Using S1 Certificiate for Non Lucrative Visa Application
Apr 11th 2023, 5:25 pm
#1
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Using S1 Certificiate for Non Lucrative Visa Application
Long Post Warning - It may be best to comment without quoting!
Many of the online guides about applying for an NLV still tell you that you have to have private medical insurance without co-payments in order to apply for an NLV. This situation changed recently, and an S1 certificate from the NHS is now accepted as an alternative to private medical insurance. A few sites have been updated and say this, but the process of actually doing it isn't straightforward. Up until 2022, the S1 would be taken to the local office of the INSS (the Spanish Social Security) along with your visa to register for healthcare. With the new system, as you don't yet have your visa to register the S1, you have to complete a pre-registration process first. For the NLV application, your S1 has to be registered with the Spanish Social Security online first while you are still in the UK, and the consulate will accept a registration certificate from the Spanish Social Security, Not everyone qualifies for an S1, but anyone receiving a UK state pension should qualify.
Here is my experience, as I remember it!
Step 1: First you need to get your S1. Ring the NHS overseas business unit and do a telephone interview to tell them you want an S1. Use this link for more info: https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/hea...ur-healthcare/ Note: You will need to provide your Spanish address for this, and you will need it again later in the process. If you are eligible for an S1 they will send you two copies of the certificate in the post. If you can't get an S1, forget the rest of this, you will need private health care.
Step 2: You now need to register the S1 certificate online with the INSS using this link and this page is only in Spanish. That may change over time, but for me, everything from here on was in Spanish.
https://tramites.seg-social.es/acces...a-españa.html
Very important notes! This page will only work using a PC with a web cam, and ONLY on google chrome. I had to install chrome after getting advice and being told sorry, this page doesn´t work with other browsers. You might get past step 2A and 2B below but it will fail at step 3 was my experience. You should make sure that your privacy settings will allow chrome to access your camera. You will also need your phone to hand as parts of the process use two factor authorisation codes sent to your mobile. You will also have to complete email verification checks by clicking links in incoming emails. This whole process is in Spanish only, and you will get on screen instructions and prompts in Spanish at each stage.
Step 2A: You do the registration in two parts, the first part is to complete a C176 form, and that is the button where it says "Descargar PDF". You need to download this PDF form, fill it out on your computer and save it as a file because it is one of the documents you need for Step 2B. When completing the C176, you will need the PIN number of your S1 form. You will also need to know the full address and postcode of where you will stay in Spain when you first arrive. They will use this to pass your S1 application to the correct regional INSS delegation and that is where eventually you will complete the process to get your public health cover active in Spain. In my case, I had a phone call the next day from the Santander INSS office to invite me in for an appointment to complete the process. Wow!
Step 2B: Once you have completed C176 and saved it, you then go to the second button on the original page "Enviar Solicitud". For this you will need your passport to hand, your S1 certificate, and digital copies of the cover page of your passport and the page that show all your personal data. Caution! This page times out and needs to be completed in a single visit, without any option to stop or save it halfway through.
Step 3: You will see a graphic of a persons head and shoulders, arm to the left holding a document. At this point, using the PC camera, you have to hold your passport up in your left hand, open on the data page with your passport photo showing, and fit yourself in the bit with head and shoulders. You are using the camera on the pc to mimic the on-screen graphic. Make sure you don't obscure details on the passport with your fingers! Basically when you have everything "in frame" and in the right position, you take the photo. This records you and your passport details and effectively shows you are making the application in person. This photo has to be readable in detail by the INSS in Spain so make sure you stay still and everything is in focus.
Step 4: You then have to upload the C176 form you did at step 2A, and upload the two photos of the passport.
Step 5: A bit surreal, but you now have to literally sign the page. If you have a laptop with a touchscreen you could use that. In my case, I did the best I could to write my signature with the mouse!
So, having completed all this, and any two step verification checks, you can now "submit" your S1 application to the INSS, and you will get a confirmation email back that it has been received. All you can do now is hope you got it right!
Finally, in my case within two days of completing the process, I received a further email back confirming the S1 had been successfully registered with the INSS and a long confirmation code to use to get the actual registration confirmation document as a PDF. This is what you present with your NLV application at the consulate.
Final thoughts: This is just my experience. Your experience may vary! The whole process for using the S1 for an NLV is still relatively new, and for sure will evolve with time. A lot of people may prefer to simply pay for private health insurance for the purposes of the NLV application, and then register the S1 once in Spain.
