Key facts
- Insurer
- Authorised to operate in Spain 1
- Cover consulates ask for
- 100% of medical expenses, no limit, no waiting periods, deductibles or co-payment 4
- Insurance not accepted
- Travel, bank-provided and reimbursement insurance 3
- Length for the non-lucrative visa in Bogotá
- The first twelve months from the planned travel date 4
- Length for studies in Bogotá
- The whole study period; if it lasts more than a year, at least the first twelve months 3
Which visas require health insurance
The requirement is in the immigration law and regulation, visa by visa:
| Visa or authorisation | What the rule says |
|---|---|
| Studies, internships, volunteering (long stay) | Health insurance with an insurer authorised in Spain, with benefits similar to the common portfolio of the National Health System, valid for the whole stay 1 |
| Non-lucrative residence | Hold health insurance 1 |
| Family reunification | Health insurance for the sponsor and for their family members 1 |
| International teleworking (digital nomad), highly qualified, entrepreneurs and investors | Public or private health insurance with an insurer authorised to operate in Spain 2 |
On the non-lucrative visa, the insurance remains a requirement to renew: you must have kept it throughout the authorisation and continue with it 1.
On the visas under Law 14/2013, such as the digital nomad visa, the rule speaks of public or private insurance 2. If you will pay into the Spanish Social Security or your country has a Social Security agreement with Spain, check with your consulate whether that public cover replaces private insurance in your case.
What cover consulates require
The rule says "health insurance"; consulates specify what they accept. The Consulate General of Spain in Bogotá asks for the study visa a comprehensive healthcare insurance with cover equivalent to that of the National Health System, taken out with an insurer that operates in Spain, covering 100% of medical expenses, with no limitation, no waiting periods or deductibles and no co-payment 3. For the non-lucrative visa, the same consulate asks that the insurance cover all the risks insured by the Spanish public health system, with no reimbursements 4.
The Consulate General in Buenos Aires uses a very similar formula: the insurance must cover 100% of hospital and non-hospital medical expenses, with no co-payments or waiting periods, and traveller insurance and insurance tied to credit cards are not valid 5.
In practice, this rules out three types of policy common in Latin America:
- travel or traveller assistance insurance, even with high cover 3;
- reimbursement insurance, where you pay and the insurer pays you back afterwards 3;
- policies with co-payment or waiting periods 4.
You can check whether an insurer is authorised in the register of the Dirección General de Seguros y Fondos de Pensiones, which the consulate itself links to: rrpp.dgsfp.mineco.es 3.
What the certificate must say
The Consulate in Bogotá does not accept a quotation, an "insurance proposal", an application or a document from the intermediary, broker or agent 3. It asks for the insurance company's certificate with 3:
- policy number and special conditions;
- digital signature with a verification code;
- coverage dates that span the whole required period.
Policies that require "renewal" or state "automatic renewal" during the covered period are not valid either 3.
Before paying, ask the insurer for a model of the certificate and compare it with the list of the consulate that covers you. If one of these items is missing, it is better to fix it before the appointment.
How long it must cover
It depends on the visa and the consulate:
- Studies (Bogotá): the whole study period, from date to date; if the studies last more than a year, at least the first twelve months 3.
- Non-lucrative (Bogotá): the first twelve months from the planned travel date 4.
- Studies (regulation): valid for the length of the planned stay 1.
When you renew the non-lucrative residence you will have to prove the insurance again for the period you request 1.
Step by step
- Step 2 of 5Choose an authorised insurer
Check that it operates in Spain in the register of the Dirección General de Seguros 3.
- Step 3 of 5Take out a policy with no co-payment or waiting periods
Ask for a full-cover policy, with no limits, waiting periods, deductibles or co-payment 4.
- Step 4 of 5Ask for the right certificate
Request the company's certificate, with policy number, dates and a verifiable digital signature 3.
- Step 5 of 5Keep the policy for renewal
On the non-lucrative residence you need to keep the insurance in order to renew 1.
Documents you will need 3 documents
- Insurance company certificateoriginal and copy
- Special conditions of the policy with the policy number
- Proof of payment of the premiumif your consulate asks for it
Questions
Does my travel insurance work for the study visa?
Can I take out a policy with co-payment to save money?
What happens if the policy renews automatically every month?
The Consulate in Bogotá does not accept policies that require renewal or state automatic renewal during the covered period 3.
Does the digital nomad visa ask for private insurance?
Law 14/2013 asks for public or private health insurance with an entity authorised to operate in Spain 2. Check with the unit that handles your application whether your public cover is valid in your case.
Before you rely on this
- The detailed cover requirements (no co-payment, no waiting periods, certificate with a digital signature) come from the pages of the consulates in Bogotá and Buenos Aires. Other consulates, such as those in Mexico, Lima or Caracas, may word them differently: check the page of yours.
- If your country has a Social Security agreement with Spain or you will pay into Spanish Social Security, public cover may replace private insurance for some visas. Confirm it with the consulate or a lawyer.
- Policy prices vary a lot by age and insurer; this guide gives no figures.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change: confirm with the consulate or a lawyer before you apply.
Sources5 sources, 5 official
- Real Decreto 1155/2024, Reglamento de la Ley Orgánica 4/2000 (artículos 35, 61, 64 y 67)officialBoletín Oficial del Estado
- Ley 14/2013, de apoyo a los emprendedores y su internacionalización (artículo 62)officialBoletín Oficial del Estado
- Visados nacionales: visado de estudiosofficialConsulado General de España en Bogotá
- Visados nacionales: visado de residencia no lucrativaofficialConsulado General de España en Bogotá
- Visados nacionales: visado de estudiosofficialConsulado General de España en Buenos Aires
