Private health insurance in Spain

Overview

Some visa categories (notably the non-lucrative visa) require private health insurance with no co-payments as a condition of approval. Even where it isn't mandatory, many residents keep private cover for faster appointments alongside the public system.

Requirements

• If required for a visa, the policy must generally have no co-payments and cover the full duration of your stay
• Confirm the insurer is authorised to operate in Spain — some visa applications specifically require this

Step-by-step process

• Compare policies from insurers authorised to sell health cover in Spain
• Confirm the policy meets your specific visa requirement, if applicable, before purchasing
• Keep proof of continuous cover — gaps can cause problems at renewal time

Required documents

• Passport/NIE
• Signed insurance policy documents

Common mistakes

• Buying a policy with co-payments when your visa specifically requires a policy without them
• Letting cover lapse between visa renewal stages

Practical tips

• Ask the insurer directly, in writing, whether their policy satisfies the specific visa requirement you have in mind
• Compare not just price but network size and English-language support if that matters to you

How Tuchati can help

Tuchati can help you understand which policies genuinely meet your visa's requirements before you commit to one.