Visa health insurance
Each visa route has its own cover rules. Start with your route for the specific requirements, the documents the consulate expects, and the certificate wording that keeps your file clean.
Non-Lucrative Visa health insurance
Full, no-copayment cover from a Spanish-authorised insurer — the strictest of the main routes.
Digital Nomad Visa health insurance
Private cover for remote workers and the self-employed applying for the DNV.
Student visa health insurance
Cover that meets student-visa conditions for the length of your studies.
All visa-compliant cover
The full guide to what each Spanish visa and residency route requires.
Not sure which policy your visa needs?
Tell us your route and we will confirm exactly what your cover has to include — then arrange a policy and certificate that pass.
Sanitas cover — why it is our recommendation
We arrange Sanitas resident policies because they are built to satisfy Spanish visa and residency conditions and to work well for international clients living here:
- Visa-ready certificates — policies designed to meet immigration conditions, with the certificate wording consulates expect.
- No-copayment options — cover that meets the strict NLV-style requirement where your route needs it.
- English-speaking service — support and a large medical directory (cuadro médico) of doctors and clinics, many English-speaking.
- Fast private access — specialists and diagnostics without public-system waiting lists.
- Cover that travels with your residency — policies that continue to satisfy conditions at renewal.
How cover is arranged
Health insurance enquiries are handled by our specialist health insurance service, Spanish Health Insurance, a Sanitas International Experts agency. You deal with us from start to finish: we confirm what your route requires, arrange the right Sanitas policy, and make sure the certificate is correct for your application — one point of contact, no being passed around.
Private health cover that actually fits your situation
Health insurance in Spain is not one product. What a Non-Lucrative Visa applicant needs is very different from what a digital nomad, a student, a retiree or a family already living here needs. Get the wrong policy and a consulate can reject your visa; get the right one and your application, your renewal and your day-to-day healthcare all fall into place.
We help you choose cover around your actual circumstances — your visa route, your age, your family, and whether the policy has to satisfy a specific immigration requirement. The cover itself is arranged through our specialist health insurance service so your advice and your policy come from one place.
Who this is for
Visa applicants
Non-Lucrative, Digital Nomad and Student visa applicants who must show visa-compliant private cover with the right certificate.
Residents renewing
Residents who need cover that continues to satisfy immigration conditions at renewal, with no gaps in cover.
Retirees
Over-60s and retirees moving to Spain who want comprehensive private cover and fast access to specialists.
Americans moving to Spain
US citizens relocating who want English-speaking cover that meets Spanish visa and residency requirements.
British expats
UK nationals post-Brexit who no longer rely on an EHIC/GHIC for residency and need full private cover.
Families & foreigners settling
Families and individuals who simply want private healthcare in Spain without waiting lists, in English.
Visa cover vs ordinary private cover
This is the distinction that catches people out. A policy can be excellent private health insurance and still fail a visa requirement, because immigration rules look for specific features rather than a high price.
| Visa-compliant cover | Ordinary private cover | |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Satisfy an immigration requirement and get your certificate | Everyday private healthcare and peace of mind |
| Insurer | Must be authorised to operate in Spain | Any insurer you choose |
| Copayments | None, where the route requires it (e.g. the Non-Lucrative Visa) | Copayment or no-copayment, your choice |
| Waiting periods | Often need to be waived for the cover to count | Standard waiting periods usually apply |
| Evidence | A certificate stating the policy meets the conditions | Not required |
| Travel insurance? | Not accepted | Not relevant |
The rule of thumb
If the cover is for a visa or residency, the policy must come from an insurer authorised in Spain and be evidenced by the correct certificate. Requirements vary by route and consulate, so we confirm the exact position before you buy.
No-copayment, visa-compliant cover
For several routes, including the Non-Lucrative Visa, the policy must have no copayments — no fee each time you see a doctor. A policy with a per-visit charge is frequently rejected, because the cover is expected to behave like the public system it stands in for.
Two things decide whether a policy counts: the insurer must be authorised to operate in Spain, and the certificate must state clearly that the cover is full, has no copayments where required, and has no waiting periods that would leave you uncovered. We check the certificate wording before it goes into your file.
Health insurance with pre-existing conditions
A pre-existing condition does not automatically rule out cover. Policies are assessed individually, and there are routes to cover for most situations — the right answer depends on your specific circumstances.
Your medical details stay confidential
We never ask for medical information on an enquiry form. Where a condition needs to be declared, it is handled later through a secure, confidential medical declaration made directly with the insurer — not on this website.
Health insurance by situation
Retirees & over-60s
Comprehensive private cover for a comfortable retirement in Spain, and cover that supports the visa retirees most often use.
Americans moving to Spain
English-speaking cover that meets Spanish visa and residency requirements for US citizens relocating.
British expats
Full private cover for UK nationals who can no longer rely on reciprocal arrangements for residency.
Private cover for foreigners
Simply want fast, private healthcare in Spain in English, with or without a visa? We can help.
What private health insurance in Spain costs
There is no single price. Visa-compliant private cover in Spain is priced mainly on your age, the plan level, how many people are on the policy, and whether it is a no-copayment plan or a cheaper copayment plan. No-copay cover — the kind the stricter visa routes require — costs more than a copay plan, because there is no fee each time you use it.
Whatever the route, the cover has to come from an insurer authorised to operate in Spain (regulated by the DGSFP) — we only arrange policies that qualify, and confirm the exact requirement for your route before you buy. Because the price depends on your details, the honest answer is a quote: tell us your route, your age and who needs cover. Get your price →
You can buy cover before you arrive — and before your NIE
You do not need a Spanish identity number (NIE) or a Spanish address to take out a policy. Cover can be set up on your passport details with a future start date, so your certificate is ready for the consulate without the policy running before you need it. We usually arrange it one to two weeks before a visa appointment. What the certificate must say →
EU citizens, UK pensioners and the S1
Not everyone needs a private policy. EU/EEA citizens moving to Spain can often access the public system through their own country arrangements, and UK state pensioners may be covered by an S1 form that gives access to Spanish public healthcare. Non-EU residents on a visa route generally do need full private cover. If you are not sure which applies to you, we will tell you before you buy anything you do not need.
Frequently asked questions
For most non-EU visa routes, yes. Spain requires applicants to show they can access healthcare without relying on the public system before they are entitled to use it. In practice that means full private medical cover from a Spanish-authorised insurer, evidenced by the correct certificate.
For several routes, including the Non-Lucrative Visa, yes. A policy with a fee per visit is frequently rejected because the cover is expected to behave like the public system. Requirements vary by route, so we confirm the position and make sure the certificate states it.
No. Travel insurance is for trips, not residency, and does not meet the requirements for residency visas such as the NLV or DNV. A home-country policy is normally not accepted either — the cover must come from an insurer authorised to operate in Spain and be evidenced by the correct certificate.
Usually yes. Policies are assessed individually and there are options for most situations. Any medical details are handled later through a secure, confidential declaration made directly with the insurer — never on an enquiry form.
It depends on your age, your cover level and how many people are on the policy. Visa-compliant Sanitas cover is competitively priced and we will give you an exact quote for your situation — tell us your route and who needs cover and we will come back with a figure.
Sanitas is one of Spain’s largest private health insurers, with a large medical directory (cuadro médico) and English-speaking support that suits international clients. We arrange Sanitas resident policies specifically because they are built to meet visa and residency conditions.
Yes — the cover should continue to satisfy immigration conditions at renewal, with no gaps. We make sure the policy you start with is one that keeps working for your residency, not just your first application.
Related visa guides
Planning the visa itself, not just the cover? Start here:
How your quote works
Four simple steps — clear from your first message to the documents you need for your application.
Tell us your visa or residency route and who needs cover.
We confirm the type of policy and certificate your route requires.
Your enquiry is passed to our specialist health-insurance service, which arranges the Sanitas quote and policy.
You receive the documentation you need for your application.