Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi
Question
I have a question about those who have used their UK S1 to apply for Spanish Health Cover… My wife and I registered our S1s to support our Spain Non lucrative Visa applications.
We now have our TIE cards and along with all the other necessary documents loaded these up to support our application for Spanish Health care.
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Start the Moving to Spain Hub →It’s been weeks and weeks since our TIE s were loaded and we have heard nothing. Just the ‘in process’ message. I have asked the private service we’ve used to apply, to pursue to no avail. If anyone else has gone through the same process is the lack of contact and delay the norm?
Answers
These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
“Go to your local Medical Centre. Our gave us temporary SIP cards so we could get medical assistance. We then took our paperwork to the local INSS (Social Security) office who gave us a certificate which we took back to the Medical Centre with our Padrón.
Two days later I got my permanent SIP card from the Medical Centre. I tried the online registration but no help. Good luck!”
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“We moved to Spain March 2023 – registered our S1 as soon as we received our TIE – did not receive our health cards until October it takes as long as it takes.”
“As above, we did the same but got given a piece of paper with our registration details on but we are still waiting for the plastic credit card type. With the printed details we could download and use the app to book appointments with Dr, nurse, dentist etc.”
“Did ours online prior to moving in October. Downloaded paper copies and went to health centre but they sent us to social security office to have them stamped.
Couldn’t get appointment but then had email saying to complete registration online which we did. Back to health centre who issued SIP card same day.
That was February 1st 2024 so over 3 months from arriving. Nothing is fast here but still glad we came.”
Conclusion
Delays in integrating the UK S1 form with Spanish healthcare services as part of the Spain Non-lucrative Visa process seem to be common. While waiting for official health cards, visiting local medical centers to obtain temporary SIP cards is a practical interim solution.
Experiences suggest that while the process can be lengthy and sometimes convoluted, persistence and following up with local health centers and social security offices can eventually yield the necessary healthcare documentation.
We suggest you get some sort of health coverage while your S1 form is processed and you get access to the Spanish health care system, as it may take months until.
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