Health services for visitors to Northern Ireland
Visitors to Northern Ireland will not pay for treatment received in an emergency department. All other treatment, including inpatient admissions may be subject to charges. Find information on costs involved, getting medical treatment at hospital emergency departments and how to contact a pharmacist and dentist.
Paying for treatments and exemptions
Visitors to Northern Ireland are generally not eligible to receive free non-emergency healthcare.
Only people who are Ordinarily Resident in Northern Ireland are eligible to receive free publicly funded healthcare.
The definition of Ordinary Residence is available on the Gov.UK website.
Being born in Northern Ireland, holding a UK passport or birth certificate, paying taxes, receiving a UK pension, or owning a UK property does not mean you are automatically entitled.
If you are visiting Northern Ireland or have been living outside Northern Ireland for more than six months, charges may apply.
Visitors from EEA Countries will be asked to produce an EHIC card or provide a PRC certificate to cover any treatment.
Visitors from non-EEA countries should provide their health insurance cover and review relevant travel insurance or private medical care information to check their entitlement to medical treatment.
Any treatment you receive in an emergency department is free. However, you may be charged if you are then admitted to hospital.
All clinic and outpatient appointments including x-rays, maternity, physiotherapy are also chargeable unless you can show that you meet an exemption, or the treatment you are receiving is exempt from charges.
If it is medically determined that your treatment can safely wait until you return home, the HSC Trust will not provide non-urgent treatment unless you pay the full estimated cost of the treatment in advance.
Each HSC Trust has a dedicated Access to Healthcare Team to provide information on eligibility. You can email them at:
- AccessHealthcare@belfasttrust.hscni.net
- Access.Healthcare@westerntrust.hscni.net
- access.healthcare@southerntrust.hscni.net
- Access.Healthcare@northerntrust.hscni.net
- Access.healthcare@setrust.hscni.net
Pharmacists
All community pharmacies/ chemists have a qualified pharmacist working in the pharmacy who is registered with the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland.
Pharmacists can give free expert advice on medicines and many common health conditions. For example, they are trained to advise whether your symptoms can be treated without the need to see a GP, or whether you should seek further advice from a GP.
Pharmacists can also give you information about other local health services.
You do not need an appointment to speak to a pharmacist.
You can buy over-the-counter medicines (which don’t need a prescription from your doctor) and can have medicines dispensed that are prescribed by a GP.
Community pharmacy opening hours vary, but Monday to Friday they are usually open from 9.30 am to 5.00 pm.
Some may be open for a longer period.
Some pharmacies are closed on Saturdays and most are closed on Sundays.
Those pharmacies that are most likely to be open during the evening and Sunday afternoons from 1.00 pm to 5.30 pm are located in shopping centres and city centres.
Mental health services
If you, or someone you know, is in distress or despair, call Lifeline, the Northern Ireland crisis response helpline or visit the Lifeline website.
You will receive immediate help on the phone.
If you need further support, Lifeline offers face-to-face counselling appointments.
Dental services
Emergency dental treatment may be accessed from local dental practices, during normal working hours from Monday to Friday.
A payment may be required for any treatment provided, or you may be advised to go to an emergency department.
Any non-emergency treatment may only be available on a private basis.
Further information is available at:
Medical emergencies
All visitors to Northern Ireland are entitled to medical emergency services free of charge.
Visitors from European Economic Area (EEA) countries will be asked to provide an EHIC/GHIC card.
If you are admitted to an inpatient ward or referred to a clinic for an outpatient appointment, you may have to pay for this separately.
A medical emergency is something that is, potentially, immediately life-threatening.
It does not include routine monitoring or treatment which could wait until you return to your home country.
Examples of medical emergencies include:
- a sudden collapse and becoming unresponsive or not breathing
- suspected stroke or heart attack
- becoming unconscious, perhaps after heavy blood loss or accident
- collapse preceded by facial swelling and wheezing or choking episode
- accident leading to injury
- all maternity services, including routine antenatal treatment, are treated as being immediately necessary
If you have a medical emergency and need an ambulance, call 999 immediately.
You can also go to a hospital emergency department.
For more information on emergency departments and other services available, go to: