Private Health Insurance FAQ for Spanish Visas
This FAQ covers the most common questions about obtaining private Spanish health insurance. Click on any question below to see the detailed answer.
Private Spanish Health Insurance 
For the non-lucrative, student and most family-reunification visas, proof of private, no-copay insurance is mandatory. For the Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) you can skip it only if you include a written declaration/promise to enroll in Spanish Social Security upon approval of the visa. We highly recommend even if you are on a digital nomad visa to get private health insurance for the first year so you don't find yourself in a situation where you need medical help, but have to pay out of pocket.
The certificate must be from a Spanish-licensed insurer; cover the whole country for at least twelve months; have no co-payments, deductibles, waiting periods or benefit caps; include hospitalisation, emergency care and repatriation; and state that pre-existing conditions are covered.
No. Consulates explicitly reject travel policies and short-stay cards because they are time-limited and do not equal Spain's public system.
Almost always yes. Insurers and consulates insist on proof of twelve months paid in advance before they will issue the visa-ready certificate.
Healthy adults under fifty typically pay €50–€100 a month; older applicants or those with chronic conditions pay more (a couple in their sixties can expect €2200–€3000 per year).
Yes. To be visa-compliant the policy must list "sin exclusiones" for pre-existing illnesses.
You need the insurer's certificate in Spanish showing the policy you purchased and a receipt of payment. Plastic cards or generic brochures are not accepted.
Most insurers accept new clients up to 65–75, though premiums rise sharply with age and some plans demand extra medical information for applicants over seventy.
Many insurers refund the unused premium (minus a small admin fee) if you provide the official rejection letter, but terms vary, so confirm the refund policy before you pay.
Apply online or through an English-speaking broker. Complete the questionnaire, pay the annual premium by card, and you'll receive the certificate by e-mail within 24–72 hours, formatted for the consulate.
Every family member on the visa application must appear on the same certificate or hold an individual policy that meets the same rules. Family bundles are usually cheaper than multiple single plans.
The certificate must show clear start and end dates that cover at least the first 12 months of residence. Most consulates recommend making the policy effective on or a few days before your planned arrival in Spain so there is no gap in coverage.
For the initial visa you almost always must pre-pay 12 months. After the first 12 months, many insurers let you switch to monthly or quarterly billing.
Almost always the certificate/receipt will be issued in Spanish, so there is no need for translation. If the health insurance broker/provider issues you a certificate/receipt in English, ask them for a Spanish copy.