Hope that helps
Ray
Many of the online guides about applying for an NLV still tell you that you have to have private medical insurance without co-payments in order to apply for an NLV. This situation changed recently, and an S1 certificate from the NHS is now accepted as an alternative to private medical insurance. A few sites have been updated and say this, but the process of actually doing it isn't straightforward. Up until 2022, the S1 would be taken to the local office of the INSS (the Spanish Social Security) along with your visa to register for healthcare. With the new system, as you don't yet have your visa to register the S1, you have to complete a pre-registration process first. For the NLV application, your S1 has to be registered with the Spanish Social Security online first while you are still in the UK, and the consulate will accept a registration certificate from the Spanish Social Security, Not everyone qualifies for an S1, but anyone receiving a UK state pension should qualify.
Here is my experience, as I remember it!
Step 1: First you need to get your S1. Ring the NHS overseas business unit and do a telephone interview to tell them you want an S1. Use this link for more info: https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/hea...ur-healthcare/ Note: You will need to provide your Spanish address for this, and you will need it again later in the process. If you are eligible for an S1 they will send you two copies of the certificate in the post. If you can't get an S1, forget the rest of this, you will need private health care.
Step 2: You now need to register the S1 certificate online with the INSS using this link and this page is only in Spanish. That may change over time, but for me, everything from here on was in Spanish.
https://tramites.seg-social.es/acces...a-españa.html
Very important notes! This page will only work using a PC with a web cam, and ONLY on google chrome. I had to install chrome after getting advice and being told sorry, this page doesn´t work with other browsers. You might get past step 2A and 2B below but it will fail at step 3 was my experience. You should make sure that your privacy settings will allow chrome to access your camera. You will also need your phone to hand as parts of the process use two factor authorisation codes sent to your mobile. You will also have to complete email verification checks by clicking links in incoming emails. This whole process is in Spanish only, and you will get on screen instructions and prompts in Spanish at each stage.
Step 2A: You do the registration in two parts, the first part is to complete a C176 form, and that is the button where it says "Descargar PDF". You need to download this PDF form, fill it out on your computer and save it as a file because it is one of the documents you need for Step 2B. When completing the C176, you will need the PIN number of your S1 form. You will also need to know the full address and postcode of where you will stay in Spain when you first arrive. They will use this to pass your S1 application to the correct regional INSS delegation and that is where eventually you will complete the process to get your public health cover active in Spain. In my case, I had a phone call the next day from the Santander INSS office to invite me in for an appointment to complete the process. Wow!
Step 2B: Once you have completed C176 and saved it, you then go to the second button on the original page "Enviar Solicitud". For this you will need your passport to hand, your S1 certificate, and digital copies of the cover page of your passport and the page that show all your personal data. Caution! This page times out and needs to be completed in a single visit, without any option to stop or save it halfway through.
Step 3: You will see a graphic of a persons head and shoulders, arm to the left holding a document. At this point, using the PC camera, you have to hold your passport up in your left hand, open on the data page with your passport photo showing, and fit yourself in the bit with head and shoulders. You are using the camera on the pc to mimic the on-screen graphic. Make sure you don't obscure details on the passport with your fingers! Basically when you have everything "in frame" and in the right position, you take the photo. This records you and your passport details and effectively shows you are making the application in person. This photo has to be readable in detail by the INSS in Spain so make sure you stay still and everything is in focus.
Step 4: You then have to upload the C176 form you did at step 2A, and upload the two photos of the passport.
Step 5: A bit surreal, but you now have to literally sign the page. If you have a laptop with a touchscreen you could use that. In my case, I did the best I could to write my signature with the mouse!
So, having completed all this, and any two step verification checks, you can now "submit" your S1 application to the INSS, and you will get a confirmation email back that it has been received. All you can do now is hope you got it right!
Finally, in my case within two days of completing the process, I received a further email back confirming the S1 had been successfully registered with the INSS and a long confirmation code to use to get the actual registration confirmation document as a PDF. This is what you present with your NLV application at the consulate.
Final thoughts: This is just my experience. Your experience may vary! The whole process for using the S1 for an NLV is still relatively new, and for sure will evolve with time. A lot of people may prefer to simply pay for private health insurance for the purposes of the NLV application, and then register the S1 once in Spain.
Hope that helps
Ray
Apr 12th 2023, 6:20 am
#2
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Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Costa Valencia
Posts: 14,800
Re: Using S1 Certificiate for Non Lucrative Visa Application
The only reason that the replies in this thread have been deleted is because I have copied the original thread to make it a sticky so that it remains as information whilst the discussion can continue on the main forum.
excellent information.
Rosemary
excellent information.
Rosemary
