How to Create an NHS Account: NHS Login and the NHS App Explained

An NHS account lets you book GP appointments, order prescriptions and see your records. Here is how to set one up, including what to do if you have no photo ID.

Updated · 5 min read

Illustration of a phone with an account sign-up screen, a padlock and a photo ID card

To create an NHS account, download the NHS App or go to the NHS website and choose to create an account. You set up an NHS login with your email address, a password and your phone number, then prove who you are, usually with photo ID and a short face scan. You must be 13 or over and registered with a GP surgery in England.

What an NHS account and NHS login are

Your NHS account is what you see when you log in to the NHS App or the NHS website. It lets you manage your GP services and see your health information online.

NHS login is the set of login details you use to get in. The same login also works with other health and care websites and apps, such as some online pharmacies and online consultation services. The NHS login page lists where you can use it.

What you need before you start

According to the NHS login help centre, you need:

  • an email address with more than 6 characters
  • a mobile phone or landline number

To see your health records, you will also need to prove who you are. For this, have ready one of these forms of photo ID:

  • passport
  • UK driving licence, full or provisional
  • UK application registration card (ARC)
  • CitizenCard
  • European driving licence (full)
  • European national identity card

NHS login can accept photo ID that expired less than 12 months ago. It does not accept NHS staff ID cards, bus passes, travel cards, or school and university ID cards.

You must be aged 13 or over and registered at a GP surgery in England.

Setting up your NHS login

  1. Download the NHS App from the App Store or Google Play, or go to the NHS website and choose to log in or create an account.
  2. Enter your email address.
  3. Create a password.
  4. Enter the security code sent to your email.
  5. Enter your phone number, then the 6-digit code sent to it. This sets up two-step verification.

You now have a basic NHS login. To see your GP record, you need to go one step further and prove who you are.

Proving who you are

NHS login uses different levels of checks depending on what you want to do. Contacting your GP surgery and getting notifications needs your NHS number, date of birth and postcode. If you do not know your NHS number, you can enter your name instead.

To see your health records, you need the highest level of check. The NHS login page describes several ways to do this.

Photo ID and a face scan

You take a photo of your ID, then use your device's camera to scan your face so it can be matched to the photo. Make sure all four corners of the ID are in the picture, the text is readable and there is no glare from a light or window.

Photo ID and a short video

Instead of a face scan, you can record a short video. You are shown 4 numbers and asked to say them, sign them in British Sign Language, or write them down and show them to the camera.

Fast-track if your phone number matches

If the mobile number you use is already registered with your GP surgery's online services, you may be able to skip the identity check.

If you do not have photo ID

You can still get full access. Ask your GP surgery for your registration details for GP online services. These are:

  • a Linkage Key (sometimes called a Passphrase)
  • an ODS Code (sometimes called an Organisation Code or Practice ID)
  • an Account ID

When asked whether you have photo ID, choose the option for no photo ID, then enter these three details. They can only be used once, to set up one NHS login.

How long the checks take

After you send your photo ID and face scan or video, the NHS login team checks it and emails you with the result. If the check fails, the email explains whether to try again and what to do differently.

What you can do once your account is set up

Depending on what your GP surgery offers, you can:

  • order repeat prescriptions and choose a pharmacy
  • book and cancel some GP appointments
  • see test results and parts of your GP health record
  • view your NHS number and vaccinations
  • read messages from your GP surgery and other NHS services
  • manage some hospital referral appointments, if you are 16 or over

You can also choose faster ways to log in, such as fingerprint or face recognition on your phone, or a passkey.

Tips if something goes wrong

  • No security code arriving: check your spam folder for email codes, and make sure your phone has signal for text codes.
  • Camera not opening: check your browser or phone allows the NHS login website to use the camera and microphone.
  • Details not matching your GP record: your GP surgery may have an old address or phone number for you. Ask them to update it, then try again.

The NHS login help centre has more troubleshooting help.

Things people ask before signing up

Is the NHS App free?

Yes. The NHS App and NHS login are free. Be wary of any website or app that asks you to pay to set up an NHS account.

Can I create an account for my child?

Children aged 13 or over who are registered with a GP in England can create their own account. For younger children, parents can ask their GP surgery for family and carer access, which lets you manage some services for your child from your own account.

Do I need to know my NHS number?

No. It helps, but you can use your name, date of birth and postcode instead. Once you are logged in, your NHS number appears in your profile. Our guide on finding your NHS number has other ways to find it.

Sources

Checked on 14 October 2026:

This guide explains the general rules for staff in England using 2026/27 figures. It is not financial advice. Your employer, payslip or NHS Pensions statement has the final word on your own pay.

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