Register with a GP in the UK — your nearest practice by postcode
Free NHS registration. No ID, no proof of address, no immigration documents required. NHS GPs are obliged to register everyone — including asylum seekers, refugees and undocumented migrants. Enter your postcode to find the nearest practice.
Your right to a GP — what NHS England says
- Every UK GP practice must register you regardless of immigration status, ID, address, or whether you have an NHS number — this is an NHS England rule, not a choice for the practice.
- No documents required. No passport, no eVisa, no ARC, no utility bill. The practice can ask but cannot refuse on that basis.
- Registration is free. GP visits, prescriptions for children, maternity care and contraception are free for everyone — including asylum seekers, refugees and people with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF — a Home Office rule that blocks most benefits).
- If a receptionist refuses — ask for the practice manager, or call NHS England on 0300 311 22 33. Doctors of the World publishes a printable NHS-England leaflet in 13 languages.
How to register with a GP
Four simple steps. Takes 3–10 days from start to confirmation.
- 1Find the practice nearest to youUse the postcode finder above, or search NHS Find-a-GP. Practices serve a catchment area — pick one within ~3 miles of where you live or stay.
- 2Register online or walk inMost practices accept registration on their website (look for "Register" or "New patients"). Otherwise walk in and ask for a registration form (GMS1 — the standard NHS form). The receptionist must give it to you.
- 3Fill in the GMS1 formName, date of birth, your address (or "no fixed address" + a contact address — friend, hostel, charity), languages you speak. Leave NHS number blank if you don't have one — it's not required.
- 4Wait for confirmation (3–10 days)You'll get a registration letter, often with an NHS number. You can book appointments straight away — even before the letter arrives. Phone the practice or use the NHS App.
What you need (and what you don't)
- Your name and date of birth
- An address (or "no fixed address" + contact address)
- Languages you speak (so the practice can arrange interpreters)
- Names of any current medications
- Passport, eVisa share code, ARC card, BRP (now retired)
- Visa or any immigration documents
- Utility bill, council tax bill or bank statement
- NHS number
- Proof of address — homeless and "no fixed address" patients must be registered (NHS England rule)
GP for asylum seekers, refugees and new arrivals
If you've just arrived in the UK — claimed asylum, on the Ukraine schemes, on a family-reunion visa or with no status at all — you have the same right to register with a GP as anyone else. NHS primary care is free for everyone living in England.
GP practices in a specific city
Find a GP near me — start with your city. Useful if you just moved and don't yet know your postcode.
What's useful to know about GP registration
Can I register with a GP without status in the UK?
Yes. NHS GP practices are required to register everyone, including asylum seekers, refused asylum seekers and undocumented migrants. You don't need: ID, proof of address, immigration status. NHS England guidance explicitly forbids refusal. If a GP refuses — that's a breach; complain to the Integrated Care Board.
What documents do I need to register?
Formally — none. In practice the GP may ask for an address (even temporary — Home Office hotel, hostel, friend's address). If you have an ARC card or a Home Office letter — bring them. Leave NHS number blank if you don't have one.
What if a GP refuses to register me?
Refusing because of missing ID, address proof or immigration status is against NHS rules. Steps: ask for the practice manager; bring an NHS-England leaflet (Doctors of the World provides it in 13 languages); call NHS England 0300 311 22 33; or go to a different practice using the postcode finder above.
What's covered by free NHS services?
Free: GP consultations, A&E, infection treatment, ambulance, tests, vaccinations, chronic disease management, mental health services.
Paid: dentist (may be free for asylum seekers), optician, prescriptions (£9.90, but free for asylum seekers with HC2 certificate).
What if I urgently need a doctor?
Not a GP — call NHS 111 (free, 24/7, interpreters). If life-threatening — 999 or go to the nearest A&E (Accident & Emergency). Both are free for everyone in the UK regardless of status.