I recently went through the process myself at the local health center (Centre de Salut L’Eliana) in L’Eliana, in the Valencian Community, and discovered that even foreigners without social security contributions can get a free SIP card and receive flu and COVID-19 mRNA vaccines!
Today, I’m sharing the detailed process to help anyone who might need it.
💡 What is a SIP card?
SIP is the personal identification card for the Spanish healthcare system. The full name is “Sistema de Información Poblacional”.
With this card, you can:
- Visit public hospitals or local health centers;
- Get various vaccines provided by the state (including flu, COVID-19, etc.);
- Receive discounts on prescription medications;
- Keep a record of your vaccinations and medical history.
🪪 1. What kind of SIP card can you get without social security?
For foreigners who are not working and do not contribute to social security (such as those with non-lucrative visas, students, accompanying parents, etc.), you can apply for a temporary SIP card “without healthcare coverage (sin cobertura sanitaria)”.
This type of SIP card will be marked with “PRIVAD”, which means you are temporarily not entitled to national health insurance reimbursement, but it can be used for vaccinations and emergency medical services.
📍My card says:
Sin cobertura sanitaria – Pública gratuita vacunación y urgencias
(Without healthcare coverage, eligible for free vaccination and emergency services)
This type of SIP card is permanently valid; as long as your information doesn’t change, you don’t need to renew it annually.
📍 2. Where to apply?
Go directly to the Centro de Salud (local health center) in your residential area.
For example, in my town:
Centre de Salut L’Eliana
Address: Av. del Parc, 3
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 8:00–20:00
(SIP Application Hours: Monday to Friday 9:45–13:30)
The red sign at the entrance clearly states:👇
Conselleria de Sanitat Universal i Salut Pública
Generalitat Valenciana
🧾 3. Required Documents
The staff only asked for the following three items:
- ✅ Passport or NIE (residency card)
- ✅ Proof of address (empadronamiento, also known as padrón)
- ✅ Phone number, email address
No social security number or private health insurance is required.
As long as you are registered as a resident in the area, you can register and get a SIP number.
🪙 4. Application Process
1️⃣ Go to the front desk of the health center and say:
“Hola, quiero solicitar una tarjeta SIP.”
(Hello, I’d like to apply for a SIP card.)
2️⃣ The staff will verify your ID and address information.
3️⃣ After a few minutes, they will print out a temporary paper SIP card on the spot (red text on a white background).
4️⃣ If you have a residency card or long-term residence permit, you can apply for a formal plastic card.
The whole process was very fast; I got mine in about 10 minutes.
💉 5. Vaccination Process (Flu + COVID)
In the Valencian Community, a unified “Flu + COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign” starts every year in mid-October.
This year’s (2025) poster says:
🗓 Dates: October 16 to November 30
🕒 Monday, Thursday, Friday 10:00–13:00
🕓 Specific dates in the afternoon 15:00–18:00
📍 Location: Centre de Formación de Personas Adultas, L’Eliana (Av. del Parque, 3)
The key point is—
No requiere cita previa (No appointment needed)
Just bring your SIP card!
The atmosphere on-site is very relaxed. Volunteers and nurses will help you with registration and vaccination.
One flu shot, one COVID shot, and you’re done in a few minutes.
Seniors, patients with chronic illnesses, children, and foreign residents can all get vaccinated for free.
🧍♀️ 6. On-site Experience
The vaccination site was set up at the municipal adult education center. The queue wasn’t long, about a 20-minute wait, mostly with elderly people.
The nurses were very skilled.
💬 A nurse on-site specifically emphasized:
“As long as you have a SIP card, you can get vaccinated, regardless of whether you contribute to social security.”
💬 7. Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)
Q1: My SIP card says “PRIVAD”. Can I get vaccinated?
✅ Yes! This type of card specifically allows for free vaccinations.
Q2: Does the temporary SIP card have an expiration date?
⏳ There is no fixed expiration date. It remains valid as long as your information doesn’t change.
Q3: Can I apply without a padrón (address registration)?
❌ No. The padrón is the only official proof that you live in the area, so it’s mandatory. If you have a personal digital certificate, you can apply for and print it for free directly from the city hall’s website of your registered municipality, saving you a trip. For minors, parents can use their digital certificate to apply on their behalf under the collective residence certificate section on the city hall’s website. Approval takes about 1-3 business days, after which you can download the PDF certificate, all for free.
Q4: Can I bring my child to get vaccinated?
👧 Yes, children can also get their own SIP card. You just need to bring their NIE and padrón certificate; the child does not need to be present.
❤️ 8. Conclusion
In Spain, even if you don’t have a job or contribute to social security, as long as you are a resident, you can access basic public health services.
So don’t hesitate—grab your passport and proof of address, and head to your nearest health center to get a SIP card!
Not only will you be able to get vaccinated, but it also creates a convenient record for future medical care.
📌 Summary of Practical Information:
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Application Location | Centre de Salut (Local Health Center) |
| Required Documents | Passport/NIE + Padrón (proof of address) |
| Social Security Required? | ❌ No |
| Appointment Required? | ❌ No |
| Available Vaccines | Flu / COVID-19 / Childhood vaccines, etc. |
| Cost | Free |
| Eligible Population | All residents in Spain (including foreigners) |