Certificate S1

If you move to another EU/EEA country outside the Nordic countries as a pensioner, you should apply to Helfo for certificate S1. This document will entitle you to healthcare in the country you are moving to.

You must present the certificate S1 to the social security authorities in your new country of residence. Once the certificate S1 has been registered in your country of residence, you will be entitled to planned treatment, amongst other things. Certificate S1 therefore gives you more rights than the health insurance card. An unregistered certificate S1 does not grant any rights.

In your country of residence, you must use certificate S1, not the European Health Insurance Card. This also applies when you are on holiday in your country of residence.

If as a pensioner you also receive a pension from the country you are moving to, you will normally need to contact the social security authorities there to find out what health rights you have before contacting Helfo.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If you are travelling on holiday to Norway or another EU/EEA country other than your new country of residence, you should take your European Health Insurance Card with you.

Helfo issues European Health Insurance Cards to pensioners with certificate S1 who have emigrated. You must have applied for and been issued with certificate S1 by Helfo in order to be entitled to a health insurance card.

It is important to note that you must order a new health insurance card once you have received your certificate S1. You will then no longer be entitled to use any existing health insurance card which you already have.

Pensioners living abroad who have certificate S1 will be issued with a health insurance card with a yellow back.