Sip cards.

The S1 forms tell you to take them to an INSS office. 

Without checking, I'd guess that the nearest is at Orihuela, on Calle San Agustín, 20.

To be on the safe side, take passports and residency certificates or NIEs. INSS will register you in the system and give you an authorisation you can take to a medical centre to register and get SIP cards.

Thanks ray, do we need a certain amount in the bank to get residencia.  Sorry to be a pain but I'mall googled out.

Hi we have S1’s as my husband is unable to work due to illness and gets an exportable benefit. We have been to the social security in torrevieja with all paperwork required ,residencia etc. We were given no piece of paper to take to our medical centre and we have been given the temporary paper  sip cards. We queried this with the receptionist and were told because he isn’t retirement age we do not get the plastic card!! I am very confused as I thought that was it all done correctly and we are entitled to full healthcare! After 4 months we went back again and queried it again, to be told no we don’t need a plastic card and we still have medical cover and have been to appointments at the hospital!! Does anyone else have the same or know if this is correct??? 

I've not heard of it happening, but I could understand a logic. The types of benefit that are exportable are potentially subject to change, and if ones health improves then the entitlement will be withdrawn. As such, a benefit could be classed as temporary, in which case I can understand the issue of a temporary SIP card instead of a permanent one.

Don't worry about it, as a temporary card gives you the same entitlement to treatment as does a permanent one. You just need to renew it when it expires.

You could if you wished query it with Valencia. The last email I had for them is [email protected]

Thank you Jim for your reply. I will try the Valencia office. 

Regarding SIP's.  My marriage certificate, translated, was required before they would issue the certificate. I am a pensioner but my wife is not.

Thank you we presented everything but weren’t asked to have it translated!