If you’re living in an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein, you might be entitled to an S1. An S1 gives you the same healthcare cover as a resident of those countries with the UK responsible for the costs.
An S1 does not cover private healthcare.
S1 for pensioners living or moving abroad
You may be entitled to an S1 if you:
- get paid a UK State Pension
- are living in or moving to an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein
Pensioners living in or moving to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
You cannot apply online for an S1 if you’re living in or moving to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein
You’ll need to contact us instead.
Applying for an S1 online
If you're getting paid your UK State Pension, you can apply online for an S1 up to 90 days before you move to live in an EU country.
You need to have an address in the country you’re moving to for an S1 to be issued. You can use a temporary address in your application.
When you get a permanent address, you’ll need to contact us and tell us what it is. You’ll also need to tell the relevant authority in the country you’re living in.
If you need an S1 for your visa application, you can ask us to send it to your UK address.
Contact us to get help with your application or apply by phone.
How to use an S1
You will not have healthcare cover automatically when you get an S1 from us. You’ll need to register your S1 with the relevant authority in the country you’re living in. You’ll often need to do this before you can register for healthcare or get a medical card.
If you’ve registered your S1 in an EU country, you’ll be able to use your UK-issued EHIC or UK GHIC to get access to state-funded necessary medical treatment when you visit other EU countries, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein.
Posted workers and people with other exportable benefits
If you’re a worker temporarily posted by a UK company to an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein, you may be entitled to healthcare cover funded by the UK in the country you’re posted to.
You may also be entitled to healthcare cover funded by the UK if you get certain other exportable benefits, other than a UK State Pension.
Visit our page about overseas healthcare for posted workers and people with other exportable benefits to find out more about your healthcare cover.