Spain Health Insurance for Expats

Health insurance for expats moving to Spain, sorted the easy way

Getting a Spanish visa or residency permit means proving you have private health cover that meets Spain's legal requirements. We match you with a visa-compliant plan (Sanitas Residents or DKV Visado) and guide you through every step, so your application sails through.

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No co-payments
No waiting periods
Full hospitalization
Certificate for your consulate

Is your visa on the line?

Here's what a visa-compliant policy needs, in plain English.

100% private, no link to Spain's public system
Zero co-payments and zero waiting periods
Covers hospitalization, surgery and specialists
Valid for the full length of your stay in Spain
Get My Visa-Ready Quote

What is expat health insurance in Spain, really?

If you are applying for a Digital Nomad Visa, Non-Lucrative Visa, Student Visa, or a residency permit through family reunification, Spain's immigration authorities need proof that you can pay for private medical care without relying on the public system. That proof is a specific type of policy: private, with no co-payments, no waiting periods, and full hospital cover, issued by a company authorized to operate in Spain. We work with two of the country's leading insurers, Sanitas and DKV, to get you covered correctly the first time, with English-speaking support the whole way through.

Moving to Spain? Your visa needs health insurance. Get your visa-ready quote from GuiriGuru.
The legal basics

Why Spain requires health insurance for most visas

Under Spain's immigration law (Ley de Extranjería) and its regulations, most non-EU applicants for a long-stay visa or residence permit must prove they have medical cover that will not become a burden on Spain's public healthcare system. In practice, consulates and immigration offices ask for a private policy with no co-payments, no waiting periods, and coverage equivalent to Spain's national health service, valid for as long as the visa or permit lasts.

This applies whether you are moving to Spain as a remote worker, a retiree, a student, or joining family already living here. Without a compliant policy, your application can be delayed or rejected outright, which is why choosing the right plan from day one matters so much.

Requirements can vary slightly by visa type, nationality and consulate. This page is general information, not legal advice, always confirm the specifics of your case with your consulate, lawyer or immigration advisor.
Visa types

Which visas require private health insurance?

Almost every non-lucrative or study-based route into Spain requires it. Here are the most common ones we help expats with every week.

Digital Nomad Visa

For remote workers and freelancers earning income from outside Spain. Insurers need to see cover that starts before you arrive.

Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV)

For those living in Spain on savings, investments or a pension, without working locally. One of the strictest visas on insurance rules.

Student Visa

For university programs, language schools and exchange semesters. Annual policies can be adjusted if your course runs longer.

Family Reunification

For joining a spouse, partner or family member already resident in Spain, before you are registered with Social Security.

Work & Highly Qualified Visas

For employer-sponsored permits, useful for the gap before your Social Security enrollment becomes active.

Residency Renewals

For keeping continuous, compliant cover between renewals, so there is never a gap in your paperwork.

What consulates look for

The 6 requirements every compliant policy must meet

Not every travel or health policy will be accepted. Here is exactly what immigration offices and consulates check for.

No co-payments

You will not pay extra each time you use a covered medical service.

No waiting periods

Cover is active from day one, with the usual exception of standard maternity terms.

Full hospitalization

Includes surgery, hospital stays, specialists and diagnostic tests.

100% private

Not connected to Spain's public health system, exactly what consulates want to see.

Valid in Spain

Backed by an insurer authorized to operate across the whole country.

Certificate for consulate

Comes with the official document your consulate or gestor will ask to see.

Sanitas Residents and DKV Visado are built specifically to meet these requirements. Both include comprehensive private healthcare and the exact documentation Spanish consulates and immigration offices expect, so you can submit your application with confidence.

At a glance

Compare plans

We won't overwhelm you with every clause in the contract. Here is what actually matters when you are choosing between the two.

FeatureSanitas ResidentsDKV Visado
English app✓✓
Visa compliant✓✓
Specialists✓✓
Hospitalization✓✓
Dental✓✓
Emergency care✓✓
Watch & learn

See how GuiriGuru gets you covered

A 2 minute walkthrough of how we match you with the right plan and prepare your visa paperwork.

Why book through GuiriGuru

People don't buy insurance. They buy confidence.

We don't just sell you a policy, we walk the whole visa journey with you.

English-speaking support, start to finish
We explain the visa requirements in plain terms
We recommend the right plan for your situation
We help you gather the right paperwork
We coordinate directly with the broker for you
We help if the consulate requests corrections
Get My Visa-Ready Quote

Our brokers work hand in hand with Sanitas and DKV, guiding clients through the entire visa process, not just issuing a policy and disappearing. If a consulate ever asks for a correction, we handle it with the insurer on your behalf.

