UK Private Medical Treatment Visit Visa Application Guide

• Law Firm: Richmond Chambers Immigration Barristers
• Subject Matter: Food, Drugs, Healthcare, Life Sciences, Immigration, General Immigration, Work Visas
• Author: Ms Alexandra Pease
• Published date: 19 May 2023

The Private Medical Treatment Visa is for individuals who wish to receive private medical treatment, act as an organ donor or be assessed as a potential organ donor to an identified recipient in the UK. In this article we look at the requirements for a Private Medical Treatment Visa and answer a number of frequently asked questions such as: When can a visitor receive private medical treatment in the UK? How long is a Private Medical Treatment Visa valid for? And, can a Private Medical Treatment Visa holder be accompanied to the UK?

What Are the Requirements for a Private Medical Treatment Visa?

In order to qualify for a Private Medical Treatment and Organ Donation Visit Visa, you will need to satisfy UK Visas & Immigration that:

• You are a visa national (a non-visa national can normally seek entry as a Visitor on arrival at the UK border);
• You are genuinely seeking entry to the UK for a purpose that is permitted by the visitor routes, in this case for medical treatment or organ donation;
• You will not undertake any prohibited activities;
• You have sufficient funds to cover all reasonable costs in relation to your visit (including travel, maintenance and accommodation costs) without working or accessing public funds;
• You will leave the UK at the end of your visit;
• You will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home;
• Your application does not fall for refusal under the general grounds for refusal.

Can a Visitor Seek Private Medical Treatment in the UK?

There is nothing to prevent a visitor from undertaking private medical treatment once in the UK as a visitor. However, if the main reason for visiting the UK is for medical treatment, then you will need to make an application for a Private Medical Treatment Visa and obtain entry clearance on this basis accordingly.

Any medical treatment will need to be arranged prior to your travel to the UK.

If you wish to come to the UK for private medical treatment you will need to provide a letter from your doctor or consultant in the UK detailing the following information:

• the medical condition requiring consultation or treatment;
• the costs likely to be incurred;
• the likely duration of any treatment; and
• where the consultation or treatment will take place.

If the medical treatment is to be provided by the NHS under a reciprocal health arrangement, you will need to provide evidence from the government of that country.

It is important to note, in...