Student visa
Health Insurance for Spanish Student Visas
Student-visa applicants are commonly asked for comprehensive health insurance without copayments or waiting periods; requirements vary by consulate. Sanitas International Students is built for this. It has no copayments and no waiting periods, includes repatriation cover, and comes with a certificate for your visa application. We arrange it, check the certificate matches your course dates, and help if your plans change.
Who can take out the student policy
You can take out Sanitas International Students if:
- you are at least 14 and under 35 when you apply
- you are enrolled on a course in Spain lasting at least 3 months: university, a master's, language school, a study-abroad semester or another recognised programme
Aged 35 or over, or on a course shorter than 3 months? International Students isn't available to you. Tell us your age, route and course dates and we'll look at whether another plan we arrange suits your visa and circumstances. If none does, we'll explain why.
What the policy covers
- Healthcare in Spain from day one: GP, specialists, tests, emergencies, hospital stays and surgery, with no waiting periods.
- No copayments: you don't pay each time you see a doctor.
- Emergencies abroad: up to €12,000 a year, for trips of up to 90 days. Useful for weekends in Portugal or trips home.
- Repatriation to your home country in the event of death.
- A visa certificate issued once the policy is in place.
Matching the policy to your course
Student policies can run from 3 to 14 months. If your course is shorter than a year, the contract is set to match, for example 4 months or 9 months.
Where the dates matter:
- Start date. Your consulate sets the start date it wants to see, and the certificate needs to show it. Policies normally start on the first day of the selected month.
- End date. The policy should cover the full period on your visa application, including any gap between the course ending and your return.
- Extensions. If your course is extended, or you move on to a master's, your cover has to continue for your residence card renewal. Let us know early.
We check all three against your admission letter before the certificate is issued.
Can my university's insurance or my home policy count?
Sometimes, but often not. Applicants are commonly asked for comprehensive cover without copayments or waiting periods, and many travel and home-country student policies fall short on those points. Send us your policy and we'll give you a straight answer. If it already meets the requirement, we'll say so.
Medical history
If you declare a condition on the application, Sanitas's medical team will call you to assess it. That adds a step to the process, so it's best not to leave insurance until the week before your appointment. If you'd like to talk it through first, call us. If there's anything medical we need to discuss, we'll handle it privately.
What does student visa insurance cost?
International Students starts from €42.65 a month on Sanitas's April 2026 tariff, which applies during the first policy period to new insured people whose cover starts from 1 April through 31 December 2026, before a 0.15% Consorcio surcharge. Your price depends on age and the applicable Spanish residence area. The monthly April 2026 tariff is:
| Age | Resto | Madrid | Barcelona/Girona/Lleida/Tarragona | Mallorca |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14–15 | €42.65 | €47.18 | €50.29 | €48.60 |
| 16–19 | €48.25 | €53.42 | €56.96 | €55.04 |
| 20–30 | €54.35 | €60.22 | €64.23 | €62.05 |
| 31–35 | €61.15 | €67.79 | €72.34 | €69.87 |
Other areas differ. You can pay monthly, quarterly, every six months or annually, and the "annual" payment option saves 4%. Card payment is for annual payment. Your quote shows the premium for the contracted period, which runs for three to fourteen months to match your course.
Bringing a partner or family?
If family members are coming with you, include them when you request a quote so we can work out what each person needs.
Why students arrange cover with us
- We match the certificate to your admission letter: dates, names, passport numbers.
- Answers in English, including on WhatsApp, when your appointment is close.
- We handle changes when your course is extended or you move on to another programme.
- One team from quote to renewal.
Need help with the visa application?
We arrange the insurance. If you'd like help preparing and submitting the visa application itself, see student visa application help.
Frequently asked questions
Does my student insurance need to last 12 months?
Not always. International Students can run from 3 to 14 months to match your course.
I'm 36 and starting a master's. Can I get student insurance?
Not the International Students policy: it's for applicants under 35 when they apply. Tell us your route and course dates and we'll look at whether another plan we arrange suits your visa and circumstances, and explain why if none does.
Is there a copay when I see a doctor?
No. The policy has no copayments.
Am I covered when I travel in Europe?
For emergencies, yes: up to €12,000 a year, for trips of up to 90 days.
How quickly can I get the certificate?
The certificate is issued after Sanitas approves the application and the policy is paid. We can't promise a fixed delivery time, so start early enough to look it over before your appointment. See when the certificate is issued.