Health Insurance for Every Spanish Visa and Residency Route
The right insurance depends on your route, your nationality, where you apply and whether you'll enter Spanish Social Security. Find your route below, then set it against the current document list from your own consulate or residence office.
Find your route
| Route | The insurance question | Start here |
|---|---|---|
| Non-lucrative visa | Cover from an insurer authorised in Spain; US consulates also ask for all risks covered by Spain's public system | NLV insurance |
| Digital nomad visa | Whether private insurance is required or social-security evidence applies | DNV insurance |
| Student visa | Cover for the study period and a certificate for the application | Student visa insurance |
| Family reunification | Who in the joining family needs cover and whose name appears on each certificate | Family reunification |
| EU residency | Whether a non-working EU/EEA/Swiss citizen must show comprehensive sickness cover | |
| Work or business | Whether Social Security covers the route or private cover is needed for the application or a gap |
Sanitas lists visa insurance uses including non-lucrative, family reunification, self-employed and entrepreneur, digital-nomad, researcher and study routes.
What consulates usually ask for
Requirements vary by visa route and consulate. The Spanish consulate in London asks for insurance with an insurer authorised to operate in Spain, and US consulates ask for cover for all risks insured by the Spanish public health system. Applicants are commonly asked for comprehensive cover without copayments or waiting periods.
The policy version matters too. Residents Visado is for nationals outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland; EU/EEA/Swiss nationals can take out the standard version instead.
Route first, then the policy
It's tempting to start with the most expensive plan or a headline price, but the route comes first. Once your nationality, route, application location, age, family members and timing are clear, you can compare the suitable visa plans and ask for a personalised quote.
We can't currently arrange policies for people living in Cantabria (including Santander) or Navarra. This is a limit on our distribution area, not on the insurer's medical network.
Need help with the visa application?
We arrange the insurance. If you'd like help preparing and submitting the visa application itself, see visa application help.
FAQs
Do all Spanish visas require private insurance?
No. The answer depends on the route and, for some work routes, Social Security status. Your route page sets out what applies, because no single rule covers every application.
Which route has the strictest insurance rules?
There's no reliable universal ranking. Consulates and application routes can ask for different evidence, so the current official list from the office handling your case is the one to follow.
Next step: Get a quote.