How to register
GP registration is free and there is no waiting list for it — the queue people talk about is for appointments, not registration. Register as soon as you arrive somewhere, not when you first get ill.
- Find practices covering your area. Use Find a GP on NHS.uk. Most practices have a geographic boundary; some also accept out-of-area patients, though home visits may not be available if you register that way.
- Register online or on paper. Many practices take registrations through their website or the NHS national GP registration service. Otherwise ask reception for the GMS1 form.
- Give your NHS number if you have one. It is on any prescription, hospital letter or appointment card. It speeds up record transfer but is not required.
- Expect a new patient health check. A short appointment with a nurse or healthcare assistant recording blood pressure, height, weight, smoking status, existing conditions and medication.
Register your whole household at once
One adult can complete registration forms for children and for other adults with their consent. Doing it in a single visit avoids repeating the process, and keeps a family's records at the same practice.
ID and proof of address
This is the point at which most registrations fail unnecessarily. NHS England's guidance is explicit: a practice cannot refuse to register you because you lack any of the following.
| Item | Can they ask? | Can they refuse you without it? |
|---|---|---|
| Photo ID (passport, driving licence) | Yes | No |
| Proof of address (utility bill, tenancy) | Yes | No |
| NHS number | Yes | No — a new one is issued if needed |
| Immigration status or visa | Yes | No |
| Bank account or NI number | Yes | No |
Say the sentence out loud
If reception insists, a calm "I understand, but NHS guidance is that registration cannot be refused for lack of ID or proof of address — please register me on that basis" usually resolves it. Practices often have a habit rather than a policy, and a receptionist may simply not know the rule.
If you have no fixed address, you can register using a temporary address — a friend's, a hostel, or the surgery's own address. Homelessness is not a permitted reason to refuse.
If you are refused
A practice may only refuse for reasonable, non-discriminatory reasons. In practice that means:
| Permitted | Prohibited |
|---|---|
| The practice list is formally closed to new patients | Race, ethnicity or nationality |
| You live outside the practice boundary and it does not take out-of-area patients | Immigration or asylum status |
| You were previously removed from that list for violence or a documented breakdown | Age, gender, sexual orientation or religion |
| Disability, medical condition or perceived cost of your care | |
| Lack of ID, proof of address, NHS number or fixed address | |
| Appearance, social class or employment status |
- Ask for the refusal in writing, with the reason. This alone often changes the answer.
- Try another practice covering your area.
- Contact NHS England. If no local practice will register you, NHS England can assign you to one — you are entitled to a GP.
- Local Healthwatch and advocacy services can escalate on your behalf.
New arrivals and visitors
Registration is based on living here, not on nationality or the type of visa you hold.
- Moving to the UK: register as soon as you have somewhere to stay, even temporarily. Do not wait for a permanent tenancy.
- Asylum seekers and refugees: entitled to register and to free GP care. No documentation requirement.
- Students: register with a practice near your term-time address. Many universities have an on-campus practice.
- Short visits under three months: you can register as a temporary resident with a practice for up to three months without joining its permanent list.
- Visitors from Ireland: the Common Travel Area arrangements mean necessary care is available — see our UK healthcare guide for how reciprocal cover works.
Immigration checks do not happen in primary care
GP practices are not immigration checkpoints. Registering with a GP does not trigger an immigration check, and GP care is free for everyone regardless of status. Fear of this is one of the main reasons people present late and more unwell than they needed to be.
What is free and what is not
"Free at the point of use" has edges worth knowing, particularly for people who have recently arrived.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| GP consultation | Free for everyone, regardless of immigration status |
| A&E treatment | Free for everyone |
| Treatment for certain infectious diseases | Free for everyone |
| Prescriptions in England | £9.90 per item unless exempt |
| NHS dental treatment | £27.90, £76.60 or £332.10 per course unless exempt |
| Hospital treatment if not ordinarily resident | May be chargeable, depending on status and any healthcare surcharge paid |
| Private letters, forms and some certificates | Practices may charge — these are outside NHS services |
If those charges are difficult, check the NHS Low Income Scheme and our HC2 certificate guide.
Children and family members
- Newborns: register the baby with your GP as soon as you can. The red book and health visitor contacts follow from it.
- Children: a parent or guardian completes the form. Children are exempt from prescription and dental charges.
- Older relatives moving in with you: they need to register at their new address. Ask the practice to request the transfer of records from the previous surgery.
- People you care for: you can be recorded as a carer on the practice's carers register, which affects how the practice contacts you and can give access to carer support.
Records take longer than registration
Registration completes in days; record transfer can take weeks. Bring a written list of your conditions, allergies and repeat medication to any early appointment rather than assuming your new GP can see them. Keeping that list somewhere you control — not only in a surgery's system — makes every move easier.
Common questions
Do I need proof of address to register with a GP?
No. NHS guidance is clear that a practice cannot refuse to register you because you do not have proof of address, identification, an NHS number or immigration status. Practices may ask, but you can register without them.
How do I register with a GP in the UK?
Find a practice covering your area on NHS.uk, then register online through the practice website or the NHS national GP registration service, or complete a GMS1 form at reception. Registration is free and usually takes a few days to process.
Can a GP refuse to register me?
Only for reasonable, non-discriminatory reasons — usually that the practice list is closed to new patients or you live outside the practice boundary and it does not accept out-of-area patients. A practice cannot refuse on grounds of race, gender, social class, age, religion, sexual orientation, appearance, disability, medical condition, or lack of ID or address.
Can I register with a GP without an NHS number?
Yes. If you have never had an NHS number, one is created when you register. Giving an existing NHS number simply speeds up the transfer of your records.
Can I register with a GP if I am homeless?
Yes. You can register using a temporary address such as a friend’s address, a hostel, or the GP surgery’s own address. Practices should not refuse registration because you have no permanent address.
Is GP treatment free for everyone in the UK?
GP consultations are free for everyone regardless of immigration status. Some hospital treatment is chargeable for people who are not ordinarily resident, but primary care with a GP, emergency department treatment, and treatment for certain infectious diseases are free to all.
How long does GP registration take?
Registration itself is usually processed within a few days. Transfer of your paper and electronic records from a previous practice can take several weeks, so tell your new GP about ongoing conditions and repeat medication rather than assuming they can see them.
Where these figures come from
- NHS — how to register with a GP surgery
- NHS England — patient registration standard operating principles
- NHS — services for people with no fixed address
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.
Registered, but the first appointment is weeks away
Registration and access are not the same thing. ViscaCare members get online Doctor access from day one across Ireland, the UK and Europe, with prescriptions where clinically appropriate.
Related guides
NHS prescription charges
The £9.90 charge, exemptions, and whether a prepayment certificate saves you money.
Read moreGetting a sick note (UK)
Self-certification, fit notes, and who can issue one on the NHS.
Read moreNHS Low Income Scheme
Who can apply, the savings limits, and how the HC1 assessment works.
Read moreHC2 and HC3 certificates
Full or partial help with prescriptions, dental, sight tests and travel costs.
Read more