What should your practice's registration page say?
By Sreeni, Editor · Last reviewed 20 October 2026 · 5 minute read
What the page needs
Under the 2026/27 GP contract, online registration is the route for every new patient. If someone fills in a paper form, your team enters it into the online system. So the page’s first job is the link.
- A link to register online. Patients use the NHS Find a GP service, choose your practice and fill in the form. The NHS website says it takes about 15 minutes per person.
- Your practice area. A map or a list of the streets, villages or postcodes you cover. Living outside the area is one of the few reasons you can turn someone down, so say it before they apply.
- Help if they can’t register online. They can come in and fill in a paper form, or download one from gp-registration.nhs.uk. Say who at the practice can help.
- What happens next. The NHS website tells patients they’ll usually hear within 5 days. Say how you’ll contact them, and that their records will follow from their old practice.
- Whether you’re taking new patients. If your list is closed, say so at the top, with the date it was agreed and where else people can register.
ID and proof of address
Patients don’t need ID, proof of address or proof of immigration status to register, and not having them isn’t a reason to refuse. The NHS website tells patients this directly, and Healthwatch hears from people turned away when a practice website says otherwise.
It’s a common mistake. A 2019 study in the British Journal of General Practice found most of the London practices it contacted asked for documents, and few practice websites said what happens if a patient doesn’t have them. You can still ask for ID, but your page should say it’s not needed to register.
Words to change
Three lines we often see on registration pages, and what to write instead.
| Instead of | Write |
|---|---|
| Please bring two forms of photo ID and a utility bill dated within the last 3 months. | You don't need ID or proof of address to register. If you have your NHS number, it helps us find your records. |
| We only accept registrations on weekday mornings. | Register online at any time. If you can't, come in and we'll help you fill in a form. |
| New patient registrations are subject to approval. | We'll usually confirm your registration within 5 days. If we can't register you, we'll write to tell you why. |
Temporary and no fixed address
- Temporary patients. People staying in your area for up to 3 months, like students home for the holidays or visitors, can register as temporary residents. Say how: usually a form at reception.
- No fixed address. People without a permanent address can register using a temporary address or the practice’s address. Saying so on the page helps people who are homeless, or staying with friends, know they can come to you.
- If you can’t register someone. You must write to them within 14 days to explain why.
Questions
Can we ask new patients for ID or proof of address?
You can ask, but patients don't need ID, proof of address or proof of immigration status to register, and not having them isn't a reason to refuse. Your registration page should say so.
Can we still accept paper registration forms?
Yes, for patients who can't register online. Under the 2026/27 GP contract, your team then enters the form into the online registration system.
When can we refuse to register someone?
The NHS website lists three reasons: your list is closed to new patients, they live outside your practice area, or they've been removed from your list before. If you refuse, you must write to them within 14 days to explain why.
Correct as of October 2026. This guide reflects the NHS website and the 2026/27 GP contract at that date. Check your ICB's local guidance on practice boundaries.
This guide is general information, not legal or contractual advice.