits for a medical card are much lower.
How long does a GP visit card application take?
The HSE aims to process complete online applications within about 15 working days. Incomplete documentation is the usual reason for delay, so upload proof of income and expenses at the same time as the form.
Where these figures come from
- Citizens Information — GP visit cards
- HSE — GP visit cards
- Citizens Information — Drugs Payment Scheme
Charges and thresholds change. We check these figures regularly, but always confirm the current rate with the official source before you rely on it. This page explains entitlements, costs and process — it is not medical advice.
Card approved, but still can't get an appointment?
A GP visit card makes the visit free — it does not make it available. ViscaCare members get online Doctor access from day one across Ireland, the UK and Europe, with prescriptions where clinically appropriate.
Related guides
Medical card Ireland
Medicines at €1.50, hospital care, dental and optical cover — and the income limits.
Read moreWhat healthcare costs in Ireland
GP fees, the €100 ED charge, prescription caps and consultant fees.
Read moreSick certs in Ireland
What a cert costs, and how Illness Benefit and employer certification work.
Read moreRegister with a GP
What a practice can and cannot ask for, and what to do if you are refused.
Read more