Applying for Insurance Abroad: The 2026 Guide
EHIC, S1 form, international health insurance and liability: how to apply for the right coverage abroad step by step.
TL;DR
- If you move abroad, plan the required forms (EHIC, S1) early to avoid coverage gaps.
- The EHIC only applies to short stays; the S1 form is required for permanent EU relocation.
- Private international health insurance closes gaps for repatriation and private doctors.
Key takeaways
EHIC only for short stays
The European Health Insurance Card applies to temporary stays, not to people relocating.
Apply for the S1 form on time
The S1 form must be requested before the move and registered in the destination country.
Private supplement often needed
Statutory benefits typically do not cover repatriation or private doctors.
Keep documents carefully
Invoices, proofs and forms are required for later reimbursements.
Talk to your insurer early
Talking to your German statutory insurer before departure prevents coverage gaps.
Requirements and documents
Before submitting any application, you need a clear overview of the required documents. Many people only realise abroad that key papers are missing.
Personal documents and proofs
- Passport or national ID (valid at least 6 months beyond the planned end of stay)
- Proof of residence abroad (registration, rental contract, residence permit)
- German statutory health insurance card including EHIC on the back
- NIE number or equivalent local tax ID (e.g. mandatory in Spain)
- Proof of employment or pension status for long-term stays
- Completed forms from your insurer, in particular the S1 form for EU relocation
The European Health Insurance Card (EVZ) is on the back of the German health insurance card and can be requested free of charge.
EHIC vs. S1: the decisive difference
These two are often confused and that can become expensive. The EHIC only applies to temporary stays, while the S1 form becomes necessary as soon as you move permanently to another EU country.
| Feature | EHIC | S1 form |
|---|---|---|
| Validity | Short stays, holidays | Permanent EU relocation |
| Issued by | German statutory insurer | German statutory insurer |
| Use abroad | Show directly at the doctor | Register with the local social security body |
| Cost coverage | Under local law | Local rules, billed with the German insurer |
| Processing time | Immediate / a few days | About 4 to 6 weeks |
Pro tip: Apply for the S1 form at least 6 to 8 weeks before your planned move. Without it, coverage gaps can occur in the destination country.
Step by step: applying for health insurance abroad
1. Talk to your German statutory insurer
Clarify whether your stay is temporary or permanent and what your options are.
Have the first conversation at least 3 months before leaving.
2. Apply for the S1 form
Submit the request in writing or online to your German statutory insurer.
Provide employment status and destination country; processing takes 2 to 6 weeks.
3. Register in the destination country
Register the S1 form with the local body (e.g. INSS in Spain).
Arrange the NIE number and proof of residence in parallel.
4. Use services like locals
Treatment in the public system under local rules.
Billing is settled between the foreign insurer and the German fund.
Spain as an example: the S1 form must be registered with the INSS (Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social). You also need the NIE number and proof of residence. More background in the Expat Insurance Guide for Germany.
For non-EU countries with a social security agreement such as Turkey, you generally need an Auslandskrankenschein before departure.
Important supplementary policies for stays abroad
Statutory health insurance is the foundation but does not cover everything. Anyone living abroad permanently or long-term should top up coverage on purpose.
International travel health insurance
This policy covers benefits the statutory system does not: medically necessary repatriation to Germany, private doctors and clinics outside the public system, and in some tariffs dental treatment too. Germany's consumer protection agency recommends international travel health insurance especially for longer stays.
- Coverage limit: High limits for medical costs recommended
- Repatriation: Explicitly check the policy terms
- Deductible: Prefer tariffs without a deductible
- Geographic scope: Worldwide vs. EU-only depending on destination
- Term: Annual or single trip depending on needs
Liability, accident and other policies
German liability policies often apply within the EU but not always worldwide. Check the geographic scope. For a permanent move, a local liability policy may make more sense. Accident insurance matters because public systems often do not provide comprehensive rehabilitation.
Comparison: EU vs. non-EU countries
| Aspect | EU countries | Non-EU countries |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | EU coordination rules, EHIC, S1 | Country specific, agreement if any |
| Doctor visit | Public doctors with card | Often pay first, then reimbursement |
| Repatriation | Not included, supplement needed | Strongly recommended privately |
| Private supplement | Recommended | Strongly required |
| Forms | EHIC, S1 | Auslandskrankenschein or none if no agreement |
Common mistakes when applying
Applying for forms too late
EHIC and S1 take time to process. Plan at least 8 weeks ahead.
Mixing up short and long stays
The EHIC does not apply for permanent relocation. The S1 form is mandatory.
Private doctors without supplementary cover
Private doctors are not reimbursed by the statutory fund.
Missing repatriation cover
Medical repatriation to Germany can be very expensive.
Incomplete documentation
Without original invoices, later reimbursement is difficult.
No check of benefit differences
What is covered in Germany can be excluded abroad.
Documentation, reimbursement and lasting cover
The application is filed, the card has arrived. Now comes the part most people do not plan for: managing your coverage abroad on an ongoing basis.
Filing reimbursement claims correctly
- Keep every invoice: every consultation, prescription and hospital invoice must be kept in the original.
- Submit original receipts: EU cross-border reimbursements require detailed receipts.
- File the reimbursement request: with the foreign or the German statutory insurer.
- Watch the deadlines: usually 3 to 12 months after treatment.
- Get written confirmation: always ask the insurer for a written acknowledgement.
Pro tip: Keep a digital folder with all key documents as PDF: insurance card, S1 form, passport, residence permit and contact list.
If your current coverage shows gaps (repatriation, dental, choice of doctor), top-up cover makes sense. Use a private health insurance comparison to find suitable tariffs quickly.
Editorial recommendation from Meinetarife24
In our experience, the biggest problem is rarely the insurance itself but the planning around it. People who only talk to their statutory insurer a few weeks before moving feel rushed. The S1 form arrives late, registration with the foreign body drags on, and coverage gaps appear.
The best time for the first call with your insurer is roughly 3 months before departure. Often only the conversation reveals what is still unclear: do I need an S1 or is the EHIC enough? What happens with my insurance if I work abroad? What about children moving with me?
Supplementary private cover is too often dismissed as a luxury. In countries with long public waiting times it is a pragmatic way to see a specialist faster. Plan in three steps: secure statutory baseline (EHIC or S1), then identify gaps (repatriation, private clinic, dental), then add a supplement.
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