Travellers Tips for Spain: Health advice for travel to Spain

Getting Treatment in Countries in the European Economic Area

UK Department of Health (DOH) advice for Travellers

The European Economic Area (EEA) consists of the 15 member states of the European Community plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. If you or any of your dependants are suddenly taken ill or have an accident during a visit to any of these countries, free or reduced-cost emergency treatment is available – in most cases on production of a valid Form E111.

Only state-provided emergency treatment is covered, and you will receive treatment on the same terms as nationals of the country you are visiting. Private treatment is generally not covered, and state-provided treatment may not cover all of the things that you would expect to receive free of charge from the NHS.

Who is Eligible for Form E111?

You are eligible to obtain Form E111 if you are ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and you are:

• a national of the UK;
  
  
• a national of any other EEA country;
  
  
• a stateless person or refugee;
  
  
• a widow receiving a UK state pension or Widows Benefit whose late husband was a national of an EEA country living in the UK at the time of his death.
  
  
• a widow or widower, receiving a UK state Bereavement benefit, whose late spouse was a national of an EEA country and living in the UK at the time of his or her death.

If you have dual British/foreign nationality or if you do not have a British passport but you consider you are British for E111 purposes, you must provide evidence of your British nationality.

Address any enquiries about British citizenship to:
Home Office
Immigration & Nationality Departments
India Buildings (3rd Floor)
Water Street
Liverpool L2 0QN

Telephone: 0151 237 5200

If you are a EEA national, a stateless person or refugee working in the UK, but paying social security contributions to another EEA country, you should obtain your E111 from the institution to which you pay your contributions.

Obtaining Form E111

• Go to any main post office or travel agent and ask for a leaflet "Health Advice for Travellers".
  
  
• Fill in the application form at the back of the booklet as well as form E111 itself, in accordance with the instructions in the booklet.
  
  
• Hand over the completed forms at the post office where the form E111 will be stamped and signed and returned to you.
  
  
• The E111 is free; you will not have to pay for its issue.
  
  
• Keep it safe, preferably with your passport, and carry it with you when travelling within the EEA.
  
  
• More information at UK Department of Health Travel Advice