Step-by-step guide to adding emergency medical repatriation coverage to your existing Sanitas health insurance plan in Spain 2026. Learn the cost, process, which plans support add-ons, and when switching plans is a better option.
If you have a Sanitas plan that doesn't include repatriation and you don't need a visa-certified policy, you may be able to add repatriation as an optional extra. Note: some add-ons can only be made at your annual renewal — contact us or your Sanitas agent to confirm what's possible on your plan.
Adding repatriation to your existing plan is a straightforward process. The advantage of adding rather than switching is that you keep your current coverage, benefits, and policy number — you're simply adding one more component to your existing insurance. No lengthy paperwork is required; it's arranged through us or Sanitas customer service directly.
The typical process is: 1) Contact us with your current plan details, 2) We confirm the repatriation add-on is available for your plan and provide the exact additional monthly cost, 3) You authorise the change, 4) Receive activation confirmation, 5) Request an updated insurance certificate showing repatriation coverage. Processing times depend on the application, Sanitas acceptance, payment processing, working-day processing and the selected policy start month, so timing is not guaranteed. A fast certificate may be possible in straightforward working-day cases, but it cannot be guaranteed.
The add-on cost depends on your age, plan, and the level of repatriation coverage required. Contact us for an exact price — we can also run a comparison to check whether adding to your current plan or switching to Sanitas Residents (which includes repatriation from €67.76/month) works out better value overall.
Here's exactly how to add repatriation coverage to your existing Sanitas plan, from initial contact through certificate receipt.
Step 1: Get in touch with us or your Sanitas agent. Have your policy number handy. Tell us you want to add emergency medical repatriation coverage to your current plan. We'll check whether your plan supports the add-on and whether it can be done immediately or only at your next annual renewal — this varies by plan and policy, so it's important to confirm before assuming it can be added right away.
Step 2: Confirm coverage details and cost. Once confirmed, you'll be given: 1) The specific repatriation coverage amount, 2) The monthly add-on cost for your age and plan, 3) The effective date the add-on will activate, 4) Whether there are any conditions. Note: if the add-on can only be applied at renewal, we'll let you know the renewal date so you can plan accordingly.
Step 3: Authorise the change. You'll need to confirm that the additional monthly cost should be charged to your existing payment method. This is typically done via email or through Sanitas's customer portal. Ensure your payment method is current before authorising.
Step 4: Receive activation confirmation. Sanitas will confirm that the repatriation add-on has been activated. This will include the new monthly premium, the effective date of repatriation coverage, and a summary of what's included. Save this for your records.
Step 5: Request an updated insurance certificate. After activation, request an updated certificate from Sanitas showing repatriation coverage explicitly included. Certificates are issued once the policy has been accepted, active/processed and paid according to Sanitas rules. Sanitas policies start on the 1st day of the selected month and can be contracted up to a maximum of 6 months in advance. Request it in English if required.
Here's what you can expect to pay to add repatriation coverage to various Sanitas plans, broken down by age group.
Sanitas Accede (from €22.10/month): Accede is the entry-level plan and one of the most common plans people want to add repatriation to. The base plan starts from €22.10/month — add-on pricing depends on your age and is confirmed when you enquire. Contact us and we'll give you the exact monthly cost for your circumstances.
Sanitas Avanza (from €33.60/month): Avanza is a mid-range plan with broader hospital and specialist cover. If you're on Avanza and need repatriation for a visa or peace of mind, adding the repatriation module is available. Again, the exact add-on cost depends on your age — contact us for a personalised figure.
Already-included plans — no add-on cost: Sanitas Residents (from €67.76/month), Sanitas Residents Platinum (from €107.23/month), and Sanitas International Students (from €42.65/month) all include repatriation as standard. If you're on one of these plans, there is nothing to add and no extra cost.
When to switch instead of adding: For some customers, particularly those who need comprehensive coverage long-term, switching to Sanitas Residents (from €67.76/month) makes better overall sense. Residents includes repatriation plus zero copays, dental, pharmacy discounts, and visa approval — all in one policy. We can model both options for you so you can make the right call.
Not all Sanitas plans allow add-ons. Here's which plans support repatriation add-ons and which don't.
Plans that can add repatriation (non-visa): For EU citizens and existing residents who don't need a visa-certified policy, the repatriation add-on may be available on plans such as Accede, Avanza, Más Salud, Más 90,000, Premium 500,000, and Más Salud Familias — subject to the plan and your policy renewal timing. Contact us or your Sanitas agent with your plan name and policy number and we'll confirm what's possible.
