HEALTHCARE

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2026 12:39pm

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ggarymanders

Posts: 55

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Location: Alicante City

Joined: 11 May 2020

Hi everyone

I'm sure lots of you will have had to have done what I'm about to ask

Am I right in thinking to get free healthcare in Spain after getting your permanent residencia after being here five years you need to do the following

Go to the local social security office where they give you a form to take to the local health centre where they then give you a health card?

Can this be done online?

I'm not receiving any kind of pension as yet as too young also so not entitled to the S1

Thanks

Gary

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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2026 1:40pm

tebo53

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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2026 1:40pm

ggarymanders wrote on Fri Feb 20, 2026 12:39pm:
Hi everyone
I'm sure lots of you will have had to have done what I'm about to ask

Read more...

Am I right in thinking to get free healthcare in Spain after getting your permanent residencia after being here five years you need to do the following
Go to the local social security office where they give you a form to take to the local health centre where they then give you a health card?
Can this be done online?
I'm not receiving any kind of pension as yet as too young also so not entitled to the S1
Thanks
Gary

I don't think that you would be entitled to free healthcare unless you could prove that there is absolutely no other means of getting healthcare. Would you be coming to Spain on a Visa? If so you would need to provide private healthcare. The only means of free healthcare is to gain the S1 entitlement either because of retirement or, in certain circumstances, through I'll health.

Steve

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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2026 2:02pm

ggarymanders

Original Poster

Posts: 55

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Location: Alicante City

Joined: 11 May 2020

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2026 2:02pm

tebo53 wrote on Fri Feb 20, 2026 1:40pm:
I don't think that you would be entitled to free healthcare unless you could prove that there is absolutely no other means of getting healthcare. Would you be coming to Spain on a Visa? If so you would need to provide private healthcare. The only means of free healthcare is to gain the S1 e...

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...ntitlement either because of retirement or, in certain circumstances, through I'll health.
Steve

Hi Steve

I've been living in Spain for nearly five years now with my NIE card on private healthcare

Cheers

Gary

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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2026 2:30pm

Swimmer57

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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2026 2:30pm

No, you need to apply for the convenio especial, which gives you access to the Spanish health service, but you have to pay for it. There's lots of information about it on this site if you search "convenio especial"

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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2026 3:17pm

ggarymanders

Original Poster

Posts: 55

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Location: Alicante City

Joined: 11 May 2020

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2026 3:17pm

ggarymanders wrote on Fri Feb 20, 2026 2:02pm:
Hi Steve
I've been living in Spain for nearly five years now with my NIE card on private healthcare

Read more...

Cheers
Gary

I have private healthcare at the moment but after five years can get it for free I believe so will continue with the private on till then when I get my permanent NIE

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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2026 3:23pm

marcliff

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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2026 3:23pm

ggarymanders wrote on Fri Feb 20, 2026 3:17pm:
I have private healthcare at the moment but after five years can get it for free I believe so will continue with the private on till then when I get my permanent NIE

Then you will need a certificate from your home country that states you have no access to healthcare by other means. This may not be true as you have access to medical insurance and you can also use the convenio especial to pay into.

Spain is a contributory medical system and not a residence based one. Individual regions can specify their requirements but Murcia, for example, does not allow a SIP card purely on residency but more on need. Valencia Region allows those with no access to healthcare by any other means (usually meaning refugees or undocumented residents) to use the system.

Go along to the INSS and ask them what their policy is as some rules changed in 2018 but I know of at least two couples under retirement age who were refused free healthcare as they hadn't contributed to the social security by working (or autonomo) and still had access to insurance.

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2026 4:18pm

Feenix1950

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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2026 4:18pm

No way, José!

There's a lot of misunderstanding about the right to health cover, but many people, including CAB Spain, haven't read the law correctly.

That law says that you are entitled to health cover 'unless otherwise obliged....'.

The law covering UK citizens clearly states that they are obliged to have health cover.

And I note that the OP seems to be confusing an NIE with residency.

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2026 4:30pm

ggarymanders

Original Poster

Posts: 55

5 helpful points

Location: Alicante City

Joined: 11 May 2020

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2026 4:30pm

Feenix1950 wrote on Fri Feb 20, 2026 4:18pm:
No way, José!
There's a lot of misunderstanding about the right to health cover, but many people, including CAB Spain, haven't read the law correctly.

Read more...

That law says that you are entitled to health cover 'unless otherwise obliged....'.
The law covering UK citizens clearly states that they are obliged to have health cover.
And I note that the OP seems to be confusing an NIE with residency.

So I needn't have carried on with the private health cover then after obtaining my initial NIE nearly five years ago!?

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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2026 4:34pm

Swimmer57

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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2026 4:34pm

ggarymanders wrote on Fri Feb 20, 2026 4:30pm:
So I needn't have carried on with the private health cover then after obtaining my initial NIE nearly five years ago!?

Yes! The health cover you are obliged to have is your private one (or the convenio especial, which is not free).

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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2026 4:36pm

marcliff

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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2026 4:36pm

ggarymanders wrote on Fri Feb 20, 2026 2:02pm:
Hi Steve
I've been living in Spain for nearly five years now with my NIE card on private healthcare

Read more...

Cheers
Gary

Assuming you mean TIE? NIE has nothing to do with residency.