How to Register with a GP in Scotland as a New Scot

If you have recently arrived in Scotland as a refugee, a person seeking asylum, or another New Scot, registering with a GP (general practitioner) should be one of your first practical steps. A GP is usually your first contact with NHS Scotland. They can treat common conditions, arrange prescriptions, and refer you to hospital or specialist care when needed.

This article is general public information only. It is not legal advice, medical advice, or a substitute for guidance from NHS staff or a qualified adviser. Always check the latest information on NHS Inform and with your local GP practice, because services and processes can change.

Your right to register with a GP in Scotland

In Scotland, healthcare policy is decided by the Scottish Government and is separate from immigration control, which is a UK Home Office matter. According to NHS Inform, if you are an asylum seeker or a refugee living in Scotland, you have the right to NHS healthcare while you are here.

NHS Inform also states that NHS Scotland does not pass patient details to the Home Office for the purpose of immigration enforcement. Anybody in Scotland can access primary care services at a GP practice without charge.

Scottish Refugee Council guidance is clear that to access NHS healthcare in Scotland:

you do not need a fixed address and can use a temporary address
you do not need an identification document, although it helps to take what you have (for example an ARC card or eVisa)
you can ask for an interpreter

NHS Inform adds that you should not be delayed or refused registration at a GP practice if you cannot provide identification or proof of address. Providing identity and address information is recommended where possible so your records can be matched, but a lack of documents is not a reason to turn you away.

Why register as soon as you can

NHS Inform advises refugees and asylum seekers to register with a GP as soon as they arrive in Scotland. Scottish Refugee Council also recommends registering as soon as possible, and registering again with a local practice if you move to new accommodation.

Once you are registered, your GP can assess common physical and mental health concerns, prescribe medicines (free in Scotland), refer you to specialists if needed, and help connect you with other support where relevant.

For minor illnesses such as coughs, colds, mild pain or skin rashes, Scottish Refugee Council suggests speaking to a local pharmacist first.

How to register with a GP: step by step

1. Find a GP practice near you

Use Scotland’s Service Directory on NHS Inform to search for GP practices near your postcode or area. Treat the results as guidance: a practice that appears in a search may not always cover your exact address.

If you need help finding a service, you can also call NHS Inform on 0800 22 44 88 and ask for an interpreter.

2. Contact the practice and complete the registration form

NHS Inform explains that to register permanently with a GP practice you need to complete a registration form. You can usually:

download the registration form from NHS Inform, complete it, and email it to the practice
or ask the practice how they prefer to receive applications
or visit the practice and ask for a registration form if they do not use online forms

According to NHS Inform, the form does not require a signature. Contact the practice first so you know whether they accept emailed forms, paper forms, or another process.

You can normally register permanently if you expect to stay in the area for more than three months. If you are staying for a shorter period, you may still be treated as a temporary resident. Ask the practice what applies in your situation.

3. Wait for confirmation

When the practice receives your registration, NHS Inform says you should be notified by telephone or email whether your application has been successful.

If this is your first UK GP registration, medical records from outside the UK will not be traced automatically. Tell your GP about important health history, medicines, allergies or other needs as soon as you can.

What if the GP practice is full or refuses registration?

Sometimes a practice cannot register you. Common reasons include living outside the practice area, or the practice not accepting new patients.

Scottish Refugee Council states that if a practice is unable to register you, they must explain the reason for refusing your request in writing within 14 days. If your nearest practice is full, try another practice nearby.

If you are having difficulty finding a practice that is accepting new patients, NHS Inform says you can contact National Services Scotland registration teams for advice. NHS Inform on 0800 22 44 88 can also help.

Ask for an interpreter

You have the right to ask for interpreting support. NHS Inform advises that if you need an interpreter, you should ask the GP practice to arrange this, and tell them which language you prefer when you make an appointment.

NHS 24 also provides an interpreting service if English is not your first or preferred language. If your GP practice and pharmacy are closed and you need urgent advice, call NHS 24 on 111.

For English learning routes in Scotland, see UFIP’s guide on how New Scots can access ESOL classes in Scotland.

Use a GP registration card

GP registration cards (also called Access to Healthcare cards) have been designed to support anyone who needs to register at a new GP practice. NHS Inform and Scottish Refugee Council both point people to these cards.

Printable versions are available from The Health Literacy Place. There is a shorter business-card style card explaining healthcare rights in Scotland, and a larger “Z card” with more detail, including information about patient rights and NHS 24. Taking a printed card with you can help reception staff understand your rights quickly.

Documents that may help, but are not essential

NHS Inform notes that asylum seekers may be asked to show an Application Registration Card (ARC) or Home Office documents confirming an asylum application. Refugees may be asked for a passport, travel documents, or a Home Office letter confirming leave to remain.

Bring what you have. If you do not have documents, you should still be able to register. If you are homeless or have no fixed address, Scottish Government patient registration guidance for providers has long recognised that people can still register, including by using an agreed temporary address where appropriate. Ask the practice what address details they need to process your form.

If you need to complete forms online or search for services, digital access matters. UFIP has previously published practical information on digital inclusion for asylum seekers and on digital skills benefits in everyday life.

Healthcare costs and family registration

NHS Inform explains that healthcare for asylum seekers and their families is free for the most part, although some treatments may incur a cost. If you receive asylum support from the Home Office, you should receive an HC2 certificate to show you do not need to pay for some treatments and to help with travel costs to appointments.

Importantly, NHS Inform also states that if you are seeking asylum but do not receive Home Office support, or if you have been refused asylum, your healthcare will still be free while you are in Scotland.

If you are registered as an NHS patient, your spouse or civil partner and children may qualify for healthcare through family registration processes described on NHS Inform. Staff may ask for marriage or civil partnership certificates and children’s birth certificates where available. Other family members may need to show they qualify in their own right.

Help with some dental costs, glasses and related health costs may also be available depending on age, income or benefits. Ask practice or pharmacy staff, or check NHS Inform.

Useful helplines and further reading

NHS Inform: 0800 22 44 88 — general NHS information and help finding services; interpreters available
NHS 24: 111 — urgent health advice when your GP and pharmacy are closed
Scottish Refugee Council advice line: 0808 1967 274
Migrant Help asylum helpline: 0808 8010 503
Patient Advice and Support Service (PASS): 0800 917 2127 — help with NHS feedback or complaints
Breathing Space: 0800 83 85 87 — confidential mental health phone support for people in Scotland aged 16 and over

Authoritative starting points include:

A short checklist

Search for local GP practices on Scotland’s Service Directory
Contact a practice and ask how to register
Complete the registration form (download or paper)
Take any documents you have, but do not delay if you have none
Ask for an interpreter if you need one
Consider printing a GP registration card
If refused, ask for the reason in writing and try another practice
Call NHS Inform if you are stuck finding a practice that is accepting patients

Registering with a GP opens the door to ongoing NHS care in Scotland. Start with the official NHS Inform and Scottish Refugee Council guidance above, and ask reception staff or an advice line if any step feels unclear.

Image: AI-generated illustrative clinic reception (not a photograph of real patients). Information checked against NHS Inform and Scottish Refugee Council guidance current as of September 2026.

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