Studying in Spain: which health cover applies to you?

Terms used

• Seguro Escolar — The Seguro Escolar is a small public insurance for students under 28 in Spanish schools and universities, covering accidents and some illnesses.
• Convenio especial — The convenio especial is a Social Security scheme that lets people with no other cover pay to receive public healthcare.
• Alta — The alta is your registration with Social Security, which gives you health entitlement when you work or do a paid placement.
• INSS — The INSS is the national Social Security institute that handles registration and healthcare entitlement.

Key rules

• Student visa: Non-EU students must hold private health insurance without co-payments for the whole stay.
• Seguro Escolar: It is only a complement and never replaces visa insurance or full health cover.
• Paid placements: Paid work or paid internships mean Social Security registration, which brings public health cover.
• EU students: Use the European Health Insurance Card, or register as a resident; under 26 you can usually be a beneficiary of a working parent.

Your route depends on four things

Your route depends on your nationality, your age, your visa and whether you are enrolled, working or doing a placement. Find your case below, then use the decision tool on this page to confirm it.

If you are from outside the EU on a student visa

You must hold private health insurance with no co-payments for your whole stay. This is your main cover. The Seguro Escolar does not replace it.

If you are from the EU, EEA or Switzerland

You have two options:

• Use your European Health Insurance Card for short-term needs.
• Register as a resident. If you are under 26, you can usually be covered as a beneficiary of a parent who works and pays into Spanish Social Security.

If you work or do a paid placement

Paid work and paid internships mean you are registered with Social Security (an "alta"), and that gives you public health cover. Since the 2023 reform, paid non-curricular placements must be registered. Unpaid curricular placements are normally not registered. Some unpaid extra-curricular placements may need registration through the agreement between your university and the host company. Ask your university's placements office which applies to you.

If none of that fits

You may use the convenio especial, the Social Security scheme for people with no other cover. The standard version is for people up to 65. Otherwise, ask about the universal access route at your regional health service.

What the Seguro Escolar adds

The Seguro Escolar is a small public insurance for students under 28 in Spanish education, from 3rd year of ESO up to university. Foreign students enrolled in Spanish centres can have it. It covers accidents and certain diseases, such as tuberculosis, and in some cases illness needing surgery. It pays for medical, pharmaceutical and surgical care, plus allowances. The contribution is about 1.12 euros a year, collected with your enrolment fee. It is a complement, not full health insurance and not a substitute for visa insurance.

Before you rely on a route

Confirm your case with the Social Security office (INSS) and your regional health service.

Choosing between options

Which health cover route applies to you as a student in Spain?

• Private insurance for your student visa: You are a non-EU student on a student visa.

• European Health Insurance Card: You are an EU, EEA or Swiss student staying temporarily. You can use your card from your home country.

• Beneficiary of a working parent: You are an EU, EEA or Swiss student who registers as a resident and are under 26. You can usually be covered through a parent who works.

• Social Security registration through work: You have a job or a paid placement. You are registered with Social Security and get public cover through it.

• Convenio especial or universal route: None of the above fits. The convenio especial is the Social Security scheme for people without cover, and the standard version is open up to age 65. The universal route is the other option.

Start with your nationality and visa: a non-EU student visa means private insurance. Then check work: a paid job or placement means Social Security registration. The Seguro Escolar is only a complement to these routes, never your main cover.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Seguro Escolar replace my visa health insurance?

No, the Seguro Escolar does not replace the private health insurance your student visa requires. It is a small public insurance for students under 28, paid with a yearly contribution of around 1.12 euros collected with your enrolment fee. It covers accidents and some illnesses, so keep your private policy as well.

Can foreign students get the Seguro Escolar?

Yes, foreign students can get the Seguro Escolar if they are under 28 and enrolled in a Spanish centre, from the 3rd year of ESO up to university. It gives medical, pharmaceutical and surgical care plus allowances for covered cases. Ask your school or university office how it is added to your enrolment.

Does a paid internship give me public healthcare?

Yes, a paid internship is covered by Social Security, which means you are registered in the general regime and get health entitlement. Unpaid curricular placements are normally not registered. Ask your university or placement office whether your agreement requires registration.