Are you registered for Spanish public healthcare?

Yes, I am registered:

If you are registered for Spanish public healthcare and have a ‘tarjeta sanitaria’ (credit-card-sized health card) from the Spanish authorities you can attend any public hospital’s accident and emergency department wherever you find yourself in Spain. (In an emergency, even if you cannot find or do not have your tarjeta sanitaria, you should still go to the public hospital. The emergency number in Spain to call an ambulance, fire brigade or the police is 112). Make sure you are attending a public hospital, run by the regional government in your area, (servicio sanitario público), and not a private hospital.

No, I am not registered:

If you are not registered for Spanish public healthcare, your UK-issued blue European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or the newer Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) should normally cover you if you are NOT a resident in Spain and are only here temporarily (i.e. less than three months in any six month period). If you do not have a valid UK-issued EHIC or GHIC with you (and are entitled to one), do not worry – go to the public hospital anyway. Public hospitals can reclaim money for your treatment from the UK authorities once they have your full details.

Please click here for full details on the EHIC and what will happen if you don’t have it with you.

The emergency number in Spain to call an ambulance, fire brigade or the police is 112. Make sure you are attending a public hospital, run by the regional government in your area, (servicio sanitario público), and not a private hospital.

Note: If you use Spanish public healthcare and either you are not entitled to a EHIC/GHIC (for temporary stays) or you do not meet the criteria to register to receive public healthcare (although you live here as a resident for stays over three months), you may be charged for the care provided in public hospitals or health centres.

For your long-term peace of mind, if you are not entitled to a EHIC/GHIC and are not entitled to register to receive Spanish public healthcare, there are many providers of private health insurance and private healthcare.

This website does not provide details of private companies.

To find out how to register for Spanish public healthcare instead, and whether you may be entitled, click here.

If you are not entitled to register, you may be able to pay for access to the Spanish public healthcare system on a monthly basis. For more details on all public healthcare provision in Spain for residents see the UK government’s Living in Spain website.

Think ahead for what you may do in an emergency situation and plan today for what might happen in the future.