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I realised something recently, although we have lived here for ten years now, I hadn’t applied for my Tarjeta Sanitaria Europa which is shortened to (TSE). You may be wondering what this is but if I said to you its a European Health Card (EHIC) you’d probably know.

Having experienced the bureaucracy in Spain and the need for that one other document you didn’t think to bring I took a deep breath and drove into Arrecife.

The office you need to find is the Centros de Atención e Información de la Seguridad Social or (CAISS), this is situated on Calle Pérez Galdós in Arrecife which is actually near Trafico. The easiest way to explain is to come in on the main road from Costa Teguise past Ikea and Lidl, continue down to the roundabout, go straight across and park either in the road or in the HiperDino carpark. Walk over the zebra crossing and the door is immediately on your right.

You need to be registered on the Social Seguridad system already, as an adult you simply take your green residencia certificate and your passport. For a child you need to go with them or take their paperwork up to the age of 18, additionally to the previous documents you need the original of their birth certificate showing the parents and one of the parents needs to have their residencia certificate and passport.

When you enter the office, there is a ticket machine on your left, press button A, take the receipt and wait for the number to appear at the desk. Explain you want to solicitud la Tarjeta Sanitaria Europea, they input your information into the computer, print off a confirmation and the card is posted to your home address within 10 days. If you need cover more urgently they can print a 3 month temporary certificate to take away the same day.

Simple! Don’t wait until you’re travelling, if you haven’t got one, pop in on your next visit to Arrecife they are open until 14:00 Monday to Friday.