Every student-visa applicant in Spain has to prove full private health insurance — and it is one of the most common reasons a file is bounced back. The rule sounds simple (full cover, no co-payments, no caps, for the whole course), yet plenty of policies that look fine on a comparison site are rejected at the consulate. This page sets out exactly what Spain accepts for a student visa, which insurers qualify, what to avoid, and how to evidence it correctly.
If you are a non-EU national coming to Spain to study for more than 90 days, your student visa (the estancia por estudios) requires you to show full private health insurance from an insurer authorised to operate in Spain — unless you have public cover in place. It sits alongside proof of enrolment and proof of funds as one of the three pillars of the application, and it is the one applicants most often get wrong.
If you are an EU/EEA/Swiss student, a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC/GHIC) may cover you for a shorter course, but for longer stays and to register as resident you will usually still need private cover or to register with the Spanish system. Either way, “some travel insurance” is not enough — Spain wants genuine, comprehensive medical cover.
A compliant student-visa policy satisfies all six points below. Miss one, and the policy can fail the consulate test — however good the rest of it looks.
The insurer must be authorised to operate in Spain and regulated by the DGSFP. A policy bought from a company that cannot legally underwrite cover in Spain will not be accepted, no matter how comprehensive it appears.
The policy must have no co-payments (sin copago). Cheaper “with-copay” products are a frequent cause of rejection, because they are not considered equivalent to public cover.
Cover must be full, with no annual or lifetime benefit cap and no minimum-spend excess. Capped or “up-to” policies are treated as partial cover.
The policy must cover hospitalisation, surgery, specialists and primary care — the equivalent of what the Spanish public system provides — not just emergencies.
Most consulates expect cover for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation, so the policy looks after you in a serious emergency, wherever you are studying.
You must evidence the policy with a certificate stating it is full cover, no co-payments, no caps, and valid for the whole period of your stay — in the format the consulate expects. A generic schedule of benefits is often not enough.
Both partners offer Spanish-authorised, no-co-pay student health insurance at student-friendly prices — with certificates issued in exactly the format consulates require.
Because most students are young and healthy, a compliant student policy is usually one of the most affordable forms of private health insurance in Spain. Premiums vary with age, region and the exact cover, so we will not invent a figure here — our partners will quote you in minutes.
Two things matter more than price. First, the policy must run for the entire authorised period of study; consulates frequently want to see the full term covered, sometimes paid annually. Second, when you renew your student visa for the next academic year, your insurance has to be renewed in step, with no gap in cover — a lapse can complicate the renewal.
Get those six right and health insurance becomes the easiest part of your student-visa file rather than the riskiest.
Full private health insurance from a Spanish-authorised insurer, with no co-payments, no annual or lifetime caps, covering hospitalisation and treatment for the whole period of your studies. Travel insurance does not qualify.
Yes. The cover must be “sin copago” (no co-payments). With-copay policies are one of the most common reasons a student-visa application is rejected.
It must cover the entire authorised period of study shown on your visa. Consulates often want to see the full term covered, and sometimes paid annually up front.
For shorter courses, an EHIC/GHIC may be enough. For longer stays or to register as resident, EU students often still need private cover or to register with the Spanish public system. Check your course length and the local requirements.
No. Travel insurance is not comprehensive medical cover and will not satisfy the requirement. You need a genuine private health policy that meets the consulate's conditions.
Insurers authorised to operate in Spain and regulated locally. Our partners, 247 Expat Insurance and Spanish Health Insurance, specialise in visa-compliant student policies.
Because students are typically young, it is among the cheapest private cover available. The exact premium depends on your age, region and policy, so it is best to get a quick quote rather than rely on a headline figure.
Before. You normally need the policy (and its certificate) in place to submit with your visa application, because it is part of the documentation the consulate reviews.
You renew the policy in step with the visa, with no gap in cover. A lapse between academic years can complicate or delay your renewal.
Yes. We handle the full student visa process — enrolment evidence, funds, insurance, the application and your TIE on arrival — in English. Book a consultation to get started.
Our English-speaking immigration team will make sure your health insurance qualifies and your student-visa file is complete the first time.