Apply for healthcare cover in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland (CA8454)
Source: gov.uk (2025-04-25)

How to apply for the healthcare entitlement certificate (S1) for your dependents or for you and your dependents if you are taking maternity, paternity or adoption leave in the listed countries.

Who should use this form

You should use form CA8454 if you need an S1 for:

your dependents who live in an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland and you’re only working in the UK

your dependents who live in an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland and you’re working at least some of the time in any of those countries, and you have a certificate of coverage (PDA1) that shows you do not need to pay social security contributions in the country you are working in

yourself and your dependents and you’re on maternity, paternity or adoption leave, or soon will be, and will live during this period in an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland and before this you were working and living in the UK

When not to use this form

Do not use this form if you only need an S1 for yourself and you are either:
- living and working in an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland
- living in an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland and only working in the UK
In these circumstances you should apply for a certificate of coverage and if eligible you will automatically be issued with an S1.

Find more information about National Insurance if you work abroad (https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance-if-you-go-abroad) including certificates of coverage and how to apply.

What you’ll need

If you or an agent complete the application you will need to tell HMRC if you:
- have changed your name and, if so, what your previous name was
- are a national of the EU, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland or Liechtenstein and if you have an EU Settlement Scheme status
- have more than one nationality ― you will need to give details about how you got each one
- have a family member who is a national of the EU, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland or Liechtenstein ― you will need their details including their relationship with you
- have the client reference number ― if you are an agent
If you are an agent

If you are an agent working on behalf of your client, your client needs to fill in an authorising your agent (64-8) form (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tax-agents-and-advisers-authorising-your-agent-64-8).

You should submit the completed form with your CA8454 application form.

How to apply

Apply online

You’ll need to sign in to use this service. If you do not already have sign in details, you can create them when you first apply.

You do not have to fill in the form in one go. You can save your answers and return later.

Start now (https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/submissions/new-form/apply-for-uk-healthcare-cover-certificate-for-maternity-paternity-adoption-leave-abroad-or-dependants)

Apply by post

Get all of your information together before you start. You will fill this form in online and you cannot save your progress.

Fill in the form on screen (https://public-online.hmrc.gov.uk/lc/content/xfaforms/profiles/forms.html?contentRoot=repository:///Applications/NICs_iForms/1.0/BRCA8454&template=CA8454.xdp).

Print and post it to HMRC, using the postal address shown on the form.

This file may not be suitable if you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader). If you need a more accessible format, email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) and tell us what format you need. It will help if you tell us what assistive technology you use. Read the accessibility statement for HMRC forms (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/accessibility-statement-for-hmrc-interactive-forms).

Email HMRC to ask for this form in Welsh (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/welsh-language-helplines#email).

What happens next

We’ll confirm and send a healthcare cover certificate if you’re eligible for this period abroad.

Check when you can expect a reply

You can check when you can expect a reply from HMRC (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-when-you-can-expect-a-reply-from-hmrc) about the application that you have submitted.