Published: 11.04.2024.

Family members who are dependent on an insured person in Latvia, who have temporarily gone to study abroad and continue to be dependent on their parents, have the right to receive a Certificate of Entitlement to Healthcare – Form S1).

Form S1 certifies a person’s right to receive state-funded healthcare services and allows registration for healthcare if the person permanently resides in one of the EU or EEA Member States but is insured in another (e.g. in Latvia).

Students can receive urgent and medically necessary health care services in their country of study by presenting the EHIC issued by Latvia.  

Main criteria to issue Form S1:

  • a person whose dependent is a pupil/student is socially insured (employed) in Latvia, and the permanent place of residence is also in Latvia;
  • the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (hereinafter – the OCMA) has been notified of the pupil/student’s home address abroad.

Example: ‘A. is an adolescent who plays ice hockey. His parents live and work in Latvia. A. has concluded a contract with an ice hockey club in Sweden for one school year.’

 

How to receive Form S1:

The following documents must be submitted to the National Health Service of the Republic of Latvia (NHS):

  • Application;
  • a statement from an educational establishment.

If the person who going to study abroad is a minor, the parents need additionally to fill in:

 

Submission of an application for receipt of Form S1:

  • in person, by filling out an application at the NHS Client Service Centre;
  • by post;
  • by email, signing the application with a secure e-signature;
  • using e-address.

 

Important information:

  • The issued Forms S1 are in Latvian and do not need to be translated as they are a single document in all Member States;
  • In order for Form S1 to be valid, it must be registered with the competent national health insurance institution in the country of residence;
  • Form S1 confirms a person’s right to receive state-guaranteed healthcare services to the extent determined by the country of residence.
  • The person is obliged to inform the Service immediately in writing if there are any changes in the information provided in the submission requesting Form S1.

 

Legal basis for issuing Form S1:

  • Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the coordination of social security systems;
  • Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 September 2009 laying down the procedure for implementing Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems;
  • Regulation (EU) No 1231/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 extending Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 and Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 to nationals of third countries who are not already covered by those Regulations solely on the ground of their nationality;