Country guide — Europe
Expat insurance and health insurance in the United Kingdom
In short
For a French citizen, the United Kingdom does not require health insurance in the sense of a private contract, but a mandatory payment, the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), as soon as a visa for more than 6 months is applied for: this payment grants access to the NHS on terms close to those of a UK resident. A French national on a simple visit of less than 6 months needs no visa or IHS. Without paying the IHS when required, the consequence is rejection of the visa application itself. 2026 amount: £1,035 per year per adult (£776 for students, minors and Youth Mobility Scheme).
Key figures
- 141,242 French nationals registered with the consular register in 2025 (141,593 in 2024, -0.25%) — the 3rd top destination for the French community, behind Switzerland and the United States.
- Life expectancy 2022-2024: 83.0 years (women), 79.1 years (men).
- Health spending: 11.4% of GDP in 2025 (versus 11.1% in 2024), public funding ≈81% of the total.
Local healthcare system
The United Kingdom has a universal public system, free at the point of use, the NHS, funded by taxation and National Insurance, coexisting with a developed private sector (BUPA, HCA Healthcare, Spire, Nuffield Health) mostly used to cut waiting times. Access at the point of use (GP, emergencies, emergency hospitalisation) is free for anyone “ordinarily resident”, regardless of nationality. Registering with a local GP is the normal entry point. Waiting times for a specialist or non-urgent procedure are reputed to be long, hence the frequent use of supplementary private cover.
Legal and visa obligations
- Since Brexit (31/01/2020, end of transition 31/12/2020): a French citizen no longer has free movement and is subject, like any third-country national, to the UK immigration regime as soon as a stay exceeds 6 months or involves work/study.
- Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): due for most visas of more than 6 months. Does not exempt from NHS charges that also apply to UK residents (prescriptions in England, dental care). 2026: £1,035/year per adult, £776/year for students/minors/YMS; exemption for Health and Care Worker visas.
- Stay of less than 6 months: no visa required, no IHS due, NHS access limited to urgent care.
- eVisa: since 1 January 2025, digital immigration status (UKVI account, “share code”) replaces the physical permit (BRP).
- Seconded employee: staying on the French scheme via form A1 may be possible, under the post-Brexit social security protocol — the precise regime depends on the date you settled. See the definition of a seconded employee.
- Youth Mobility Scheme: no France/EU agreement in force as of the verification date (22/09/2026), negotiations ongoing since December 2025. This type of programme corresponds, elsewhere, to a working holiday scheme.
Cost of some medical procedures
Orders of magnitude from specialised sources, not official fee schedules.
| Procedure | Public sector | Private sector |
|---|---|---|
| GP consultation (private teleconsultation) | Free at the point of use (resident) | £25 to £75 |
| GP consultation (private practice, London) | — | £120 to £500 depending on standing |
| Private specialist consultation | — | £150 to £250 on average |
| Private emergency care, initial consultation | — | £100 to £200, up to £600 with tests |
| MRI | — | £350 to £750 outside London, £550 to £1,200+ in London |
| Night of private hospitalisation | — | £275 to £550 national average, up to £900+ at central London hospitals |
| Blood tests | — | ≈£30 for a simple test, £90 to £400 for a full panel |
| Private dental consultation | — | £40 to £80 for a check-up/consultation |
Social security agreements with France
The coordination regime with France has changed in nature since Brexit:
- Withdrawal Agreement of 24/01/2020: protects rights acquired before 31/12/2020.
- EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement of 24/12/2020 (social security protocol, in force since 01/01/2021): follows the broad outlines of regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009 for later situations, without being identical.
- The French EHIC remains usable in the United Kingdom for temporary stays.
- The United Kingdom has replaced the EHIC, for its own residents, with the GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card).
- Case-by-case verification recommended by CLEISS for any individual situation (secondment, retirement).
Which insurance for my profile
General matrix — does not recommend any specific product or insurer.
| Profile | Regulatory constraint | Points of attention |
|---|---|---|
| Working holiday / Youth Mobility Scheme | Not available for a French national as of the verification date | Go through a standard work visa (Skilled Worker), subject to the IHS |
| Student | Student visa required beyond 6 months, IHS at a reduced rate (£776/year) | Supplementary cover (repatriation, activities) worth considering |
| Seconded employee | Staying on the French scheme via form A1 may be possible | Duration limit to check case by case |
| Local employee (Skilled Worker) | IHS due at the time of the visa application (£1,035/year) | Private supplementary cover commonly used to cut public waiting times |
| Retiree | Terms depend on individual circumstances (French and/or UK pension) | Personalised check with CLEISS recommended |
Hospitals and care network
- London: HCA Healthcare (The Wellington Hospital, The Princess Grace Hospital), BUPA Cromwell Hospital, Spire Healthcare — leading private reference for international patients.
- French-speaking clinics in London: Medicare Français (Earl's Court), La Clinique Française (The Medical Chambers Kensington).
- NHS: St Thomas' Hospital, Guy's Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare — leading public hospital reference in London.
Practical steps
- Before departure: notify French agencies of your departure (CPAM, CAF, France Travail, pension funds).
- Apply for a visa and pay the IHS online with the Home Office for any stay longer than 6 months.
- Create a UKVI account and check your eVisa (since 1 January 2025).
- Register with a local GP as soon as you settle.
- Register with the roll of French nationals living abroad (London or Edinburgh).
- Seconded employee: request form A1 before departure.
Frequently asked questions
Does a French citizen need a visa to move to the United Kingdom?
Yes, since Brexit, for a stay of more than 6 months involving work, study or a long-term move. A tourist stay of less than 6 months does not require a visa.
What is the IHS and how is it paid?
A flat-rate payment made in one go when applying for a visa, calculated according to the length of the leave to remain requested. Without this payment, the application cannot succeed.
Does the EHIC still work in the United Kingdom after Brexit?
Yes, under the social security protocol of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, on principles close to those applicable before Brexit.
Can a French citizen benefit from a Youth Mobility Scheme in the United Kingdom?
Not as of this page's verification date (22/09/2026). Negotiations between the United Kingdom and the EU have been ongoing since December 2025, with no agreement in force.
Is the NHS entirely free for a French resident settled in the United Kingdom?
GP care and emergency care are free at the point of use. Some charges remain due from all residents: prescriptions in England and part of routine dental care.
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Written by Expavy
Sources
- France Diplomatie — United Kingdom, Health
- CLEISS — Brexit FAQ
- GOV.UK — Immigration Health Surcharge
- NHS — Healthcare abroad (GHIC and EHIC)
- ONS — UK Health Accounts 2024 and 2025
- France Diplomatie — Global register of French nationals abroad (2025)
- Speedwell Health — Private hospital price guide in the United Kingdom (2026)
- Medical Express Clinic — Private blood test prices in London
- Saga — Private dental care costs in the United Kingdom