FOI-03891

##Request I’m writing to request some data on GHICs. Please could you provide me with the following information? * The number of Global Health Insurance Cards (GHICs) due to expire this year. * The number of GHIC applications in 2023, 2024, and 2025. * The total number of valid GHICs currently in circulation – also broken down by region if possible. * The number of Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC) applications in 2023, 2024, and 2025. * The number of times GHICs were used to access healthcare abroad in 2023, 2024, and 2025 – also broken down by the country in which the application was submitted if possible. The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your request on 9 June 2026. We requested clarification on 22 June 2026: Therefore I would be grateful if you would help with the third bullet point: What do you mean by "region". We could identify, based on postcode, which of the home countries the application came from if it was submitted from the UK. If the applicant resided outside the UK, we could identify which country in Europe they applied from. Please can you confirm if this approach to the question would be acceptable for you? You responded on 22 June 2026: For the third bullet, it would be great to receive the numbers broken down by home country if it was submitted from within the UK and by European country if the applicant resided outside the UK. For applicants within the UK, it would also be good if the numbers could be broken down at a more granular level e.g. West Midlands, South East England, South West England etc. However, if this is not possible, then a breakdown just by home country for applicants within the UK will be fine. We have handled your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). ##Our response ##Question 1 - The number of Global Health Insurance Cards (GHICs) due to expire this year The number of UK GHIC cards due to expire in 2026 is 1,299,484. The data was compiled on 30 June 2026. During 2026, the number of cards which are due to expire, may change. This is because: * New cards may be issued which start and end within 2026. * Existing cards may have their end date brought forward, for example, if the holder has had a change of circumstances. ##Question 2 – 5 I can confirm that the NHSBSA holds the information you have requested and a copy of the information is attached. ##Data Queries Please contact [email protected] ensuring you quote the above reference if you have any specific questions regarding this response; or, if you feel you may be misunderstanding or misinterpreting the information; or, if you plan on publishing the data. ##Reusing the data and copyright If you plan on producing a press or broadcast story based upon the data please contact [email protected] . This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented. The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and is subject to NHSBSA copyright. This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence detailed at: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ Should you wish to re-use the information you must include the following statement: “NHSBSA Copyright 2026”. Failure to do so is a breach of the terms of the licence. Information you receive which is not subject to NHSBSA Copyright continues to be protected by the copyright of the person, or organisation, from which the information originated. Please obtain their permission before reproducing any third party (non NHSBSA Copyright) information.