Living Abroad Life in Spain

S1 form Spain: How do I get one?

Emma-Jane Stogdon

28.05.21 (updated more than 1 year ago)

Read time 2 minutes

If you’re moving to Spain from the UK, one of the most important things to look into is how you can receive healthcare there, particularly if you qualify for the S1 form. This is a certificate of entitlement to healthcare in Spain, paid for by the UK government.

This handy guide will cover everything you need to know about getting and registering the S1 form in Spain.

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

This could come in handy if you need to pay for medication or other upfront healthcare costs, especially if there’s a delay setting up your new Spanish bank account.

But first, let’s focus on the S1 form in Spain and how it’s useful for UK expats living there.

🔎 Learn more about the Wise account

What is the S1 form?

The S1 form is a document declaring that you are entitled to state healthcare in a qualifying EU country (such as Spain) paid for by the UK government.¹

So, who is eligible to use an S1 form Spain to cover the cost of doctors appointments, hospital treatment and prescriptions? You must meet one of the following conditions:

You receive the UK State Pension or another eligible exportable benefit from the DWP
You’re 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 retirees. Here are the remaining requirements:

You must be living in Spain - it must be your main country of residence
You can’t use the Spain S1 form if you’re receiving a Spanish State Pension (i.e. because you’ve worked in Spain and qualify for it).¹

Why do I need an S1 form in Spain?

The S1 form is useful for UK retirees across many EU countries, but particularly in Spain. This is because you usually need to be employed or self-employed to qualify for free state healthcare on the same basis as a Spanish citizen. Either that, or you make voluntary contributions to the Spanish public health insurance scheme called Convenio Especial.²

Only once you’ve been living in Spain for 5 years and get permanent resident status will you get entitlement to healthcare. The only other option is to take out private health insurance to cover your medical costs.²

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

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

Check whether you’re eligible for the S1 form at the UK government website
Request an application form from the NHS Overseas Healthcare services at +44 (0)191 218 1999
Complete your S1 application form and register it at your local INSS (social security) office in Spain or via the INSS online portal
You’ll receive a Spanish social security number by post - take this to your local healthcare centre and register
You should be given a medical card, to use whenever you have a doctor’s appointment or visit a hospital or pharmacy²

How do I prove tax residency in Spain?

You can get a tax residence certificate in Spain online or in person.

If you’d like to request it online, follow these steps:

Visit the official website of the Spanish Tax Agency (Agencia Tributaria), go to ‘All procedures’, then ‘Certificates’ and ‘Census’
Identify yourself using either your Cl@ve (the electronic identification system for citizens to access a wide range of online public services in Spain), digital certificate or electronic DNI
Provide the requested information and submit the form³

In most cases, you’ll receive the certificate immediately.³

You can also get the tax certificate by filling out and submitting Form 01 to the Administration or Delegation of the Tax Agency that corresponds to your address.

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

To save money on Spanish or other overseas healthcare expenses, you can use Wise.

Open a Wise account and you can get a linked debit card to use in 150+ countries. This automatically converts 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 Spain
3. Agencia Tributaria - request a certificate of tax residence

Sources last checked on date: 11-Nov-2025

*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

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