We have received multiple questions about overseas visitors and how they access the COVID-19 vaccine and I recognise there is a lot of confusion including:
- Who is eligible if visiting from overseas?
- What age groups can be vaccinated?
- Do individuals need to register with an NHS GP provider to access a vaccination?
- Is there a cost to obtain the vaccination?
- Does someone need to be able to be in the UK for long enough to receive both doses?
No charges for coronavirus (COVID-19) testing, treatment, and vaccination
Overseas visitors to England, including anyone living in the UK without permission, will not be charged for:
- Testing for COVID-19 (even if the test shows they do not have COVID-19)
- Treatment for COVID-19, including for a related problem called multisystem inflammatory syndrome that affects some children
- Vaccination against COVID-19
No immigration checks are needed for overseas visitors if they are only tested, treated, or vaccinated for COVID-19.
Accessing COVID-19 vaccination and NHS numbers
Individuals do not require an NHS number or GP registration to receive the COVID-19 vaccination and should not be denied vaccination on this basis. Individuals who do not have an NHS number or are not registered with a GP are still entitled to free COVID-19 vaccinations.
While registration with a GP is encouraged to access the vaccine, individuals can request to book COVID-19 vaccination appointments as an unregistered patient through a local GP practice if the practice is delivering the COVID-19 vaccinations.
- If an individual has an NHS number, they can find it through this online tool
- If an individual does not have an NHS number, they should contact 119
- If someone is denied care because they do not have an NHS number, they can contact NHS England’s customer contact centre
COVID-19 translated advice and guidance
This guidance on COVID-19 testing, treatment and vaccination free of charge has been translated into 40 different languages by the Department of Health and Social Care.
The following resources are also available in various languages:
- COVID-19 restrictions: what you can and cannot do
- Booking a COVID-19 vaccine appointment letter
- What to expect after your vaccination
- COVID-19 vaccination guide for older adults
- COVID-19 vaccination: a guide for all women of childbearing age, pregnant or breastfeeding
- COVID-19 vaccination information
- Stay at home guidance for households with possible COVID-19 infection
- Information for shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable from COVID-19
- The Mayor of London and London Assembly guidance on COVID-19
Doctors of the World has provided translated COVID-19 resources informed by government and NHS advice.
The International Organization for Migration has set up the COVID-19 Migrant Information Service, which provides multilingual information on COVID-19 measures and support in the UK context. The aim is to support migrants who may face language barriers when reading complex information.
The information is available in 5 languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and Romanian. It relates to 5 important areas of everyday life that have been significantly affected by COVID-19: health, employment, benefits, housing, and immigration.