Adult preventive health

It is for anyone considering, planning or carrying out a move to Spain. You will see which checks, screenings and vaccines adults should get, and how to get on the lists for them.

Start with "How Spain approaches adult preventive care". It explains what the public system offers and what it does not, which clears up the biggest surprise for newcomers. After that, the other pages go step by step:

• "Getting a baseline health check when you arrive in Spain"
• "Cancer screening in Spain: breast, cervical and colorectal"
• "Adult vaccines in Spain: boosters and catching up"

Care for older people, long-term condition management and gynaecology access are covered elsewhere.

Key rules

• Breast screening: Women are invited for a mammogram every 2 years, usually between ages 50 and 69, though some regions start at 45 or continue to 74.
• Bowel screening: Men and women aged 50 to 69 at average risk are offered a stool test at home every two years.
• Invitations: You are only invited to screening once you hold a tarjeta sanitaria with a correct address and birth date at your centro de salud.
• Regional programmes: Each region runs its own invitation programmes, so ages and tests can differ depending on where you are registered.
• Cervical screening: Cytology every 3 years applies from 25 to 29, then an HPV test every 5 years up to 65.
• Annual check-up: The public system does not give healthy adults a free yearly check-up.

Adult preventive health: the whole process, step by step

• Register on the padrón at your town hall, then apply for your tarjeta sanitaria (see: How to get invited to a screening programme as a new resident): As soon as you arrive, before anything else

• Get your family doctor and centro de salud assigned by home address: Once the tarjeta sanitaria is issued

• Book your first appointment through the regional health app or web portal, the appointment phone line or the reception desk (see: Getting a baseline health check when you arrive in Spain): After the card is issued; waits range from same day to one or two weeks, and longer in some areas

• Get the free flu vaccine if you are in a target group (see: Adult vaccines in Spain: boosters and catching up): The campaign normally runs from mid-October to December, with the start date set by each region

• Wait for your screening invitations: mammogram every 2 years between 50 and 69, and a home stool test every two years from 50 to 69 (see: Cancer screening in Spain: breast, cervical and colorectal): From the age your region starts inviting you, once your card has a correct address and birth date

Documents you may need

• Your ID or passport and your NIE — Getting a baseline health check when you arrive in Spain

• Your padrón certificate — Getting a baseline health check when you arrive in Spain

• Your residence permit — Getting a baseline health check when you arrive in Spain

• Proof that you are entitled to public healthcare — Getting a baseline health check when you arrive in Spain

Adult preventive health: questions that cross several articles

Can I get a free annual check-up on the public system?

No, the public system does not offer a routine general annual check-up for healthy adults. Prevention happens through checks during visits to your family doctor and nurse, plus age-targeted screening and vaccines. Read How Spain approaches adult preventive care, then Getting a baseline health check when you arrive in Spain.

How much does a private chequeo cost?

A basic private chequeo typically costs 100–250 euros, and a comprehensive one 300–800 euros or more. Higher tiers add tests such as mammography or colonoscopy. See How Spain approaches adult preventive care for what the public system covers instead.

Why have I not been invited to cancer screening?

You are only invited once your tarjeta sanitaria shows a correct address and birth date at your centro de salud. Check your registration first, then read How to get invited to a screening programme as a new resident and Cancer screening in Spain: breast, cervical and colorectal for ages and intervals.

Do I need a tarjeta sanitaria before I can see a doctor or get screened?

Yes, you need a tarjeta sanitaria before a family doctor is assigned and before you are invited to screening. It follows registration on the padrón and proof of public health entitlement. Read Getting a baseline health check when you arrive in Spain for booking your first visit.