Good to know · Health
Private health insurance: when it is required
Some residence routes, notably the non-lucrative visa, require private (or public) health insurance with specific features, e.g. no waiting periods, no co-payments and no coverage cap.
- Why it matters
- US Medicare and most US plans do not work in Spain; you need Spanish-valid cover from day one if you are not covered by Social Security.
- When
- You apply for a residence visa that asks for health insurance, or you are not covered by the public system.
- Official page
- EU citizens: health insurance for student/non-working routes (see GLIFE-0003)
- Last checked
- 6 Oct 2026
In the guide: the 3 steps, what to bring (3 items), and tips and what to watch for, with every official source.