How to Register with an NHS GP in the UK: A Simple Guide

In the UK, NHS services are available to residents and certain visitors, so the first step is to make sure you’re eligible to register. Most people living in the UK are eligible for free NHS care, but there are specific criteria for temporary residents and visitors.

Permanent residents: If you’re living in the UK long-term, you can register with an NHS GP. This applies whether you’re a UK citizen or not.
Temporary residents: You can register with an NHS GP if you’re staying in the UK for more than 3 months but less than a year.
Overseas visitors: You may need to pay for NHS services unless you come from a country that has a reciprocal agreement with the UK.

You can register with any NHS GP practice, but it’s usually more convenient to choose one no more than 10miles from you or a GP that offers virtual services. You can search for local GP practices.

When choosing a GP practice, consider the following:
Opening hours: Not all practices have evening and weekend appointments or offer 24/7 video/ telephone consultations like we do.
Availability for new patients : Some practices may have waiting lists or specific conditions for registering. We are accepting new patients.

Most GP practices need you to register in person, but some, including us, provide online registration options. You’ll need to provide certain details to prove your identity and address. These usually include:

Proof of identity (e.g., passport, driving license, or residence card)
Proof of address (e.g., a utility bill, rental agreement, or bank statement)

While it’s not mandatory, it’s also a good idea to know your NHS number if you have one, as this can speed up the process. If you don’t have an NHS number, don’t worry – the GP will help you get one.

Once you’ve completed the registration, you’re officially registered with the NHS GP. You can now access healthcare services through your GP, including consultations, prescriptions, referrals to specialists, and more. You can book appointments by phone, online, or via an app, depending on your GP’s systems.

It’s important to remember that the NHS GP system is designed to provide long-term care, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything—whether it’s advice on minor health concerns or help managing ongoing conditions.

You and your general practice (YYGP) has been developed to help patients understand what to expect from their general practice and how they can get the best from their GP team. The YYGP document published by NHS England can be found here.

GP at Hand is an NHS GP practice.

We provide appointments to our registered patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can book a video or telephone appointment with any of our team of experienced clinicians, including: 

GPs
Advanced Nurse Practitioners
Nurses, Pharmacists
Mental Health Practitioners
Physiotherapists

Most issues can be dealt with without needing to visit our practice – we are the pioneers of digital-first primary care in the UK and our clinicians are highly trained and experienced with digital consultations.

For those occasions when you do need to be seen in person, you can choose from any of our state-of-the-art clinics across London. Located within easy reach of transport hubs, our clinics are purpose-designed to ensure you get the best experience and care.