LumenWhat health insurance do I need for a Spanish student visa?
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Spain's immigration regulation requires health insurance with an insurer authorised to operate in Spain, with benefits similar to the public health system's common basic services, valid for the whole planned stay. You must prove it again to extend. Consular guidance adds no copayments or deductibles, and refuses travel insurance. If you work and pay Social Security, that counts instead.
Key facts
| What | The source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Insurer | An insurer authorised to operate in Spain | RD 1155/2024, art. 35.i |
| Level of cover | Benefits similar to the common basic portfolio of the National Health System | RD 1155/2024, art. 35.i |
| How long | Valid for the planned stay | RD 1155/2024, art. 35.i |
| Extension | You must meet the insurance requirement again to extend | RD 1155/2024, art. 55.3 |
| Family members | Each needs health insurance | RD 1155/2024, art. 56.3.5º |
| If you work | Registration with Social Security meets the insurance requirement | RD 1155/2024, art. 57.5 |
| Copayments, deductibles | Not allowed; no grace periods (Washington) or waiting periods (Los Angeles) | Washington guidance, point 8; Los Angeles guidance, point 9 |
| Coverage limit | Washington: none, but a capped policy must be at least €30,000. Los Angeles: no limit, minimum €30,000 | Washington, point 8; Los Angeles, point 9 |
| Not accepted | Travel insurance; an insurance card as proof | Washington, point 8; Los Angeles, point 9 |
What the law says
Spain’s immigration regulation (Real Decreto 1155/2024, in force since 20 May 2025) applies to stays for studies, student mobility, volunteering and training. To get the visa you need health insurance arranged with an insurer authorised to operate in Spain, with benefits similar to the common basic portfolio of services of the National Health System, valid for the length of the planned stay (art. 35.i).
To extend the authorisation, you must meet the same insurance requirement again (art. 55.3). Family members of a student in higher education who come with them must also have health insurance (art. 56.3.5º).
If you work while studying under the rules of art. 57, the regulation says registration in the corresponding Social Security scheme meets the health insurance requirement (art. 57.5).
What the consulates add
The Washington and Los Angeles consulates ask for a policy covering all the risks insured by Spain’s public health system, with no copayments and no deductibles. Washington also rules out grace periods for some benefits; Los Angeles rules out waiting periods and asks for 100% of medical, hospital and out-of-hospital expenses.
On limits, Washington says there should be none, but that a policy capped at a set amount must cover at least €30,000. Los Angeles says no coverage limit and a minimum of €30,000.
Both say the insurance must cover the whole stay, from one month before the programme starts to 15 days after it ends; Washington stresses the whole stay, not only the study programme, and says this matches the visa’s validity under the new regulation. Both refuse travel insurance and won’t take an insurance card as proof. Washington points to the public register of insurers authorised in Spain at rrpp.dgsfp.mineco.es.
Washington’s page notes that its content is guidance only and that the regulations in force when you apply are what count.
Sources
- Real Decreto 1155/2024, de 19 de noviembre, Reglamento de la Ley Orgánica 4/2000, arts. 35, 55, 56 and 57 (consolidated text, BOE) checked 2026-10-25
- Embassy of Spain in Washington DC, Consular Section: Study Visa, point 8 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) checked 2026-10-25
- Consulate General of Spain in Los Angeles: Study visa, point 9 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) checked 2026-10-25
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