Healthy Start extension: application guidance
Sets out who is eligible to apply for the Healthy Start scheme under the extended criteria, and how to apply.
Documents
Details
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has extended eligibility for the Healthy Start scheme to British children aged under 4 years old whose parent or guardian meets the financial eligibility criteria and is either:
- subject to a no recourse to public funds (NRPF) condition (as attached to their immigration permission)
- without any immigration status
This guidance provides full details of:
- who is eligible to apply for the scheme under the extended criteria
- how to apply
Updates to this page
-
Updated to reflect that the Healthy Start extension scheme is now managed by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) (on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care).
Update history
2025-10-16 08:36
Updated the definition of an eVisa in the section ‘Evidence for NRPF’.
2025-05-30 14:56
Updated to reflect that the Healthy Start extension scheme is now managed by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) (on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care).
2025-03-11 15:55
Updated ‘Evidence for NRPF’ in section ‘1. No recourse to public funds or without any immigration status’ of the guidance. DHSC will accept as evidence a visa that states that you have NRPF and which has not expired. DHSC will also accept a biometric residence permit (even if this has expired) alongside the share code from an eVisa.
2024-07-31 14:58
First published.