Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi
Question
We are still working on our Spain Non Lucrative Visa but hopefully by October we will be in Spain. As UK retirees we can complete S1 forms, do we still need a travel insurance to cover us for a few weeks until we are registered in Spain?
Answers
These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
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Start the Moving to Spain Hub →“UK retirees with access to the S1, can use it to apply for Spain Non Lucrative Visa. The problem is, it sometimes takes a couple of months to get effective access to public healthcare system. Therefore it is recommended to have some sort of insurance, although not required, to be covered those months without coverage. Anyone else, anyone not a UK retiree, needs a private health insurance paid one year in advance.”
“Apparently it can take about 3 months to get the s1 actioned in Spain. So the general advice is to get 12 months private health care insurance. To cover just in case.”
“If from the UK you can use your GHIC card”
“You don’t need it, but many recommend it so you are covered until you have access to the Spanish healthcare system.”
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Explore Cities →“Depends if you need peace of mind and on your health but GHIC card for emergencies and we’ve found the cost of paying for anything privately is a fraction of UK, but that wouldn’t include an operation.”
“Apply for a UK GHIC card, you can use it anywhere in Europe, will be my advice.”
“We each have UK GHIC card already. But we thought of getting a short term Private Health Insurance to minimise risks.”
“Ok, if you think you need it then go for it. When I went to hospital they only asked for my card and it covered everything although I had a health insurance. The insurance only works in their private hospitals and I went to a public one in an emergency.”
Conclusion
For UK retirees moving to Spain with an S1 form, the process to access the public healthcare system can take up to a few months.
Although it’s not mandatory to have private health insurance, it is advisable to have coverage during this interim period to ensure healthcare access, especially in emergencies. Many members suggest either a short-term private insurance or relying on the UK GHIC card for emergency situations.
Consideration of personal health needs and peace of mind are essential in making this decision.
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