Understanding Health Insurance Requirements for Visa Applications

Applying for a visa or residency often involves meeting specific health insurance criteria, but these standards might not be explicitly outlined on consulate websites. Despite the absence of clear directives, meeting these prerequisites is essential. To guarantee acceptance of your health insurance policy, ensure it meets the following criteria: 

Based on the Organic Law 4/2000 ( by Royal Decree 557/2011) and Law 14/2013 ( September 2013), the Spanish embassies and Ministry of Foreign Affairs require that, to apply for one of the following:

1. Student Visa
2. Investment Visa (Golden Visa)
3. Non-lucrative Visa
4. NIE card (the residence permit)
5. Renewal of NIE card

Medical insurance with the following features needs to be presented:

1. Operates in Spain
2. Full coverage, including emergencies, consultations, diagnostic tests, surgeries (inpatient and outpatient), and hospitalizations, etc
3. A minimum coverage of €30,000.00
4. No copayment or deductible
5. No waiting period
6. Repatriation of remains

An example from the consulate in Washington DC for a study visa application in Spain:

1. The Insurance company must operate in Spain

• The insurance company providing the policy doesn´t necessarily have to be a Spanish company but it must have the right to and actively operate in Spain. Knowing where the insurance provider covers in the area you are going to be living is important. See the cuadro medico for DKV or Asisa here:

2. Full coverage encompassing emergencies, consultations, surgeries (inpatient and outpatient), hospitalizations, and more

• The policy must meet all the same requirements as the public health care system does.

3. Coverage without economic limits

• Many consulates state that the coverage needs to have a minimum of 30,000 in coverage, some say, 500,000, and others say unlimited financial coverage.

4. No co-payment or deductible

• This is a very important one, the policy must not have copayments meaning the insurance will cover the bill in full without you having to pay a portion of it. The policy must also have no deductibles meaning you do not need to pay a certain amount of money for the insurance to start paying. If you get a policy that has a copayment, you will almost certainly be rejected by any consulate.

5. No waiting periods

• This refers to the waiting time before you can start using the insurance services. Some policies have a waiting period, which means you might have to wait a few months before you can undergo surgery or access certain services. 

6. Repatriation of remains

• This involves the transportation of your remains back to your home state. Meaning if you were to pass away in Spain, the insurance would cover the cost to transport your remains back to your home country.

For more details on why it may be difficult to find a policy that meets all of these requirements, check out this blog: Why Visa-Compliant Insurance Isn’t Available Directly on Official Websites of Spanish Insurance Companies?

In some cases, instead of listing out all the requirements in detail, certain consulates may state:

"The insurance policy must cover all the risks insured by Spain's public health system."

This statement carries significant implications. Essentially, it means that any private insurance purchased must mirror the characteristics of Spain's public health system, including:

• The insurance company must operate within Spain.
• The insurance must offer comprehensive coverage, encompassing emergencies, consultations, diagnostic tests, surgeries (both inpatient and outpatient), hospitalizations, and more.
• There should be no financial limits on coverage.
• No copayments or deductibles should be required.
• There should be no waiting period for coverage to begin.

If you are interested in understanding the distinctions between Spanish public healthcare and private healthcare in more detail, please refer to the comparison provided.

When submitting your application, you will need to show proof of insurance that meets these requirements. If you purchase one of our policies, you will receive the insurance certificate as well as the insurance conditions in as little as 1-3 business days. These will be in Spanish (which is required) and will need to be printed and presented for your application. These documents must state the above requirements to be accepted. Both of our policies state each requirement above, ensuring a 100 percent acceptance rate! Purchase here: Health Insurance

The coverage period needed generally aligns with the duration of the issued visa. Typically, this coverage spans a minimum of one year. If you are applying for a Non-Lucrative, Golden, or Digital Nomad Visa, we suggest purchasing for at least one year of coverage. If you are applying for a Student Visa, we suggest purchasing coverage starting the month you enter Spain and ending the month you leave Spain. However, it is essential to adhere to the specific insurance duration stipulated by the consulate/embassy through which you are applying, as their requirements might vary slightly.

Reference:

https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/washington/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Visado-de-estudios.aspx