Apply for a medical card or GP visit card

A medical card covers GP visits, hospital care and prescription medicines. A GP visit card covers GP visits. This guide shows who qualifies, the income limits and how to apply online.

Apply online at mymedicalcard.ie, through the HSE (Health Service Executive) apply page. The HSE checks your income against a weekly limit and aims to process applications within 15 working days. Children under 8 and people aged 70 or over get a GP visit card without a means test.

Who can get one

• You must live in Ireland and plan to stay for at least 1 year.
• Medical card: your weekly income after tax, PRSI (Pay Related Social Insurance) and USC (Universal Social Charge) is below the limit for your family. Savings over €36,000 (single) or €72,000 (couple) also count.
• GP visit card: the same test, with higher income limits.
• No means test for a GP visit card: children under 8, people over 70, and people getting Carer's Allowance or Carer's Benefit.
• Your partner and children are usually covered on your card. People aged 16 to 25 generally need their own application.
• Over the limit but facing hardship from medical costs? Ask for a discretionary medical card and list your medical expenses.

What you need

• PPS numbers (Personal Public Service numbers) and dates of birth for everyone on the application.
• Wages: a payslip from the last 3 months showing year-to-date pay.
• Self-employed: your latest Form 11 and Notice of Assessment from Revenue.
• Savings: statements from the last 12 months.
• Rent or mortgage: a tenancy agreement, landlord letter, HAP agreement or mortgage statement.
• Childcare: a letter from your provider with the weekly cost.
• Travel to work: your workplace address and distance.

Step by step: apply online

1. Check if you may qualify with the HSE online eligibility calculator. It gives an estimate only.
2. Choose a GP who accepts medical cards, normally within 7 miles of home.
3. Go to the HSE apply page and click Apply Online to open mymedicalcard.ie.
4. Enter the PPS number, date of birth, income and expenses for each person.
5. Submit the application. The HSE may ask later for proof of income and expenses.
6. Track progress on the HSE check your application page.
7. Once approved, find your digital card in the HSE Health App.

Other routes: paper form and under-8s

1. For paper, download the Medical Card and GP Visit Card Application Form, or phone 0818 22 44 78 for a copy. People aged 70 or older use a separate form.
2. Email it with photos of your documents to pcrs.applications@hse.ie, or post copies to Eligibility Unit, PO Box 11745, Dublin 11.
3. For a child under 8, register online with the HSE using your PPS number, your child's PPS number and your GP's name. Babies under 4 months can register before they have a PPS number.

Income limits, costs and time

Rent, mortgage, childcare and travel to work are added on top of these limits, so high costs can help you qualify.

With a medical card you pay €1.50 per prescription item, up to €15 a month per person or family. Over 70, it is €1 per item, up to €10 a month.

What changed: the last big expansion of free GP care was in 2023, when 6 and 7 year olds joined the under-8s scheme and GP visit card limits rose. The Budget 2026 and Budget 2027 health announcements did not add new ages or limits. In October 2026 the HSE added an online eligibility calculator.

Emergency medical cards

If you have a terminal illness, your hospital consultant sends form MC1t for you. For urgent ongoing care, your GP, consultant or social worker sends form MC1e with a medical report. Your card number is active within 24 hours of the application being processed, and an urgent-care card lasts 6 months.

Common mistakes

• Using gross pay. Under 70, the limits are for net income. Over 70, they are for gross income.
• Leaving out rent, mortgage, childcare or travel costs. They raise your limit.
• Ignoring a review letter. Your card has a "valid to" date, and if you do not reply to a review it may not be renewed.
• Expecting a GP visit card to cover prescriptions or hospital charges. It does not.

Related guides

• How to get a PPS number
• How to get a European Health Insurance Card
• How to apply for Child Benefit
• How to get a verified MyGovID