Spain Student Visa
Health Insurance Requirements
What your policy must cover, which policies qualify, and the exact format the Spanish consulate requires — explained clearly.
✓ Reviewed by Platinum Legal Spain — Spanish immigration specialists
What Your Health Insurance Must Cover
Royal Decree 1155/2024 (article 35) requires every student visa applicant to hold health insurance with an insurer authorised to operate in Spain, giving benefits similar to the Spanish public system's common basic portfolio for the entire duration of their stay — and consulates expect full cover with no co-payments, no waiting periods and no reimbursement-only model. The consulate is checking that you can access medical treatment without using Spain's public health system. The requirements are strict — many common policies fail. See what “no co-payments” means in practice.
✅ Required Coverage
- Full medical and GP treatment in Spain
- Emergency and specialist care
- Hospitalisation and surgery
- Prescription medication coverage
- Repatriation cover (medical evacuation)
- No copayments or excess fees
- No deductibles or out-of-pocket costs
- Valid for the full duration of your visa
- No geographical exclusions within Spain
- Policy document names you as insured person
❌ What Will Be Rejected
- Travel insurance (limited duration, wrong scope)
- European Health Insurance Card (EHIC / GHIC)
- University student health cards
- Policies with copayments or excesses
- Policies that only cover emergencies
- Policies that expire before your visa end date
- Multi-trip annual travel policies
- Policies that exclude pre-existing conditions entirely
- National health service entitlements from home country
- Employer health schemes (unless explicitly Spain-valid)
Accepted and Rejected Policy Types
Understanding which types of insurance qualify — and which don't — saves you time and money before your application.
✅ Spanish Private Health Insurance
Comprehensive long-term policies from private health insurers authorised in Spain, designed for residents. What matters is the policy, not the brand: check the terms against the visa requirements before you buy.
✅ Specialist Expat/Student Insurance
Long-term expat or student health insurance — provided the insurer is authorised to operate in Spain and the policy explicitly covers full inpatient and outpatient care in Spain with no copays and no waiting periods.
✅ International Health Insurance
Comprehensive international health plans with full Spain cover, no deductibles, and a policy document that explicitly states Spain is covered without restriction. Must be issued by an insurer authorised to operate in Spain and cover the full visa period.
❌ Travel Insurance
Even "long-stay" travel insurance typically has exclusions, coverage caps, or copayments that Spanish consulates reject. Purpose-built travel insurance is not designed for long-term residency health needs.
❌ EHIC / GHIC Card
The European Health Insurance Card or Global Health Insurance Card is a state-issued card, not a private insurance policy. Spanish consulates explicitly require private insurance — the EHIC is not accepted.
❌ University Student Cards
Student healthcare cards issued by universities or student unions — even those with limited GP access — do not meet the requirement for comprehensive private health insurance covering all medical needs.
What to Look For on Your Policy Document
When you purchase a policy, check the document for these exact phrases: "full medical coverage in Spain," "no copayments," "hospitalisation included," and "valid from [start date] to [end date]." If the policy document is in English, you will need a sworn Spanish translation of the key pages before submitting to the consulate.
How to Buy the Right Policy
Choosing the right health insurance policy for your Spain student visa doesn't have to be complicated — here's what our specialists recommend based on the applications we prepare every day.
Buying a Spanish Policy
Buying from a private health insurer based in Spain usually gives you policy documents that set out cover in the terms consulates check. Ask for a policy certificate showing your name, the cover dates and confirmation of no co-payments and no waiting periods. Costs are typically €50–€150/month depending on age and coverage level.
One consideration: some Spanish insurers require a Spanish bank account or NIE number, which you may not have yet as a pre-arrival applicant. In this case, an international health insurer authorised to operate in Spain, with full Spain cover, is the easier route.
Buying an International Policy
International health insurers that specifically cater to students and expats often have visa-ready documentation and can be purchased entirely online before you arrive in Spain. Make sure the policy explicitly states: Spain is covered, no copayments, full hospitalisation included, and it covers the complete duration of your visa.
Insurance enquiries are referred to Spanish Health Insurance. Cover, eligibility and policy terms are confirmed by the insurance team before purchase.
How Consular Officers Assess Health Insurance
When you submit your health insurance documents, the consular officer will check for specific indicators. Understanding what they look for helps you present your policy correctly.
The insured person must match your passport name exactly. A joint policy or a policy in another person's name will not be accepted.
The policy must be valid from before or on your intended entry date and must run until at least the end of your visa period. A policy that expires mid-course will be rejected.
The policy document must state Spain (or Spain and the rest of the EU/Schengen area) is covered. A global policy with exclusions is not sufficient.
The policy must explicitly state full coverage with no patient copayments. If the policy mentions copayments, deductibles, or excess fees, it will not be accepted.
Most consulates require repatriation (medical evacuation) cover to be included. Check that your policy schedule or summary document explicitly mentions this.
If your policy document is in English, you need a sworn Spanish translation of the policy summary page showing the key coverage details, your name, and the dates.
Get Your Student Health Insurance
Insurance enquiries are referred to Spanish Health Insurance. Cover, eligibility and policy terms are confirmed by the insurance team before purchase.
Spanish Health Insurance
Student health insurance quotes for Spain student visa applications, with an instant online price. The policy certificate is the document you submit with your visa application. This referral service cannot currently arrange cover for applicants living in Navarra or Cantabria.
Get My Student Health Insurance Quote