Transferring a foreign disability certificate or EU Disability Card

Key rules

• Foreign certificate: A foreign disability certificate is not automatically recognised, so you need to apply for a Spanish assessment once you are a resident.
• Spanish certificate: Spanish benefits and tax advantages depend on the Spanish certificate, not on the foreign one.
• EU Disability Card: The EU Disability Card gives no residence benefits or social security rights in Spain.
• Waiting time: Processing often takes several months, and many regions give no disability help until the certificate is issued.

Spain does not convert your foreign certificate

Spain does not automatically convert a foreign disability certificate. It counts as supporting evidence only. For most concessions, including benefits, tax advantages, employment quotas and non-contributory pensions, you need a Spanish certificate. You get it after a Spanish assessment.

The assessment is always done in Spain, by your region's assessment team (equipos de valoración). Apply once you are registered as a resident.

What your foreign papers are for

Keep your foreign certificate and your medical reports. The assessment team can use them as evidence of your condition. They do not replace the assessment and do not give you the Spanish degree of disability.

Some exceptions exist under EU social security coordination rules and bilateral agreements between Spain and certain countries. They mainly affect certain benefits, not the certificate itself. Ask the assessment centre or social security office whether one applies to your country.

Translations

Assessment teams generally want your medical reports in Spanish or in the co-official language of your region. Many regions accept a simple translation of English or French reports. Others require a sworn translation (traductor jurado). Practice varies by region and by centre, so ask your regional centre before you pay for a sworn translation.

An apostille or legalisation is not normally required for medical evidence. It is mainly needed for official public documents.

The EU Disability Card

The EU Disability Card is not a basis for Spanish benefits. It is meant to give equal access to certain special conditions and preferential treatment on short stays in other member states, such as in transport, culture and leisure. It does not give residence benefits or social security rights. The rules are due to be put into national law by 5 June 2027 and apply from 5 November 2027. Ask the Ministry of Social Rights where Spain stands.

While you wait

Little help is available before your Spanish certificate arrives. Free access to the public health system applies from the time you are resident. Some benefits can be requested with a pending application or with foreign documents, but many regions will not give disability-related help until the certificate is issued. Processing often takes several months, so apply early.

The decision, documents, checklist and questions below cover your next steps.

Choosing between options

What do you do with your foreign disability certificate in Spain?

• Use it as supporting evidence: You are applying for the Spanish assessment. Submit it with your medical reports; it helps the assessment but does not replace it.

• Rely on EU coordination rules or a bilateral agreement: You need a benefit, not the certificate itself, and your country has such rules or an agreement with Spain. These exceptions mainly cover benefits.

For Spanish benefits, tax advantages, employment quotas and non-contributory pensions, you need the Spanish certificate, so apply for a Spanish assessment once you are a resident.

Check with your regional centre what help is available while your application is pending.

Documents you need

• Your foreign medical reports, translated into Spanish or the co-official language of your region. Some regions accept a simple translation of English or French reports; others require a sworn translation.

• Your foreign disability certificate, kept as supporting evidence for the Spanish assessment. It is not enough on its own.

Checklist

• Ask your regional assessment centre whether it accepts a simple translation or requires a sworn one.

• Get your foreign medical reports translated in the form the centre asks for.

• Apply for the Spanish assessment as soon as you are registered as a resident.

• Ask whether any benefit can be requested while your application is pending.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a sworn translation of my foreign medical reports?

It depends on your region: many accept a simple translation of English or French reports, while others require a sworn translation (traductor jurado). Ask your regional assessment centre before paying for one. An apostille is not normally needed for medical reports.

Does the EU Disability Card give me benefits in Spain?

No, the EU Disability Card does not give you residence benefits or social security rights in Spain. It gives equal access to special conditions, such as in transport, culture and leisure, during short stays in other member states. Member states must apply it from 5 November 2027.

Can I get any help while my Spanish certificate is pending?

Yes, you get free access to the public health system from the time you are a resident, and some benefits can be requested with a pending application.