Visitors to Northern Ireland are generally not eligible to receive free non-emergency healthcare.
Any treatment you receive in an emergency department is free. However, you may be charged if you are then admitted to hospital.
Only people who are Ordinarily Resident in Northern Ireland are eligible to receive free publicly funded healthcare.
Ordinarily resident means if you are living in the United Kingdom:
- lawfully
- voluntarily
- for settled purposes as part of the regular order of their life for the time being, whether for a long or short duration
An overseas visitor is anyone who is not ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom. If you are visiting the UK or have been living outside the UK for more than six months, you may have to pay for NHS treatment.
Our Access to Healthcare Team
Our Access to Healthcare Team is obliged by law to find out if people using our services are eligible for free care, or whether we need to charge for the treatment received. The individual is primarily responsible for providing documentation to prove eligibility, however, our Access to Healthcare Team will assist the individual to gather this information.
All individuals apart from those receiving treatment that is exempt (as per the Persons Not Ordinarily Resident Regulations 2015) are required to complete a questionnaire and asked to provide documents to support their Ordinary Residence in NI or their exemption as an eligible visitor.
All information and documentation can be made available in minority ethnic languages to meet the needs of those not fluent in English.
How to contact us
Northern Trust Access to Healthcare Team
Antrim Area Hospital Patient Admin office
- Telephone: 028 9442 4590
Causeway Hospital Patient Admin office
- Telephone: 028 27034 6053
Further information and legislation
Gov UK: Ordinary Residence Tool
NI Direct: Paying for treatments and exemptions
Persons Not Ordinarily Resident Regulations
View and prove your immigration status – GOV.UK
Entitlement to NHS Services and first-time registration in other languages
Information for patients and staff who may need to prove their status whilst residing in the UK
All Biometric Resident Permit holders are being advised to take action now to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa at www.gov.uk/evisa.
Should anyone need support with creating their UKVI account or getting access to their eVisa, the latest updates and guidance is available on GOV.UK at www.gov.uk/evisa.
For those based in the UK who do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device, do not have internet access, and do not have access to a device like a laptop or smart phone, you can get help to complete the online Home Office application. Details on how to access this support are availabel on GOV.UK at Get help with your online Home Office application.
Extensive support is now also available through the eVisa grant funded network of organisations for vulnerable holders of physical immigration documents who require support in making the transition to eVisa. Details of support available, including the list of organisations is available on GOV.UK at: eVisa: community support for vulnerable people – GOV.UK.