Public or Private Health Insurance – An Essential Requirement for Spanish Residency Permits
Private Health Insurance
What requirements must private health insurance meet?
Private health insurance is only required if you are not covered by Spain's public healthcare system. If you are, there is no need to take out a private policy.
If you do need private insurance, it must meet the following requirements:
✅ Issued by an insurance company authorized to operate in Spain
Check the list at: http://rrpp.dgsfp.mineco.es/
✅ Coverage equivalent to the Spanish National Health System
✅ Valid for the duration of the authorization, or at least one year with renewal option
✅ Must remain active throughout the entire authorization period
✅ Mandatory characteristics:
- No co-payments: You must not pay each time you visit a doctor or hospital.
- No waiting periods: There must be no period without any type of coverage.
- Comprehensive: Must cover hospitalization and any type of medical transfer.
- Full territorial coverage: Valid throughout Spain, covering any type of illness or condition.
⚠️ Travel insurance policies are not valid.
Public Health Insurance
Private health insurance is not required if you will be covered by the Spanish national health system as a result of an employment contract and social security registration.
If you need to prove public health coverage, you can do so through:
- A document issued by the INSS (National Social Security Institute) certifying your status as an insured person or beneficiary under the public healthcare system.
- Form S1 (EU, EEA, Swiss, and UK citizens): EU citizens are entitled to free healthcare in Spain by completing the S1 form.