Asylum seekers have been handed almost one million NHS ‘free passes’ in the last five years, official new data reveals. The HC2 certificates give Britons on low incomes the right to free health services that most people would have to pay for. This includes prescriptions, dental care, eye tests, wigs, and discounts for glasses, contact lenses, and traveling g to and from appointments.

But figures released under freedom of information laws show most of the 1.56 million issued across the UK since 2020 were awarded to asylum seekers. They accounted for 920,199, or 59 per cent, of the certificates awarded over this period the NHS Business Services Authority told the Telegraph. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said the figures ‘are another illustration of the costs of illegal immigration’.

‘Those crossing the Channel invariably claim asylum, and then receive housing, bills paid, free money and full healthcare – despite never having paid a penny in tax and having entered the country illegally,’ he said. ‘No wonder illegal immigrants from across Europe are flocking to the UK.’ Anyone who can demonstrate they have a low or no income can apply for an HC2 certificate regardless of their immigration status.

Asylum seekers are automatically given one if they are eligible for ‘section 95 support’ under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, which means they are entitled to claim financial and housing assistance. Other migrants claiming asylum are able to apply for it, depending on the levels of support they are receiving. Conservative MP Steve Barclay, a former health secretary, said it was ‘an abuse of taxpayer funds’ and ‘completely wrong that asylum seekers are receiving beneficial access to health treatment compared to the taxpayers who fund it’.

The certificate provides ‘full help with health costs’, such as unlimited dental care and prescriptions, vouchers worth up to £233 to spend on glasses, as well as refunds on any travel costs to hospital appointments. The cost of a prescription for a British resident is £9.90 if they have no other exemption, while the most basic NHS dentist check-up is £27.40. Dental treatments cost hundreds of pounds more.

A simple NHS eye test costs £23.55, while wigs and fabric supports, which can be given to patients with hair loss because of alopecia or cancer treatment, can cost in excess of £300. Asylum seekers must renew their certificates every six months, rather than the 12 months that applies to other UK residents. But holders are able to continue using their certificate to get all costs covered until it expires, even if their circumstances change.

Anyone with an HC2 form can also get free care for their partner and children or dependents up to the age of 18. There have been 317,000 claims for asylum from migrants within the UK over the same period, which is double the number in the previous five years, between 2015 and 2019. New data released on Thursday revealed that 25,000 migrants had crossed the English Channel on small boats in 2025, hitting the milestone earlier in the year than ever before.

An NHS spokesperson said: ‘The NHS is legally required to provide healthcare services to asylum seekers, including access to help with health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme.’ A government spokesperson said: ‘We are fixing the chaotic asylum system we inherited and have returned over 35,000 people, including failed asylum seekers, immigrants and foreign national offenders to ultimately relieve pressures on nationwide services.

‘These certificates do not give access to NHS services ahead of people who don’t have one. ‘The highest number of certificates issued in the last five years were under the previous administration.’