Registering with your GP: understanding your rights
We want to help you understand your rights when registering with your GP using NHS guidelines, as accessing a GP is an ongoing issue you tell us about.
Do I need proof of address to register with my GP?
NHS guidelines state that you don't need proof of address, immigration status, ID or an NHS number to register with a GP. However, some GP surgeries ask for supporting documentation as it can:
- help the surgery find your medical records or transfer them from your current GP
- Confirm that you live in the surgery's area (or "practice boundary") if they do not accept patients from outside this area
- If you do not have a permanent address, you can still register using a temporary address or the address of the GP surgery.
Do I need identification to register with my GP?
You do not have to provide an ID when registering with a GP, but it does help. Below is a list of documents that you can use as ID:
- Passport
- Birth certificate
- Biometric residence permit
- Travel document
- HC2 certificate
- ARC card
- Utility bill
What could stop me from being able to register at my GP?
A GP must explain why they refuse your request to register in writing. The GP has the right to refuse if the following criteria are met:
- The practice isn't currently accepting new patients.
- The practice only accepts patients living within its practice boundary.
- Registering with a practice that is a long way from where you live may not be appropriate.
What to do if you are refused the right to register
Ask the GP receptionist why they cannot register you. They should give you an apparent reason. If the GP already has too many patients, they can refuse to register you, but they must explain this in writing.
If you have problems registering with a GP surgery:
- Call the NHS England Customer Contact Centre on 0300 311 22 33
Here are some ways that you can make a complaint:
By email (for the attention of the complaints manager in subject line)
By post: NHS England, P.O. Box 16738, Redditch, B97 9PT
By phone: 0300 311 2233 (Telephone Interpreter Service available)
This information can be made available in alternative formats, such as easy read or large print and may be available in alternative languages upon request. To receive this, contact 0300 311 2233 or send an email to NHS England.
I want to change my GP practice; do I have to give a reason?
No, you don't have to tell your practice why you want to change or your new one why you made that decision.
You'll need to fill in a registration form. A request will then be made to your current GP for your medical records to be transferred to the new GP surgery.
Read more information on how to register in practices further away from your residence.
Getting ill during the holidays
If you have registered at a new practice whilst at university and become unwell when you're at home or not staying near your university GP, you can contact your nearest practice for treatment.
You can receive emergency treatment for 14 days. After that you will have to register as a temporary resident or permanent patient.
Find out how to register as a temporary resident with a GP
You can also visit an NHS urgent treatment centre, which can provide treatment for minor injuries or illnesses such as cuts, bruises and rashes.
However, they are not designed for treating long-term conditions or life-threatening problems. You do not need an appointment and you do not need to be registered.
More information
Are you an asylum seeker, refugee, a homeless patient or an overseas visitor, whether lawfully in the UK or not?
