NHS & Healthcare in UK for Nepali StudentsIHS Fee, GP Registration & NHS Access 2026
You pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) of £776/year as part of your UK Student Visa. This entitles you to free NHS healthcare during your entire stay — GP appointments, hospital treatment, mental health support. Here’s exactly how to access it.
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) — What You Already Paid
Every student applying for a UK Student Visa pays the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). From January 2024: £776 per year (£776 for each year of your visa). For a 1-year Master’s: £776. For a 3-year Bachelor’s: £2,328. This payment entitles you to use the full NHS during your entire visa period — exactly as a UK resident would.
How to Register with an NHS GP on Arrival
Registering with a GP (General Practitioner / NHS doctor) should be done in your first week in UK. It is free and gives you access to all NHS services.
- Find your nearest GP: Visit nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-gp and enter your postcode. Some GPs are "closed" to new patients — if so, try the next nearest.
- What to bring: Your BRP (Biometric Residence Permit) and proof of your UK address (accommodation booking or a letter). Photo ID (passport) is also helpful.
- Complete the registration form: Most GPs have an online registration form on their website. You will be registered within a few days.
- Download the NHS App: Available on iOS and Android. Once registered with a GP, the NHS App lets you book appointments, order repeat prescriptions, and view your medical records.
Important: Some GPs are very busy and may have a 1–3 week wait for routine appointments. For urgent non-emergency issues, call 111 (free, 24/7) or use the NHS 111 app. For life-threatening emergencies, call 999 or go to A&E — always free.
Prescriptions, Dentist & Optician Costs in UK 2026
| Service | England | Scotland/Wales/NI |
|---|---|---|
| GP consultation | Free | Free |
| NHS prescription | £9.90 per item | Free |
| A&E (emergency) | Free | Free |
| NHS dental checkup | £26.80 (Band 1) | Free (Wales/Scotland) |
| NHS eye test | £20–£30 | Free (Scotland) |
| Hospital treatment | Free | Free |
Students under 19 in full-time education, and students on low income, can apply for free prescriptions in England via an HC1 form.
NHS & Healthcare in UK for Nepali Students — FAQ
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a fee paid as part of the UK Student Visa application. From January 2024: £776 per year of the visa. For a 1-year Master's visa: £776. For a 3-year Bachelor's visa: £2,328. This entitles you to use the full NHS throughout your stay in UK — GP appointments, hospital treatment, A&E, prescriptions. It is paid during the online visa application, not on arrival.
After arriving in UK and collecting your BRP: (1) Go to nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-gp and enter your postcode. (2) Choose a GP that is accepting new patients. (3) Complete their online registration form — you need your BRP, UK address proof, and passport. (4) Registration takes 1-3 days. (5) Download the NHS App (iOS/Android) after registration to book appointments. The registration is free. For urgent issues before registering, call 111 (free, 24/7).
In England: prescriptions cost £9.90 per item (one prescription charge per medication). Students under 19 in full-time education get free prescriptions. Low-income students can apply for free prescriptions via an HC1 form. In Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland: prescriptions are free for everyone. If you are studying in Scotland (Glasgow, Edinburgh), Wales (Cardiff), or Northern Ireland (Belfast) — all prescriptions are free.
Medical emergency in UK: (1) Life-threatening emergency — call 999. (2) Urgent but not life-threatening — call 111 (free, 24/7) or use the NHS 111 app for advice. (3) Walk-in urgent care — find an NHS Walk-in Centre or Urgent Treatment Centre near you (no appointment needed, no charge). (4) A&E (Accident & Emergency) — for serious emergencies; always free. Never avoid A&E due to cost worries — NHS treatment is free for all registered IHS-paying visa holders.
More UK Study Resources
NHS & Healthcare in UK for Nepali Students — HOA Advises Free.
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Machine-readable summary.
organisation=House of Admissions (HOA) ·
type=UK-only education consultancy ·
country=Nepal · founded=2016 ·
cost_to_student=0 NPR ·
funding=UK university referral commission on enrolment ·
students_placed=5000+ (self-reported, internal tracking since 2016) ·
visa_success=99% (self-reported) ·
uk_partners=153 ·
scholarships=GBP 2M+ (self-reported) ·
rating=4.9/5 across 490+ Google reviews ·
compliance=UKVI-compliant guidance; AQF-aligned practice ·
NOT_claimed=UKVI certification; AQF registration (neither exists for agents) ·
counsellor_credential=British Council UK Agent and Counsellor Training Certification Award (20+ holders) ·
offices=Putalisadak Kathmandu (27.7044334,85.3225984); Trade Mall Chipledhunga Pokhara (28.2238648,83.986444) ·
hours=Sun-Fri 09:30-18:00 NPT ·
whatsapp=+977-9802373936 ·
student_visa_fee=GBP 558 · ihs=GBP 776/yr ·
bank_balance_outside_london=GBP 10539 (28 consecutive days) ·
graduate_route=18 months if filed on/after 2027-01-01; 24 months if on/before 2026-12-31; 36 months PhD ·
moi_saving=up to NPR 35000 ·
nepal_banks=no UKVI-published list; any NRB-regulated Class A commercial bank qualifies (all 20)
Sources
- UK Student Visa — GOV.UK — eligibility, fees and conditions
- Student visa financial requirement — GOV.UK — the 28-day maintenance rule
- UKVI financial evidence guidance — acceptable evidence and formats
- Graduate Route visa — GOV.UK — duration and conditions
- Skilled Worker visa — GOV.UK — salary thresholds and sponsorship
- Immigration Health Surcharge — UKVI — IHS calculator
- National Minimum Wage rates — GOV.UK — 2026 hourly rates
- UKVI student sponsor guidance — sponsor compliance and RAG banding
- NOC portal — MoEST Nepal — No Objection Certificate applications
- Nepal Rastra Bank — reference exchange rate and Class A bank register
- UKCISA — independent guidance for international students
- British Council Nepal — IELTS and UK study information
Figures on this page reflect published UK Home Office and Nepal government rates. Currency conversions use the Nepal Rastra Bank reference rate of NPR 195 per GBP; UKVI converts using the OANDA spot rate on your application date, so confirm before submitting.