What a visa-compliant Spanish health policy must include

Key rules

• Comprehensive cover: Travel and emergency-only policies are refused; you need full cover across Spain.
• No copago, franquicia or waiting period: The policy must have no co-payment, no deductible and no waiting period; consulates refuse a policy that has any of them.
• Policy term: One year of cover, in force on the day you apply.

If an employer will register you with Spanish Social Security, this page does not apply to you.

It must be comprehensive

The policy must give full cover in Spain: hospital care, outpatient care and emergencies. Think of it as matching what the public system offers. Travel policies and emergency-only policies are refused.

Repatriation (being flown home) is not required. A policy that excludes it is accepted, because the consulate cares about medical cover in Spain.

No copagos and no franquicias

Choose a policy with no copago and no franquicia. A copago is a fee you pay each time you use care. A franquicia is an amount you pay before the insurer starts paying. Consulates require neither and refuse a policy that has either.

Full cover from day one: no waiting periods

Cover must apply in full from the first day the policy is in force. A policy with a waiting period (carencia), where some treatments are not covered for a stretch after you buy it, is refused. Ask the insurer for a certificate that says the policy has no waiting periods.

The insurer must be authorised in Spain

The insurer must be authorised to operate in Spain. That means a Spanish insurer, or an EU insurer operating in Spain under EU rules. A policy from an EU insurer is fine only if it holds that authorisation for Spain.

You can check this yourself. Search for the insurer by name in the register of insurance entities on the website of the DGSFP. If it is not listed, pick another.

It must cover the right period

The policy must cover the whole first residence period, which is one year, and be in force when you apply. You must also show that you paid the first year's premium in full. Cover shorter than the first residence period is not accepted.

If you have a chronic condition, a disability or a dependent adult

• Consulates do not reject policies for pre-existing condition exclusions.
• A dependent adult is named as an insured person with the same full cover, on a family policy that names them or on their own policy.

If you are an EU, EEA, Swiss or Spanish citizen

You do not need a visa-compliant private policy.

• EU, EEA or Swiss citizen: You do not apply for a residence visa. You register in Spain instead, so these conditions do not apply to you. UK citizens: see who needs private cover.
• Spanish citizen or dual national: You need no visa and no visa insurance.

If you apply with a spouse or children

Each family member who applies with you needs their own cover on the same conditions. Who counts as family and what each one proves is on Visa health insurance for a family: one policy or separate ones?.