Can I change my GP or health centre?
Yes — you have a full right to choose your health centre and to change it free of charge, and the change takes effect the very next business day. In Iceland everyone should be registered at a health centre (heilsugæslustöð) or with an independently practising GP, and you can change that registration yourself on My Pages at Icelandic Health Insurance (Sjúkratryggingar) or through Heilsuvera and Ísland.is. The myth is that you are stuck with the centre you were assigned by address, or that changing costs a fee or a complicated application. That is wrong: the choice is yours, it is free, and it is done online in a few minutes. You can only be registered in one place at a time — a new registration automatically cancels the previous one — and by switching you also consent to have your medical record transferred to the new centre. If you are not registered anywhere, you are automatically placed at the centre nearest your legal domicile, but you may change that automatic registration. Bear in mind, though, that you choose a centre and are not guaranteed a particular doctor.
📋 The rules
- Everyone should be registered at one health centre or with an independently practising GP, and you have the right to choose which one.
- You change the registration online on My Pages at Icelandic Health Insurance or through Heilsuvera and Ísland.is; it is free of charge.
- You can only be registered in one place at a time; a new registration automatically cancels the previous one and the change takes effect the next business day.
- By changing centre you consent to your medical record being transferred to the new health centre.
- If you are registered nowhere you are automatically placed at the centre nearest your domicile; you choose a centre, not necessarily a named doctor.
🔓 Exceptions
- Although the choice is free, demand at popular centres can affect how quickly you get an appointment or a regular GP, since the service depends on each centre's staffing.
- Emergencies follow different rules: in an emergency you go to the nearest health centre or A&E, or call 112, regardless of where you are registered.
- For children, custodial parents decide the registration; independently practising GPs are few, so in practice the choice is usually about a health centre rather than a named doctor.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
There is no fine or penalty for changing your health centre or for not changing it — this is a right, not a duty with sanctions. The cost people underestimate is practical. If you are registered at a centre far from home or work, that can mean longer journeys and poorer access to care, and an outdated registration can cause invitations, reminders and follow-up to go to the wrong place. Many people do not know about the right and sit for years at a centre that suits them badly — surveys show that few use the right to switch, often because they wrongly think they are bound. Bear in mind that you can only be registered in one place at a time, so a new registration switches off the old one; if you want to stay with a particular doctor you must check that they work at the new centre. Your medical record is transferred automatically with the change, which is good for continuity of care but also means the data moves between centres — something worth being aware of. Finally, demand at popular centres can delay getting a regular GP, so switching alone does not guarantee a shorter wait.
📎 Official sources
- Ísland.is · Registering and changing your health centre →
- Icelandic Health Insurance (Sjúkratryggingar) · registering and changing health centre →
- Heilsuvera · information and guidance on the health service →
❓ Frequently asked
How do I change my health centre?
You change the registration online on My Pages at Icelandic Health Insurance or through Heilsuvera and Ísland.is, where you can see where you are registered and choose a new centre. The process takes a few minutes, costs nothing, and the change takes effect the next business day after you confirm it.
Does changing GP or centre cost anything?
No, changing your health centre is free of charge and no fees attach to the change. It is a widespread misconception that switching costs a fee or requires a complicated application, but in reality it is a simple online action that anyone can do themselves.
Can I be registered at two centres at once?
No, you can only be registered at one health centre at a time, and a new registration automatically cancels the previous one. This means you cannot accumulate registrations at several centres; instead the service moves entirely to the centre you choose last.
Is my medical record transferred when I switch?
Yes, by changing your health centre you also consent to your medical record being transferred to the new centre, which ensures continuity of care. There is therefore no need to ask separately for the data to be moved, but it is worth being aware that the information passes between centres.
Do I get a specific GP when I choose a centre?
You choose a health centre rather than a specific doctor, because independently practising GPs are few and the service depends on each centre's staffing. At popular centres, demand can affect how quickly you get a regular GP or an appointment, so switching alone does not guarantee a shorter wait.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “change health centre iceland”
- “change registration heilsugæsla”
- “choose gp iceland”
- “register new health centre iceland”
- “sjukratryggingar my pages health centre”
- “heilsuvera change centre”