Entitlement to NHS Treatment

Ordinarily Resident in Northern Ireland

Persons coming to Northern Ireland to live are required to meet the ‘Ordinarily Resident Test’ in Northern Ireland, i.e. you must be lawfully residing in Northern Ireland and have an identifiable and settled purpose here.

To satisfy this test you must have indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom (UK), and provide proof of your settled purpose e.g. to work, and confirmation of your Northern Ireland address.

Eligible Visitor

An eligible visitor is a visitor to Northern Ireland who is lawfully present in Northern Ireland and satisfies a relevant exemption from charges such as students, workers and asylum seekers in accordance with the Health and Personal Social Services Provision of Health Services to Persons Not Ordinarily Resident Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015.

  • Lawful Residence for 12 months
  • Presence for work, study or to settle
  • Reciprocal Agreements
  • Victims of Human Trafficking
  • Exceptional Humanitarian Reasons
  • Diplomats
  • NATO Forces
  • Long term Visits by UK Pensioners
  • War pensioners and armed forces compensation scheme payment recipients
  • HM UK Forces/ Crown Servants and others
  • Former Residents working overseas
  • Missionaries for organisation established in UK
  • Prisoners and detainees
  • Employees on UK Registered Ships
  • Family members of visitors

Medical emergencies

If you need immediate medical assistance (e.g. because of an accident) telephone 999. The call is free. An operator will ask you which emergency service you require (fire, police or ambulance). You will need to tell the emergency services what has happened and where you are. If someone is injured and needs to go to hospital an ambulance will arrive and take them to the nearest hospital with an emergency department

If you need urgent treatment but are well enough to travel please make your own way to the nearest Accident and Emergency Department.