Medical Certificate Guide 2026
Spain Student Visa
Spain Student Visa
Medical Certificate
Exactly what your medical certificate must say, who can sign it, what format it must follow, and how to present it to the Spanish consulate.
✓ Reviewed by Platinum Legal Spain — our regulated immigration lawyers
The Requirement
What Is the Medical Certificate?
The Spain student visa medical certificate is a written declaration from a licensed doctor confirming that you do not have any contagious or infectious diseases that constitute a public health risk under the International Health Regulations. The requirement is based on Article 37 of Spain's Organic Law on the Rights and Freedoms of Foreigners in Spain.
This is one of the simpler documents to obtain — no special tests are required, and a standard GP appointment is sufficient. However, many applicants run into problems because the certificate they obtain from their doctor is too vague or doesn't follow the required format. We provide all clients with an approved template that their doctor simply signs.
✅ What It Must Contain
- Your full legal name (matching passport exactly)
- Your date of birth
- Date of issue (must be within 3 months of appointment)
- Declaration that you have no contagious diseases listed under international health regulations
- Doctor's full name and medical registration/licence number
- Doctor's signature
- Doctor's official stamp (if applicable in your country)
- Doctor's address and contact details
⚠️ Common Problems
- Certificate too vague — "patient appears to be in good health" is not the same as a declaration about contagious diseases
- No mention of international health regulations or contagious diseases specifically
- Doctor's registration number missing
- No official stamp (in countries where stamps are customary)
- Certificate issued too early — must be dated within 3 months of your consulate appointment
- Not accompanied by a sworn Spanish translation (if written in English)
New Rule — 2025
Who Needs a Medical Certificate Now?
Since 20 May 2025, the medical certificate is required for every Spain student visa applicant — regardless of how long you plan to study. Until then, only applicants on study programmes longer than 180 days (six months) had to provide one. This change came in with Spain's new Immigration Regulation (Royal Decree 1155/2024), which took effect on that date.
⚠️ Before 20 May 2025
- Medical certificate only required for stays of more than 180 days
- Short-course and under-six-month applicants were exempt
✅ From 20 May 2025
- Required for all student visa applicants, including short courses under six months
- The content and format requirements are unchanged — a doctor's declaration that you have no diseases that could require quarantine under the International Health Regulations (2005), issued within 3 months
- If your certificate is in English, it still needs a sworn Spanish translation
If you researched the requirements before mid-2025 and were told you didn't need a medical certificate for a short course, that is no longer correct — assume you need one and prepare it like any other applicant.
What It Looks Like
Approved Certificate Format
The following represents the structure and key content of an accepted medical certificate. Our clients receive a pre-formatted template they take to their GP for signature.
MEDICAL CERTIFICATE FOR VISA PURPOSES
[Full name as on passport]
[DD / MM / YYYY]
[Passport number]
I, the undersigned, a licensed medical doctor, hereby certify that I have examined the above-named patient on [date] and that, to the best of my knowledge and professional judgement, the patient does not suffer from any disease that could constitute a public health risk, as specified under the International Health Regulations adopted by the World Health Organisation.
[DD / MM / YYYY — must be within 3 months of consulate appointment]
Doctor's Full Name
Medical Registration Number
Signature + Official Stamp
Practice Address
Note: The actual template provided to our clients is fully formatted and ready for your doctor to sign — no drafting required.
Practical Advice
How to Get the Certificate
Getting the medical certificate is straightforward — provided you approach it correctly and use the right format.
The Process
- Book a standard GP appointment — no specialist is required
- Bring our pre-formatted template (or print the format above)
- Show the doctor the format and ask them to complete and sign it
- Ensure the doctor includes their registration number and stamps the certificate if stamps are customary in your country
- If the certificate is in English, arrange a sworn Spanish translation before your consulate appointment
Timing
Unlike the criminal record certificate (which can take 2–3 months), the medical certificate can be obtained quickly. Book the GP appointment 4–6 weeks before your consulate appointment. This ensures:
- It will be within the 3-month validity window
- There is time for a sworn translation if needed
- There is time to fix any issues with the content
Common Questions
Medical Certificate FAQs
Yes. Since 20 May 2025, when Spain's new Immigration Regulation (Royal Decree 1155/2024) took effect, the medical certificate is required for every student visa applicant regardless of the length of the study programme. Previously it was only required for stays longer than 180 days (six months), so applicants for shorter courses were exempt. That exemption no longer exists — assume you need a certificate whatever the length of your course.
