C-218 S1 Portable Document Request (Spain INSS)

What is C-218 S1 portable document request?

C-218 is the form the Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social (INSS) uses for people insured in Spain ('asegurados en España') to ask for the S1 portable document under the EU social security regulations. The S1 certifies that Spain covers your healthcare, so you can register with the public health system of the country where you live and be treated there as if you were insured locally.

It is typically needed by Spanish pensioners who move to another EU or EEA country or Switzerland, by workers posted abroad by a Spanish employer, and by frontier workers who work in one country and live in another — and by the family members who move with them.

FileIt guides you through the C-218 in plain English, checks the control digits of your Social Security number, repeats your name and ID on page 2, writes the date the Spanish way and prints everything into the INSS's own PDF, edition C-218 cas V.3 of 17 April 2023 — including names with letters such as ł or ș. The finished form is saved in your vault. FileIt never sends anything to the INSS.

Who fills it: A person insured in Spain who lives or will live in another EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the UK
Given to: The INSS provincial office (Dirección Provincial) named at the foot of page 2
Result: The S1 portable document, to register for healthcare in your country of residence
Signatures: The insured person
Edition: C-218 cas V.3 20230417, 3 pages in Spanish

Who needs to fill out C-218 S1 portable document request?

Spanish pensioners living in another EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the UK.
Workers posted abroad by their Spanish employer ('trabajador desplazado').
Frontier workers insured in Spain who live in a neighbouring country ('trabajador fronterizo').
Family members of these insured people who live with them abroad — they are listed on the same form.
Anyone else insured in Spain whose situation calls for an S1 (the form's 'Otros').

When to use C-218 S1 portable document request

Before or when you move to live in another country while your healthcare stays Spain's responsibility.
When the country you live in asks you for an S1 to register with its public health system.
When family members join you abroad and also need cover.

What you need before you start

Your DNI, NIE or passport number, your date of birth and your 12-digit Spanish Social Security number.
Your address in the new country (country, city, street, number, postcode) and the date you live there from.
Each family member's surnames, first name, date of birth and DNI/NIE if they have one.
Copies of your DNI/NIE or passport and, for family members, proof of the relationship (for example the family book).

What’s on C-218 S1 portable document request

The 2023 edition has 3 pages. FileIt asks for it in 5 parts, and it is signed by Insured person (titular):

Your details - the insured person (Datos del titular)Insured person (titular)
The country you are moving to (Datos del país al que se desplaza el titular)Insured person (titular)
Family members moving with you (Datos de los miembros de la familia)Insured person (titular)
Documents and reason for movingInsured person (titular)
Declaration, consents and signingInsured person (titular)

How to fill out C-218 S1 portable document request, step by step

1 Datos del titular — your details

Your first and second surnames, first name, DNI/NIE/passport number, date of birth, Social Security number, phone and email. FileIt checks the two control digits at the end of the Social Security number.

2 Datos del país al que se desplaza — where you are going

The country and city, street, number and postcode of your new address, and the date from which you live there ('fecha desde').

3 Datos de los miembros de la familia — family members

Up to five family members who live with you and depend on your cover: surnames, first name, date of birth and DNI/NIE.

4 Documentos y motivos — documents and reason

Tick the documents you enclose (DNI/NIE, passport, proof of relationship) and why you are moving: posted worker, frontier worker, pensioner or another reason you specify.

5 Page 2 — consents, date and signature

Page 2 repeats your name and ID. Answer the two consent questions — whether the INSS may consult your data electronically with other administrations (if not, you must supply the documents it asks for within 10 working days), and whether it may use your phone and email to send you Social Security information. Then give the place and date, sign under 'Firma', and name the province of the INSS office it goes to.

Common mistakes to avoid

Typing the Social Security number wrongly — FileIt checks its control digits.
Forgetting to list family members who also need the S1.
Refusing the data consent without having the documents ready — you then have 10 working days to provide them.
Leaving out the province of the INSS office at the foot of page 2.

After you fill it out

Check the PDF, sign it, and hand it in with the documents to the INSS provincial office named at the foot of page 2; seg-social.es explains the ways to present it.

When you receive the S1, register it with the health insurer or health service in your country of residence.

FileIt keeps a copy in your vault, next to your family's other documents.

Fill out C-218 S1 portable document request online with FileIt

Pick the person. Choose someone from People and FileIt fills in their name, date of birth, address and other details it already knows.
Answer plain-language questions. One part of the form at a time, with the official help text beside each question — 45 fields in all. Your answers save as you go.
Check the live preview. Watch your answers land on the real Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social (INSS) form, and let FileIt do any worksheet arithmetic.
Generate the official PDF. FileIt prints your answers into the agency’s own PDF and files it in that person’s folder in your vault. Sign it, or send it for e-signature.

FileIt fills the form — it never files or submits anything for you. Deliver the finished form to whoever asked for it, the way the form’s instructions say.

Start C-218 S1 portable document request now — it’s free

C-218 S1 portable document request: frequently asked questions

What is the S1 form?

The S1 is an EU portable document certifying that one country (here Spain) is responsible for your healthcare while you live in another. You register it in your country of residence to get treatment there.

What is form C-218?

C-218 is the Spanish Social Security (INSS) request for the S1, for people insured in Spain who live in another EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the UK, and for their family members.

Is the S1 the same as the European Health Insurance Card?

No. The European Health Insurance Card covers necessary care during a temporary stay. The S1 is for people who live in another country and need full healthcare there.

Can I list my family on the same form?

Yes. The form has room for five family members, with their names, dates of birth and DNI/NIE.

Does FileIt send the form to the INSS?

No. FileIt fills in the official PDF and saves it in your vault. You sign it and hand it in yourself.

Official sources

Blank form (PDF), published by Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social (INSS): https://www.seg-social.es/wps/wcm/connect/wss/53e09218-020a-43d6-9202-25d778e78fce/C-218_Castellano_2_Editabilidad+(7).pdf?MOD=AJPERES
Official instructions and guidance: https://www.seg-social.es
Edition shown on this page: C-218 cas V.3 20230417 (checked 2026-09-28).

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social (INSS) or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-09-28.