S1 form France: How do I get one?

If you’re moving to France from the UK, it’s essential to understand how you can access healthcare there, especially if you’re eligible for the S1 form. The S1 form is a certificate confirming your entitlement to state healthcare in France, funded by the UK government.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the S1 form in France. We’ll explain what it is, how you can get it and how to register it in France.

We’ll also touch on another way to save money on overseas healthcare costs. Open a Wise account and you can get an international debit card for low-cost spending in euros, at the mid-market exchange rate.

This can come in very handy if you need to cover medication or other upfront healthcare expenses, particularly in situations where your new French bank account has not yet been fully activated.

But first, let’s focus on the S1 form in France and look at how it can benefit UK expats living there.

🔎 Learn more about the Wise account

What is the S1 form?

If you permanently move to France, you’ll need to sort out how you receive healthcare there. One of the options available to some UK passport holders living abroad is the S1 scheme.¹

The S1 form is a document declaring that you and your dependants are entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK in the country where you live, on the same basis as other insured residents. The S1 scheme is available in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.¹

Besides being able to receive healthcare in France, an S1 form also allows you to get a UK-issued GHIC and receive state-funded necessary treatment when you’re visiting other eligible countries. You’ll also be entitled to planned treatment in an eligible country other than France through the S2 scheme, as well as treatment by the NHS when you visit the UK.¹

Those eligible to use an S1 form France can cover the cost of doctors’ appointments, hospital treatment and prescriptions. These are the conditions you must meet to qualify:

• You receive the UK State Pension or another eligible exportable benefit from the DWP
• You’re either a posted or frontier worker recognised by HMRC
• You receive the unemployability supplement as part of a UK War Pension¹

In most cases, the S1 scheme is used by British retirees moving abroad permanently. Here are the remaining requirements for qualifying:

• You must be living in France permanently and it must be your main country of residence
• You can’t be receiving both the UK State Pension and the French State Pension¹

Why do I need an S1 form in France?

If you want to live in France, you must have health insurance cover. There are two main ways for British nationals to access the French healthcare system. One is through social security contributions via your employer or as a self-employed person, and the other is by registering an S1 form with the French national insurance fund called Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie (CPAM).²

In some cases, you’ll need to have proof of healthcare cover even before you register as a resident, so an S1 form can be very useful. Also, your UK-issued GHIC can only be used for temporary stays, not when you become a permanent resident.²

When you register your S1 form in France, you’ll be able to receive healthcare on the same basis as French citizens. State healthcare isn’t free in France, so you’ll still pay part of your medical costs, like all other French residents. However, you can get top-up insurance called mutuelle with your S1 scheme for medical costs that aren’t covered.²

How to get an S1 form in France - and what to do next

Here’s how to get and register an S1 form in France as a qualifying British expat:

• Check whether you’re eligible for healthcare in France through the S1 scheme by contacting HMRC National Insurance enquiries
• Request an S1 application form by phone from NHS Overseas Healthcare Services at +44 (0)191 218 1999
• Complete your S1 application form and register it with your local CPAM office²

You can then expect to receive a temporary French social security number by post within three months of your application. After your temporary social security number, you’ll get a document called attestation de droits à l’assurance maladie. This will confirm your right to French state healthcare and your actual French social security number.²

Only after you’ve received your attestation de droits à l’assurance maladie can you apply for your French state healthcare card called carte vitale. It might take another six months until you receive it, but you can always contact your local CPAM office to check the status of your application.²

If you need to see a doctor while waiting for your carte vitale, you can use your social security number and get reimbursed for any expenses later. You’ll just need to ask your healthcare provider to give you a form called feuille de soins and send it to your CPAM office. Once you’ve received your carte vitale, make sure you have it with you whenever you have a doctor’s appointment or visit a pharmacy.²

If you’re experiencing significant delays registering your S1 form in France and you need urgent treatment, contact the Overseas Healthcare Services on +44 (0)191 218 1999.²

How do I prove tax residency in France?

You can get a French tax residence certificate, also known as Certificat de résidence fiscale pour les particuliers, by completing Form 731. The form can be found on impots.gouv.fr, the official website of the French tax administration.³

The form requires information such as your address, occupation and source of income. Once you complete it, you should send it to the relevant Individual Tax Department office, known as Service des Impôts des Particuliers (SIP).³

You can also send Form 731 through your online personal account on impots.gouv.fr. Their secure messaging service, or messagerie sécurisée in French, allows you to request certain tax certificates, ask questions about your taxes and file different claims.⁴

This is also a convenient, secure way to ask any questions about your tax residency and receive information directly from the French tax administration.⁴

Need to cover other healthcare costs in France? Save money with Wise

To save money on overseas healthcare expenses in France or elsewhere, you can use Wise.

With a Wise account, you can send money internationally at low fees* and at the mid-market exchange rate. You can hold money in multiple currencies all in one place, including euros and British pounds, making it easier to manage your finances between the UK and France when setting up health insurance.

You can also get a linked debit card to use in 150+ countries, including France. The card automatically converts your pounds to the local currency at the mid-market exchange rate whenever you spend. You’ll just pay a small conversion fee*, or no fee if you already have the currency in your Wise account.

🌍Open your Wise account

Sources used:

1. NHS - planning your healthcare when living abroad
2. Gov.uk - healthcare for UK nationals living in France
3. Impots.gouv.fr - form 731
4. Impots.gouv.fr - services

Sources last checked on date: 16-Dec-2025