You need a signed declaration from a licensed medical doctor confirming you do not have any contagious or infectious diseases that constitute a public health risk under international health regulations. It must include your full name, date of birth, the doctor's name and registration number, their signature and stamp, and the date. If in English, a sworn Spanish translation is required.
No. The standard Spain student visa medical certificate does not require any blood tests, X-rays, or specialist examinations. A routine GP appointment is sufficient. Your doctor examines you and signs a declaration. No test results need to be attached.
Your medical certificate should be issued within 3 months of your consulate appointment date. Do not get it too early. We recommend booking the GP appointment 4–6 weeks before your appointment, which leaves enough time for a sworn translation and any corrections.
Yes — any licensed medical doctor can sign the certificate. You do not need a Spanish doctor, a consulate-approved doctor, or a specialist. Your regular NHS GP, private GP, or family doctor in any country is perfectly acceptable, provided the certificate follows the correct format and includes their professional registration details.
There is no single universally standardised international form. Spanish consulates require the certificate to follow a specific format and contain specific declarations, but they do not issue a universal printed form. Each consulate may have its own preferred template. This is why it is important not to ask your GP to write a generic letter — the certificate must be drafted to the consulate-specific format. Our clients receive a ready-to-use approved template for their specific consulate.
If your medical certificate is written in English (or any language other than Spanish), it must be accompanied by a sworn Spanish translation (traducción jurada). The translation must be produced by a sworn translator registered with Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs — a bilingual friend or generic translation service is not acceptable. Some consulates accept dual-language templates (English and Spanish side-by-side) without a separate translation.
No. The medical certificate does not require an apostille for the Spain student visa. The apostille is only required on public documents like criminal record certificates or academic diplomas. Your GP's signed and stamped certificate, accompanied by a sworn Spanish translation, is all that is needed.
The certificate must state that you do not suffer from any contagious or infectious diseases that could constitute a public health risk as defined by the 2005 International Health Regulations. It must include: your full name and date of birth, the declaration on contagious diseases, the date of examination, and the doctor's full name, medical registration number, signature, and stamp.
Only if the certificate is still within its validity period — it must have been issued within 3 months of your new consulate appointment date. If your reapplication falls outside that window, you will need a new medical certificate signed by your doctor. Given the low cost and simplicity of obtaining the certificate, it is usually easier to get a fresh one for any new appointment.
The certificate must make a general declaration confirming the absence of contagious or infectious diseases under international health regulations. It does not need to list or test for specific diseases by name for the standard Spain student visa. Tuberculosis screening may be required for applicants from certain high-prevalence countries — your consulate will notify you if this applies to your nationality.
Book a standard GP appointment and tell your doctor you need a medical certificate for a Spanish student visa. Bring the approved template to the appointment — your doctor simply reviews it, examines you, and signs. The visit is brief. NHS GP appointments are free; private GPs typically charge £50–100 for a certificate appointment. Book 4–6 weeks before your consulate date to leave time for a sworn translation.
Yes. Any registered medical doctor can sign the certificate — there is no requirement to use your regular GP or an NHS doctor specifically. A private GP clinic or walk-in private doctor service is perfectly acceptable. What matters is that the doctor is licensed, includes their medical registration number, and signs using the correct format. Private GP appointments for this purpose are typically quick and cost £50–100 in the UK.
Some GPs are unfamiliar with the specific format required by Spanish consulates. If your doctor is unwilling to use the approved template, explain it is a legal requirement for a visa application and that the declaration about international health regulations is standard wording. If your GP is still uncooperative, a private GP clinic will be more experienced with this type of certificate and more willing to follow the required format. Our clients receive a template that makes the process straightforward for the doctor.