The process

From quote to certificate in 4 simple steps

No paperwork chasing, no guesswork. Here's exactly what happens after you reach out.

1

Tell us your situation

Share your age, visa type, arrival date and province, and we compare Sanitas Residents and DKV Visado for you.

2

Complete your application

We help you fill in your details and health questionnaire accurately, so nothing holds up your certificate.

3

Pay securely

Pay by Spanish IBAN or by international card through the insurer's secure payment link.

4

Get your documentation

Receive your policy, certificate and any repatriation documents within 1 to 3 business days, ready for your consulate.

Visa-compliant health insurance for Spain — get your visa-ready quote from GuiriGuru.
The two plans we recommend

Sanitas Residents vs. DKV Visado

Both are designed specifically to meet the requirements for Spanish visa and residency procedures, including comprehensive private healthcare and the documentation your consulate or immigration office will ask for. We'll help you pick the one that fits your age, visa type, province and medical needs.

DKV Visado

DKV Visado

Designed for people moving to Spain.

  • Accepted for Spanish visa and residency applications
  • No co-payments
  • No waiting periods*
  • Full private healthcare
  • Hospitalization and surgery
  • Specialists and diagnostic tests
  • Emergency care, in Spain and abroad, up to €30,000
  • Dental cover included
  • Medical certificate for your visa
  • Buy before arriving in Spain
  • Pay by international card
  • English-speaking assistance through GuiriGuru
Get My Visa-Ready Quote
Sanitas Residents

Sanitas Residents

Healthcare that speaks your language.

  • Accepted for Spanish visa and residency applications
  • No co-payments
  • No waiting periods*
  • One of Spain's largest medical networks
  • Hospitalization across Sanitas's own hospitals
  • Specialists, diagnostics and advanced treatments
  • Emergency care, in Spain and abroad, up to €12,000
  • Extended dental cover, 40+ services included
  • Mi Sanitas app in English, filter doctors by language
  • International second medical opinion
  • Repatriation included
  • Medical certificate for your visa
Get My Visa-Ready Quote
FeatureDKV VisadoSanitas Residents
Visa compliant✓✓
No co-payments✓✓
No waiting periods*✓✓
Specialists✓✓
Hospitalization✓✓
Dental✓✓
English app✓✓
Emergency abroadUp to €30,000Up to €12,000

*Except standard maternity waiting periods for childbirth and cesarean, which follow each insurer's usual terms.

Frequently asked questions

Everything expats ask us about Spanish health insurance

Real questions from real clients moving to Spain. Can't find yours? Book a free consultation and ask us directly.

