Get your public health card
First have the INSS recognise your right to public healthcare, then ask for the regional tarjeta sanitaria at your health centre.
For: A resident in Spain who is not already covered automatically through work, a pension or unemployment benefit and needs public healthcare.
Last checked
What you need
Steps
Check whether you need to apply at all: workers, pensioners and benefit recipients are recognised by the INSS automatically.
INSS form: Prestacion de asistencia sanitaria (seg-social.es)
If you are a resident in none of those situations, download the INSS healthcare form from seg-social.es.
You must not have healthcare cover through another route, for example a civil-service mutual or your home country.
INSS form: Prestacion de asistencia sanitaria (seg-social.es)
Fill in section I (your data) and section II (other data of the holder resident in Spain), then sign page 2.
INSS form: Prestacion de asistencia sanitaria (seg-social.es)
Submit it on the Social Security electronic office with a digital certificate or Cl@ve permanente.
INSS form: Prestacion de asistencia sanitaria (seg-social.es)
If you have no electronic ID, send a signed copy by post or hand it in at a Social Security information centre (book an appointment).
INSS form: Prestacion de asistencia sanitaria (seg-social.es)
When the INSS recognises your right, get the proof (the DAD) from the Social Security website or an office.
In Madrid you can let the health service look it up itself instead of bringing it.
Go to your health centre with your ID, a recent padron volante and the INSS document, and ask for the tarjeta sanitaria.
Madrid centres take requests during opening hours, 8:30 to 20:30. In Valencia the centre registers you in the SIP and issues the card.
Done when: You hold your regional tarjeta sanitaria individual from your health centre.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting to update the card when your residence permit is renewed: foreign holders must update the expiry date at the health centre each time. Comunidad de Madrid: Tarjeta Sanitaria
What varies
The INSS step is national, the card is regional. Madrid: ask at the assigned health centre; the online route needs a digital certificate and, as of the review date, new online requests were suspended on the official page. Valencia: you can register online in the SIP with a digital certificate or Cl@ve, or go to the nearest health centre if you have neither. Other regions have their own service, document list and card name; check your regional health service page. This recipe does not cover private insurance or convenio especial.
Who can do this for you
This page is general information, not legal advice.