Relocation: Residency, NIE/TIE & Health Insurance
*The relocation package for expats — identification numbers, residency, and the often-underestimated topic of health insurance.*
Identification & Residency#
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| NIE | lifelong foreigner/tax number; not an ID card, not a residency permit; mandatory for purchase/account/taxes. Application EX-15, Tasa 790-012 (€9.84) ✅ |
| NIF | tax number; for foreigners = the NIE |
| TIE | physical card proving legal residency for non-EU citizens |
| Certificado de registro UE | green residency document for EU citizens (> 3 months); requires health insurance + financial means |
| Empadronamiento | municipal registration of residence (Padrón); prerequisite for healthcare/school/residencia; not a tax obligation/residency in itself |
| Residencia fiscal | > 183 days or centre of interests → worldwide tax liability |
- Certificado UE – financial means: ✅ The relevant figure is **100% of IPREM ≈ €600/month (2025,
≈ €7,200/year) per Art. 7 RD 240/2007, assessed case by case. 🔎 Correction: A threshold of “€629/month under RD-ley 16/2025" is incorrect** — RD-ley 16/2025 concerns social/tax/pension law (and was repealed on 28 Jan 2026), not the Certificado UE. 🔴 The exact asset threshold (often cited as ~€8,000 in account balance) is determined by the authorities on a case-by-case basis → check in advance.
- Certificado UE – health insurance: Full coverage without
copago, withoutcarencias,
minimum coverage ≥ €30,000. The EHIC is not sufficient.
- Non-Lucrative Visa (~€2,400/month = 400% IPREM) / Digital Nomad Visa (~€2,760–2,850/month)
→ Ch. 14.
Bank Account#
Resident vs. non-resident account (→ Ch. 03); non-residents need the certificado de no residencia (valid for only 3 months). Account opening 24–72 h after the compliance check.
Health Insurance#
Public: Seguridad Social / IB-Salut#
IB-Salut = the Balearic health service. Eligibility: employees/autónomos (via contributions), EU pensioners (via the S1 form), and dependents covered with them. Prerequisite: INSS recognition + Empadronamiento.
Convenio especial(voluntary contribution): €60/month (< 65 yrs) or €157/month
(≥ 65 yrs) ✅; prerequisite: Empadronamiento + 1 year of prior residence. Coverage gap: medications are not included.
Tarjeta Sanitaria Individual(TSI): apply through IB-Salut (identity, Empadronamiento,
INSS recognition; INFOSALUT 971 220 000).
- EHIC = temporary/emergency only; S1 = EU pensioners (paid by the pension state).
Private#
Providers: Sanitas, Adeslas, DKV, Asisa, Mapfre, Caser. Premiums vary strongly by age/province, usually < €200/month (reference figures: DKV from ~€37, Sanitas from ~€49, Mapfre ~€54/month for 40-year-olds, Caser Integral ~€58/month — 🟡 individual reference figures, not guaranteed fixed visa prices). For visa purposes (NLV/DNV/Certificado UE): without copago, without carencias, coverage ≥ €30,000. German international health insurance is often not recognised for permanent residence/visa purposes.
German-speaking private clinics in Mallorca#
Clínica Rotger (Quirónsalud), Juaneda Hospitales (interpreters for 20+ languages), Quirónsalud Palmaplanas, Palma Clinic, Hospital Llevant (Porto Cristo). ~100–150 German-speaking doctors on the island.
❓ FAQ#
How do I obtain the Tarjeta Sanitaria in Mallorca? Through IB-Salut (online with a certificado digital/Cl@ve or at the Centro de Salud) with proof of identity, Empadronamiento, and INSS recognition. EU pensioners via the S1 form.
How much does the voluntary public health insurance (convenio especial) cost? €60/month under 65, €157/month from 65 — but without reimbursement for medications.
Sources (selection)#
- Policía Nacional (Tasa 790-012) · RD 240/2007 (Certificado UE) · IB-Salut / sanidad.gob.es
(convenio especial €60/157) · exteriores.gob.es (NLV/DNV)