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Poland has an insurance-based healthcare system. If you鈥檙e not insured, you may be charged for using state healthcare services.

UK nationals usually access the Polish healthcare system in one of these ways:

• paying insurance contributions to the Polish state health system state through their employer
• paying voluntary insurance contributions to the Polish state health system directly
• taking out private health insurance
• using a UK-issued GHIC or EHIC for temporary stays when studying, or as a 鈥榩osted鈥� (detached) worker
• registering an UK-issued S1 form with the Polish state health system (see 鈥楿K-funded healthcare: getting and using an S1 form in Poland鈥� below)

Healthcare if you live and work in Poland

If you are planning on moving to Poland, see the guidance on Living in Poland for more information about visa and residency requirements.

You must show proof of healthcare cover:

• before you can register as a resident
• when you apply for a visa

For details about the healthcare cover required for residency applications, contact local authorities in Poland or the appropriate Polish embassy or consulate in the UK.

If you鈥檙e employed, monthly insurance contributions to the National Health Fund (NFZ) are taken from your salary before you鈥檙e paid.

If you鈥檙e self-employed or not working, you can pay directly to the National Health Fund each month. You cannot do this if you鈥檙e registered as unemployed in Poland.

Your dependants will be covered by your insurance if they do not have their own.

You may be entitled to a Polish EHIC for travel, including visits to the UK.

You may also have the right to apply for a UK S1 if you start drawing a UK State Pension (see 鈥楿K-funded healthcare: getting and using an S1 form in Poland鈥� below).

How to register for healthcare

First, register as a resident at the administrative offices of your provincial authority.

You then need to register with the National Health Fund.

If you work for a Polish employer, they鈥檒l register you.

If you鈥檙e self-employed or not working, go to your regional branch of the National Health Fund.

Show ID and proof of your insurance when you visit a doctor.

How to access healthcare services

Find your nearest hospital or clinic on this 188体育 webpage.

How much you鈥檒l pay

Monthly contributions cost 9% of your salary if you鈥檙e employed.

If you鈥檙e self-employed or not working, monthly contributions are based on national average salary.

State health services are free if you pay insurance contributions, but you need to pay for some prescription medicines.

You can use some private health facilities for free if the facility has a contract with the Polish state health system.

If your UK employer has sent you to Poland temporarily (鈥榩osted workers鈥�)

A posted worker, also known as a 鈥榙etached worker鈥�, is someone employed or self-employed in the UK, but temporarily sent to a European Economic Area (EEA) country.

UK posted workers can access healthcare in Poland using a GHIC, EHIC or S1 form.

HMRC has a helpline for National Insurance enquiries from non-UK residents. They can answer questions about posted worker status and explain which documents you will need to get healthcare while posted.

UK-funded healthcare: getting and using an S1 form in Poland

There鈥檚 different guidance if you have an S1 as a 鈥榩osted worker鈥� (see 鈥業f your UK employer has sent you to Poland temporarily (鈥榩osted workers鈥�)鈥� above).

You may be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK if you鈥檙e a resident in Poland and receive a UK State Pension or an exportable benefit. See on the NHS website for more information about eligibility.

You may also be entitled to an S1 form if you鈥檙e a frontier worker (someone who works in one state and lives in another). You must contact HMRC National Insurance enquiries to find out if you鈥檙e eligible.

Once you have an S1 form, you must register it on the Polish system.

This will mean you and your dependants will be entitled to healthcare in Poland on the same basis as a Polish citizen.

You鈥檒l also get:

• a UK-issued GHIC or EHIC for travel
• planned treatments in other EU countries

You can find out more about and the rules on on the NHS website.

Dependants and family members may be classified differently in Poland than the UK.

Check with the local authorities when you register your S1 form.

If you鈥檙e entitled to an S1 form as a dependant of a State Pensioner, your health cover will be cancelled once you begin claiming your UK State Pension.

You will be sent a new S1 form to your registered address from NHS Overseas Healthcare Services. You must register this form to ensure continuation of healthcare cover.

You are responsible for informing NHS Overseas Healthcare Services if you change your address or your circumstances change.

How to get an S1 form

If you have a UK State Pension or another qualifying exportable benefit, you must request an application form by phone from NHS Overseas Healthcare Services (see contact details above).

How to use an S1 form in Poland

You must register your S1 form with the National Health Fund.

Once registered, you鈥檒l get a certificate confirming your registration with NFZ. This shows that you鈥檙e entitled to healthcare on the same basis as a Polish citizen.

Studying in Poland

You should apply for a Student GHIC to get medically necessary, state-provided healthcare for the duration of your study period in Poland, whether this is for part or all of your course. This means that you鈥檒l get necessary healthcare services on the same basis as a Polish citizen either for free or at a reduced cost.

If you already hold a valid Student EHIC you can use this until the card expires.

on the NHS website.

Getting treatment in the UK

Because the NHS is a residency-based system, under NHS rules UK nationals who move abroad on a permanent basis may lose their entitlement to free NHS healthcare.

If you are a UK national and move to the EU, you should not expect to be able to use NHS services for free when visiting the UK unless you have an EHIC, PRC or S2 to show your healthcare costs are funded by the EU country in which you now live, or another exemption applies.

Some former UK residents do not have to pay for NHS treatment when visiting England. This includes:

• UK war pensioners
• UK government employees
• UK nationals living in the EU on or before 31 December 2020, once they have a registered, UK-issued S1

Read more about using the NHS when you no longer live in the UK (see 鈥楿K nationals who no longer live in the UK鈥� in Healthcare for visitors to the UK from the EU).

If you return to live in the UK you鈥檒l be able to use the NHS like any other UK resident.

Read more about using the NHS when you return to live in the UK.