Yes. For most non-EU visas and residence permits (Digital Nomad, Non-Lucrative, Student, Family Reunification and others), Spanish immigration law requires proof of private health insurance with no co-payments and no waiting periods, valid for the full length of your stay.
Yes, and in most cases you need to. We can usually process DKV Visado or Sanitas Residents up to 3 months before your policy's start date, so your certificate is ready in time for your consulate appointment, even while you're still abroad.
The Digital Nomad Visa, Non-Lucrative Visa, Student Visa, Family Reunification, and most work and highly qualified professional permits all typically require it, along with residency renewals where you are not yet enrolled in Social Security.
Yes, this is one of the most common reasons applications get rejected. For visa and residency purposes, consulates generally expect a policy with no additional charges per visit and coverage active from the first day, with the usual exception of maternity terms.
Yes, without any problem. Most of our clients don't have a NIE yet, precisely because they're starting their visa or residency process. We can set up your policy with your passport and add your NIE once you receive it.
It's recommended, even a provisional one. If you don't have one yet, we can use a reference address to process your policy and update it once you arrive and have a permanent address in Spain.
These policies are contracted annually, though payment can sometimes be split into semi-annual, quarterly or monthly installments depending on the insurer and product. For visa purposes, we recommend the payment method that keeps your documentation clearest for your consulate or immigration office.
Yes. Both Sanitas Residents and DKV Visado accept payment by bank card issued anywhere in the world. Once your application is processed, the insurer sends a secure payment link to your email. For DKV, that link is valid for 72 hours, so pay promptly to avoid your policy being cancelled automatically.
Once your application is signed and paid, documentation is usually ready within 1 to 3 business days. It includes your policy, particular conditions, and the certificate needed for your consulate, immigration office, lawyer or gestor.
You'll receive the particular conditions of your policy, the certificate for immigration or your consulate, complementary documentation from the insurer, access details for the app or client area, and repatriation cover documentation if it applies to your plan.
Private insurers must cover medical situations that arise from your policy's start date onward, within the coverage you've contracted. If you have a pre-existing condition, previous treatment or surgery, it's important to review your case individually before applying, so we can guide you to the right option and avoid issues later. Book a personalized consultation and we'll walk through it with you.
Both insurers can include pregnancy and maternity cover, but childbirth and cesarean typically carry a waiting period of several months of active coverage before the due date. In practice, this means you should ideally take out the policy before becoming pregnant, or very early on, to meet the required timeframe.
If you are already pregnant before contracting, childbirth and cesarean generally aren't covered automatically as a new condition. With DKV, there can be an option to pay an additional premium for delivery cover, subject to acceptance. Talk to us before applying so we can confirm what's realistically available for your situation.
Yes. If your visa is denied, we can request a cancellation or premium refund, as long as you provide the official denial document issued by the consulate or relevant authority. Refunds are subject to the insurer's terms, deadlines and documentation, so let us know as soon as you receive a negative decision.
We'll review exactly what correction is being requested. If it's something that fits within your policy's real conditions, we request an updated certificate directly from the insurer on your behalf. That's why getting your personal details, dates, passport and coverage period right from the start matters so much.
With Sanitas Residents, repatriation is included as part of the plan. With DKV Visado, it's available as an additional cover, and we'll make sure the relevant documentation is sent along with your policy if you need it for your application.
Yes, both plans include travel emergency assistance outside Spain. Sanitas covers emergencies abroad up to €12,000 for stays of up to 90 days. DKV covers up to €30,000 for stays of up to 180 days. This is emergency travel assistance, not full international cover, so your main protection is always within Spain.
You'll use the network of doctors, clinics and hospitals affiliated with your insurer, Sanitas or DKV. Both networks are extensive across Spain. Care outside the network depends on the specific modality you've contracted, which is another reason it's worth getting the right plan from the start.
These plans cover medical care, consultations, specialists, diagnostic tests, treatments and hospitalization. Medication bought at a pharmacy is usually paid out of pocket, unless it's part of a covered hospital treatment. If you take specific medication regularly, tell us before you apply so we can check your case.
Both are strong, well-established options for immigration procedures. Sanitas Residents stands out for its scale, English-language app, doctor-language filters, international second opinion and included repatriation. DKV Visado stands out as a product built specifically around visas and residency, with broad coverage, dental, mental health and maternity options. The best fit depends on your age, province, arrival date and medical needs, which is exactly what we help you figure out.
Policies are contracted on an annual basis. If your program runs longer, for example 15 months, that's not a problem: as your renewal date approaches, we'll reach out to help you continue your cover smoothly, so there's no gap for your ongoing residency.
Your full name, date of birth, the province or city where you'll be living in Spain, your approximate arrival date, and the type of procedure you're applying for (student visa, Non-Lucrative Visa, Digital Nomad Visa, residency, family reunification, etc.). With that, we can compare Sanitas Residents and DKV Visado and recommend the better fit.
A standard health declaration covering things like past or current conditions, medication you take, recent hospitalizations or surgeries, any recognized disability, and smoking or alcohol habits. It needs to be answered truthfully. We'll guide you through every question so nothing gets missed.
Yes, these policies renew annually. If you're staying in Spain or renewing your residency, we recommend reviewing your policy well ahead of the renewal date to make sure it still meets immigration requirements. We'll help manage the renewal so your cover stays active without interruption.
Yes. You can usually update your address, phone number, email, bank account, or identity document once you receive your NIE. Keeping your details current avoids issues with future medical or administrative processes.
Yes, as long as your policy is active, paid, and there is no waiting period for the specific service you need. Since these policies are built for immigration purposes, the main medical cover is generally available from the first day, within the insurer's network and subject to appointment availability.
That's fine, but it helps to set an approximate start date before applying. For visa and residency procedures, your policy's effective date needs to line up with what your consulate, immigration office or lawyer requires, and we can help you pick a sensible one to avoid documentation errors.
Yes. Both DKV Visado and Sanitas Residents include dental cover. Sanitas offers an extended dental network with more than 40 services included, while DKV's dental cover follows its own dental fee schedule, we'll explain the details for whichever plan fits you best.
Because we don't just process a policy, we accompany you through the entire process. We review your case, guide you on the right visa route, help with paperwork, coordinate certificate issuance, answer your questions, and stand by you if the consulate requests a correction. We work with leading insurers like Sanitas and DKV, so we can recommend the option that genuinely fits your profile, age, province, arrival date and medical needs.
It can. Prices are recalculated at each renewal based on your age, your province of residence and general changes in medical costs. If your premium increases, your insurer must notify you in advance of the renewal date, and you're free to review your options with us before deciding whether to continue.
Let's get you covered

Ready for visa-compliant health insurance you can trust?

We'll recommend the right visa-compliant health insurance based on your age, visa type, province of residence, and medical needs, then handle the details with you every step of the way.

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