What health insurance do I need for Spain's digital nomad visa?

Checked on 2026-10-25

The law requires public health insurance or private health insurance with an insurer authorised to operate in Spain. Consular guidance adds that it must cover what Spain's public health system covers, stay active for the whole permit, and, per the Washington consulate, have no copayments or coverage limits. Travel insurance is not accepted.

Key facts

What	The source says	Source
What the law requires	Public insurance, or private health insurance with an insurer authorised to operate in Spain	Ley 14/2013, art. 62.3.e
Level of cover	Equivalent to Spain’s National Health System, for all its risks	Istanbul guidance, point 11; Washington guidance, point 12
How long	Active for the whole validity of the permit	Istanbul guidance, point 11; Washington guidance, point 12
Copayments and limits	None allowed: no copayment or coverage limit	Washington guidance, point 12
Travel insurance	Not accepted	Washington guidance, point 12; Istanbul guidance, point 11
Insurer check	The insurer must be on the register of the Directorate-General of Insurance and Pension Funds	Washington guidance, point 12

What the law says

Ley 14/2013 (art. 62.3.e) asks every applicant for a visa or residence permit under this law, including digital nomads, to have public insurance or private health insurance arranged with an insurer authorised to operate in Spain. It does not describe the cover in more detail.

What the consulates add

The Foreign Ministry’s consular guidance sets the level. The Istanbul consulate asks for cover comparable to Spain’s National Health System, active for the whole permit, and says travel insurance does not count. The Washington consulate says the policy must cover all medical, hospital and out-of-hospital costs, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and urgent medical transport, without copayment or coverage limit. It points to the public register of insurers authorised in Spain at rrpp.dgsfp.mineco.es.

When you don’t need a private policy

The Washington consulate says no health insurance certificate is needed if you prove coverage by the Spanish public social security system. The Istanbul consulate says that if an international social security coordination rule covers your health care in Spain, you prove it with the certificate of entitlement from your country’s social security institution.

Family members each need their own health insurance (Washington guidance, family members section, point 12).

Sources

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2026-10-25: Page created

This is general information, not legal advice, and Lumen is not a law firm. Rules change and offices differ: check the official sources above before you act. Found something wrong or out of date? Write to support@lumen.observer.