S1 health insurance certificate, certifying entitlement

By applying for an S1 certificate, an individual will be insured with health insurance in his/her new country of residence and receive all the same services as other insured persons in that country. However, the individual also continues to be insured in Iceland.

To be eligible for the issue of an S1 certificate, a national from an EEA/EC country must fulfil one of the following conditions:

• Being a wage earner from Iceland – Work in another EEA/EB country for an Icelandic company and pay a wage insurance fee in Iceland.

  • If you meet the criteria 1 then you must apply to the Social Security Administration for an A1 certificate, which then makes a request for the issuance of an S1 certificate

• Being a family member, spouse or child aged 17 or younger, a worker is assigned Iceland and resident in another EEA/EC country.

• Be a pensioner from Iceland and domiciled in another EEA/EC country.

• Be a family member, spouse or child aged 17 years and under, pensioner and domiciled with the pensioner in another EEA/EC country.

We redirect to the European Health Insurance Card when travelling to other EEA/EC countries to receive all necessary medical care based on the duration of the stay. The card can be applied for on Ísland.is.

If the certificate is presented when applying for health insurance in a new country of residence in the EEA, the person concerned receives all the same services as other health insured persons in that country. Individuals generally pay a specific fee, which is a patient's share in the country of residence, and it cannot be reimbursed by Health Insurance.

The processing time for applications is six to eight weeks.

The S1 certificate is not valid for the following:

• Health services provided outside the public system of the country of residence

• Moving back to Iceland (special rules apply to Nordic countries)

It is common for individuals to purchase private insurance that provides that entitlement at their own expense.

Travel within the EEA

If you travel to other EEA countries, you are entitled to health insurance from Iceland if an S1 certificate is still valid.

• By applying for an S1 certificate, an individual will be insured with health insurance in his/her new country of residence and receive all the same services as other insured persons in that country. However, the individual also continues to be insured in Iceland.

• Individuals generally pay a specific fee, which is a patient's share and is not refundable.

• Holders of S1 certificates must contact the SÍ for the issuance of a European Health Insurance Card.

S1 certificate to pensioner

Conditions:

• The pensioner is receiving an Icelandic pension and is generally not entitled to a pension in the country of residence

• Citizen from an EEA country, Switzerland or the United Kingdom

Family members of insured individuals in Iceland

A person who is insured in Iceland can apply for an S1 certificate for his family members who live in another EEA country or Switzerland. Relatives covered here are the spouse and children covered by the applicant's health insurance.

Conditions for issuing an S1 certificate to relatives:

• A person who applies is health insured in Iceland

• Dependents are not entitled to health insurance in the country of residence

• Relatives are citizens of an EEA country, Great Britain or Switzerland

S1 certificates are not generally issued between the Nordic countries.

An S1 certificate is not issued on the basis of a U2 certificate from the Labor Office. The European Health Insurance Card should be used in those cases.

An S1 certificate is not issued in the case of a temporary stay.

Duration of validity

• S1 certificates are issued for five years at a time only or less. It is therefore important to renew the S1 certificate on time.

• If your situation or that of a family member changes, you must notify the Icelandic Health Insurance of such changes immediately and we will provide you with guidance on how to proceed.

Application process

ccompanying documents

• Copy of passport

Registration upon release

When registering in the country of stay, the S1 certificate must be presented to the health insurance institution concerned. You may need to show identification and confirmation of a domicile registration in that country.

The Health Insurance Administration will confirm registration to Iceland Health. It is important to note that the insurance will not take effect until the day you register the S1 certificate and the processing time may be long.

Further information and all requests for S1 certificates must be sent to the e-mail address:

The period of validity of an S1 certificate has been extended, the amendment does not apply to certificates that have been issued prior to 07.12.2022.