Applying for Spain’s digital nomad visa? Find out exactly what health insurance is required: no co-pay, full coverage, Spanish insurers, and what to avoid.
Health Insurance Requirements for Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa
What your policy must include, and how to avoid visa rejection
Spain’s digital nomad visa has opened up new opportunities for remote workers — but one of the most common stumbling blocks in the application process is health insurance.
You can’t just buy any private policy. Your health insurance must meet specific legal, medical, and administrative criteria to be accepted by Spanish immigration authorities.
This guide outlines exactly what’s required, how it differs from other visas, and how to make sure your policy won’t get rejected.
Why Health Insurance Is Mandatory for the Digital Nomad Visa
The digital nomad visa is designed for remote workers from outside the EU who wish to live and work legally in Spain for 6 to 12 months (with extensions possible).
Because applicants aren’t contributing to the Spanish public healthcare system at the start, private health insurance is mandatory to cover the full period of your stay.
Required Health Insurance Features (2025)
Your private health insurance policy must meet the following requirements to be accepted for a digital nomad visa:
✅ Full coverage
It must offer access to:
- General practitioners (GPs)
- Specialists and diagnostics
- Emergency services
- Hospitalisation and surgery
See What’s Covered for details.
✅ No co-payments (sin copago)
Your policy must cover 100% of medical costs. No deductibles, no fees per visit.
Learn more in Types of Plans
✅ Issued by a Spanish-authorised insurer
The insurer must be licensed and operating within Spain. International policies or travel insurance will not be accepted unless they are certified and approved for Spanish residency purposes.
✅ Valid for at least 12 months
Even if you’re applying for a shorter initial stay, your insurance must cover a minimum of one year (or the full duration of your requested stay).
✅ Paid in full
Some consulates require that the full annual premium is paid up front, not monthly instalments.
Insurance Certificate Checklist
When applying, you must present an official certificate of coverage that includes:
- Your name
- Policy start and end dates
- Coverage confirmation (inpatient + outpatient + emergency)
- No co-pay / sin copago clause
- Name and registration of the Spanish insurer
- Full payment confirmation
Attach this to your visa application — a quote or receipt alone is not enough.
Common Mistakes That Get Applications Rejected
🚫 Submitting travel insurance
🚫 Choosing a co-pay policy (even with good coverage)
🚫 Using an international insurer not approved in Spain
🚫 Providing only a quote or payment receipt
🚫 Not translating documents into Spanish (if required)
Even high-quality policies can be rejected if the certificate isn’t clear, or doesn’t explicitly show sin copago and full medical coverage.
Where to Get a Compliant Policy
Several major Spanish insurers offer digital nomad–friendly policies, including:
- DKV
- ASISA
- Sanitas
- Adeslas
- Axa
Ask specifically for:
“Residency-compliant private health insurance for Spain’s digital nomad visa – full coverage, no co-pay, valid for 12 months.”
Most plans cost €50–€100 per month, depending on age and coverage level. See Cost Guide for a breakdown.
Is It Different from Other Visa Types?
The requirements for digital nomad applicants are almost identical to the non-lucrative visa, but the key difference is that digital nomads may later transition into social security if they register as autónomo (freelancer) or through a contract.
But until that happens, private coverage is still mandatory — and the same strict rules apply.
What About Family Members?
If you’re applying with a spouse or children, each family member must be covered under a residency-compliant policy as well.
You can either:
- Add them to a group family plan
- Take out individual policies for each person
Children must also be covered under a no co-pay plan from a Spanish-authorised provider.
Final Thoughts
Spain’s digital nomad visa is one of the most exciting options for remote workers — but it comes with real administrative requirements. Submitting the wrong health insurance policy is one of the top reasons for rejection.
Choose a no co-pay plan, issued by a Spanish insurer, with full medical coverage — and get it paid in full before your appointment.
Still unsure which policy qualifies? Start with What Is Private Health Insurance in Spain? or compare Plan Types now.