Plans where repatriation is already included: Sanitas Residents, Sanitas Residents Platinum, and Sanitas International Students all include repatriation as standard — no add-on needed and no extra cost. These are also the only Sanitas plans that are visa-certified for NLV, DNV, and student visa applications.
How to check your current plan: Your insurance certificate or policy summary will list coverage components. If repatriation isn't listed and you'd like it added, get in touch with us or your Sanitas agent — we'll confirm whether your plan supports the add-on, whether it can be done now or only at renewal, and what the cost would be.
Should you add repatriation to your current plan or switch to a comprehensive plan that includes it? Here's how to decide.
Add repatriation if: You don't need a visa-certified policy (you're an EU citizen, already have residency, or your visa is already in place) and you simply want repatriation coverage added to your current plan. You're happy with everything else about your current plan. You can confirm with us that the add-on is available on your plan and can be added now rather than at renewal.
Switch to Residents/Residents Platinum if: You need a visa-certified policy for an NLV or DNV application — in this case, only Residents or Residents Platinum will work, and both already include repatriation as standard. You want full comprehensive cover with no copays, dental, pharmacy, and no add-ons to manage. Residents starts from €67.76/month and is a complete all-in-one policy.
Example: Accede + add-on (EU citizen / already resident). Accede starts from €22.10/month. Adding repatriation increases your monthly premium by an amount confirmed when you enquire. This only makes sense if you don't need a visa-certified policy and your plan allows the add-on. Compare to Sanitas Residents from €67.76/month which includes repatriation plus much broader cover with zero copays.
Example: Avanza + add-on vs switching to Residents. Avanza starts from €33.60/month. If the repatriation add-on brings your total close to what Residents costs (from €67.76/month), it's worth considering whether Residents gives you better overall value — it adds zero copays, dental, pharmacy, and full visa approval on top of repatriation.
Budget plan — repatriation add-on available for EU citizens & existing residents (not visa-certified)
+ repatriation add-on (ask us for exact price)
Mid-range plan with hospital cover — repatriation add-on for EU citizens & existing residents (not visa-certified)
+ repatriation add-on (ask us for exact price)
Repatriation included as standard — no add-on needed. NLV & DNV approved.
Repatriation included — nothing extra to add
Common questions about adding repatriation to your existing health insurance plan.
No — adding repatriation to Accede, Avanza, or most standard plans will not make those plans visa-certified. To satisfy Spanish consulate requirements for an NLV or DNV, you need Sanitas Residents or Residents Platinum, which are purpose-built for visa applications and already include repatriation as standard. For a student visa, Sanitas International Students works. Get in touch and we can arrange a visa-certified policy quickly.
Usually no. Most repatriation add-ons are simply added to your existing policy without changing your policy number. However, confirm this with Sanitas when you request the add-on. If your policy number does change, Sanitas will provide the new number immediately, and your coverage continues seamlessly.
Not always. Some add-ons can be made at any point during the policy year, but others can only be added at your annual renewal. This depends on your specific plan. Get in touch with us or your Sanitas agent as early as possible and we'll confirm what's available and when it can take effect.
As with adding the add-on, the timing of cancellations can depend on your policy — some changes can be made at any point, others only at your annual renewal. Contact us or your Sanitas agent to confirm the process for your specific plan.
Typically no — most add-ons are effective from the date they're applied with no waiting period. However, this can vary, and some changes only take effect at renewal rather than immediately. Confirm the exact effective date with us or your Sanitas agent when requesting the add-on.
No. Repatriation coverage is a premium add-on with pricing that varies depending on your plan and circumstances. Contact us and we can confirm the current add-on cost for your specific plan.
This guide focuses on Sanitas plans, which widely support repatriation add-ons. Other Spanish insurers may also offer repatriation add-ons. Contact your current insurer directly to ask whether they support adding repatriation coverage. If they don't, switching to Sanitas may be necessary.
No. Adding repatriation to a standard plan like Accede or Avanza does not make that plan visa-certified. Spanish consulates require a policy specifically designed to meet their criteria — and the only Sanitas plans that meet these requirements are Residents and Residents Platinum (for NLV and DNV) and International Students (for student visas). All three already include repatriation. If you need a visa-compliant policy, get in touch and we'll sort it quickly.
Use these guides if you need the visa/residency angle, the broader cover, or the route-specific requirements rather than the add-on question.
Tell us your current plan and we'll confirm whether repatriation can be added as an add-on — or whether switching to a plan that already includes it makes more sense.