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 without an NHS number

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.

Local outreach services are available in some areas to provide COVID-19 vaccination to those who are eligible but have difficulties accessing vaccination.

If an individual has an NHS number, they can find it through this online tool.

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

The above guidance on COVID-19 testing, treatment and vaccination free of charge (MS Word Document, 92.1KB) 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
• COVID-19 PCR home test kit instructions
• COVID-19 vaccination status: what your confirmation letter tells you
• 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.

COVID-19 general advice and guidance

Health information and advice about COVID-19 is available on the NHS website.

Learn about the UK government’s response to COVID-19 on GOV.UK.

Advice on how you can help reduce the transmission of COVID-19.

Overseas travel advice during the COVID-19 pandemic

Find out the latest government advice on travelling abroad, including the latest information on coronavirus, safety and security, entry requirements and travel warnings.

NaTHNaC also provides up to date overseas travel health information.

Vitamin D

There have been some reports about vitamin D potentially reducing the risk of coronavirus (COVID-19). NICE, Public Health England and the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition have undertaken robust assessments of the available evidence on vitamin D and COVID-19. They have concluded that currently, there is not enough evidence to solely treat or prevent COVID-19, except as part of a clinical trial. For further information, see the NICE COVID-19 rapid guideline on vitamin D.

In addition to existing guidance on vitamin D supplementation, adults, young people and children over 4 years should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms (400 units) of vitamin D throughout the year if they have little or no sunshine exposure because they are spending most of their time indoors during the COVID-19 pandemic.