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Guide to the S1 form for UK nationals living in Spain

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August 12, 2021

The S1 form, once registered, entitles you and your dependents to state healthcare in Spain on the same basis as a Spanish national. You may be eligible for this form if you fall into certain categories. These include some frontier workers as well as those Britons who moved to Spain before 1 January 2021 and receive certain ‘exportable benefits’.

If you have a UK State Pension, you must request an application form from the NHS Overseas Healthcare Services over the phone. You must then register your S1 form with the Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social (INSS). If you cannot go to an INSS office in person, you can register online.

Before registering, you will need to ensure you have the following documents: your S1 form, completed healthcare application form, your padrón certificate, your passport and your residency certificate or new TIE card (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero). If you are in the process of applying for your TIE card, you can use a ‘resolución favorable’, a confirmation of approval of your application. These files must have a maximum size of 10MB. In addition, you must have your email address, Spanish telephone number and NIE number available.

There is an online registration form in Spanish on the INSS website for those who are not already registered. If you are registered on the website, you should log in before starting. You must then input all your relevant personal details, including NIE (número de identidad de extranjero) and Spanish telephone number.

From the ‘Categoría’ dropdown, choose the ‘Asistencia Sanitaria’ option. In the text box asking for an explanation of the reason for your request write ‘Inscripción del formulario S1’. You must then upload all the documents listed above and submit your form. You will receive an email of confirmation. If the INSS needs more information or you need to book an in-person appointment they will contact you.

For more information, please visit the UK Government advice websites for healthcare in Spain and for S1 form registration.

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Anna Klevtsova

Anna holds an LLM in International Human Rights Law, and is a Certified Lawyer with the Bar Association of Barcelona. With more than 20 years of legal practice in International Law, Anna specialises in business set-up, investment transactions, and immigration strategies.

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