Spain Student Visa
Health Insurance Requirements
What your policy must cover, which policies qualify, and the exact format the Spanish consulate requires — explained clearly.
What Your Health Insurance Must Cover
Spain's consular regulations require every student visa applicant to hold private health insurance that provides full medical cover in Spain for the entire duration of their stay. 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.
✅ 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
Policies from Sanitas, Adeslas, Asisa, DKV, Mapfre Salud — comprehensive long-term cover designed for residents in Spain. These are the gold standard for the student visa.
✅ Specialist Expat/Student Insurance
Long-term expat health insurance from providers such as Cigna Global, Allianz Care, or specialist student insurance providers — provided the policy explicitly covers full inpatient and outpatient care in Spain with no copays.
✅ 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 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 lawyers recommend based on the applications we prepare every day.
Buying a Spanish Policy
Purchasing a policy directly from a major Spanish insurer (Sanitas, Adeslas, Asisa) gives you the most consulate-friendly documentation. These companies understand the visa requirement and issue policy documents specifically formatted for visa applications. 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 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.
We partner with several providers who understand the Spain student visa requirements. Our clients can access our recommended options when they start their application.
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.
Our Recommended Insurance Partners
We work with two trusted insurance partners to help our clients get the right cover for their Spain student visa — quickly, compliantly, and without the guesswork.
Spanish Health Insurance
Our recommended health insurance for Spain student visas. Sanitas plans are fully compliant with consulate requirements: no co-payments, full Spain coverage, repatriation included. Specifically designed for visa applications — the documentation is accepted at all Spanish consulates.
Get a Quote →247 Expat Insurance
For health insurance and all other expat insurance policies — travel, contents, life, and more. 247 Expat Insurance specialises in cover for people living abroad and can provide the comprehensive policies that Spanish consulates require.
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