Healthcare cover when moving abroad

S1s are issued by the UK. S1s entitle a non-UK resident who is living in a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland to the same healthcare cover as a resident of that country, with the UK remaining responsible for these costs.

Healthcare if you have an exportable benefit

You may be entitled to an S1 if you've been living in an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland since before 1 January 2021, and you receive a UK State Pension, contribution-based Employment Support Allowance or some other exportable benefits.

If you receive a pension from the country that you live in now as well as your UK State Pension, you may not be able to get an S1. The country you live in may be responsible for your healthcare.

If you receive a UK State Pension as well as a pension from an EU member state, but are now living in a different EU state, the country you paid contributions toward your pension for the longest period becomes responsible for your healthcare.

How to apply for an S1

Telephone: 0191 218 1999
Telephone from outside the UK: +44 191 218 1999
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm (GMT)
Find out about call charges

Email: nhsbsa.ohsregistrations@nhs.net

You can apply for an S1 up to 90 days before moving to live in an EU country.

You can ask for the form to be sent to your UK address if you need it for your visa application.

For an S1 to be issued, you need to have an address in the EU country you are moving to. This can be a temporary address, but you must contact us and the relevant authority in the country you are moving to, to let them know your new address (if it changes). This prevents important confidential information being sent to the wrong address.

Applying for an S1 in Switzerland

If you’re applying for an S1 in Switzerland, you'll need to meet extra nationality criteria to be eligible. You'll only be issued with an S1 in Switzerland if you're:

a UK national
a Swiss national
an EU citizen
a refugee
a stateless person
a family member or survivor of someone who has one of these nationalities or statuses

How to use an S1

When your S1 has been issued, you’ll need to register it with the relevant authority in your country of residence. You’ll often need to do this before you can register for healthcare or obtain a medical card.

If you have registered an S1 in an EU country, you'll be able to use your UK-issued UK EHIC or UK GHIC to access state-funded necessary medical treatment when you visit other EU countries. You'll not be able to use it in Switzerland.

Changes to who can get an S1

The rules have changed around S1 cover for people who claim the following exportable benefits:

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Carer's Allowance (CA)
Attendance Allowance (AA)

{C}These benefits entitle you to an S1 for as long as you receive that benefit if you moved to an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland and applied for an S1 before 1 January 2021.{C}

If you already have an S1

If you already have an S1, you'll continue to be covered for as long as you're receiving one of the benefits listed.

If you have a time-limited S1, you can apply to renew it if you still receive one of the benefits listed.

More information about accessing NHS services can be found on the visiting or moving to England pages on the NHS website.

If you do not have an S1

You can no longer get an S1 form based on receiving one of the exportable benefits listed.

It may still be possible to receive an S1 if you export your Maternity Allowance or certain bereavement benefits.

Read more about exporting benefits on GOV.UK.

Posted workers

If you're a worker temporarily posted by a UK company to an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland, you may be entitled to health cover funded by the UK in the country you're posted to.

You'll need to apply for a certificate of entitlement known as an S1. S1s show that your state healthcare is paid for by the UK if you live in an EU country or Switzerland.

You can find out more from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC):