Join the Torrevieja forum
My name's Alex and this is my website all about Torrevieja in Spain. Register now for free to talk about Healthcare and medical advice in Torrevieja and much more!
My friend who has lived in Torreviega for the past 3 years (in the process of getting permanent residency) has allowed his SIP card to expire (he forgot to renew). His English EHIC card has also expired and he is unable to renew as he no longer lives in the UK.
How does he go about renewing his SIP card, he cannot visit a GP practice in Spain without the SIP card?
Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2023 2:40pm
Helpful member
he walks into a health center and speaks with the "secretary" or make an cita with the social worker thru the "secretary".
No need to speak with a doctor - it is not their job...
My understanding is that SIP cards are only for residents. They don't have an expiry date. Once you obtain residency you apply for the S1 form if retired from the UK. Present this to an INSS office, they will give you the correct paperwork to take to your medical centre and you obtain your SIP card. This way the British NHS pick up the bill for your health care. Temporary SIP cards are just that, temporary and were issued mainly during Covid times to save the medical centres time on paperwork.
Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2023 11:40am
Thank you, I have sent our message onto my friend.
Advertisement - posts continue below
Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2023 12:20pm
Hi,
My husband and I are non resident and we recently got our flu/covid jabs. I presented our expired temporary sip cards and they just replaced them with updated ones by another 6 months. We are EU citizens and he did request our EHIC card. No harm in trying. Our local clinic is El Acequión in Torrevieja.
Temporary SIP cards are still being issued by some health centres. This is for admin purposes so that you don't need to complete the forms for the EHIC/GHIC every time you go. However, our salud requires the card to issue the temp SIP card which is valid a maximum of 6 months.
Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2023 1:47pm
Thank you, posted it onto my friend.
Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2023 12:05pm
Helpful member
I am resident here, and have a SIP number, issued in 2020 when I registered to have my Covid jabs.
I do not have a SIP card, so if I go to my saludos, will I be issued a card?
I am under retirement age, so have private healthcare in place.
Find more Healthcare and medical advice topics from a particular area:
Or view all Healthcare and medical advice topics in all of Costa Blanca.
