If you already have Bupa health insurance and you are moving to Spain, living in Spain, or need Spanish private medical cover, you may be able to transfer your Bupa policy to Sanitas. Because Sanitas forms part of Bupa, some Bupa members can request an international transfer so their private health cover continues in Spain without starting completely from scratch — subject to approval and documentation.
Start here
Because Sanitas forms part of Bupa, some Bupa members can request an international transfer so their private health cover continues in Spain without starting completely from scratch. At Spanish Health Insurance, we help English-speaking Bupa members check whether they can transfer to Sanitas, compare suitable Sanitas plans, prepare the documents, and avoid gaps in cover.
We will always check the transfer route before confirming anything — a transfer is never automatic. For the wider picture, see our guide to visa-compliant health insurance in Spain.
Can you?
In many cases, Bupa members may be able to transfer to Sanitas when moving to Spain — provided the Bupa policy is active, the correct transfer documentation is available, and Sanitas accepts the transfer. This may apply to people with:
Why
Sanitas is one of Spain's best-known private health insurers and forms part of Bupa. For people moving to Spain, transferring to Sanitas can make healthcare simpler because the policy is Spanish-based, built around Spanish doctors and hospitals, and supported by Spanish documentation. Benefits may include:
Transfer form
A Bupa International Transfer Form, sometimes referred to as an Interfund Transfer Form, is a document used to confirm your Bupa membership details and support a transfer to Sanitas. It may include information such as:
Eligibility
Eligibility may depend on a number of factors, including:
Documents
The exact documents depend on your policy and route, but a typical transfer set includes:
Waiting periods
One of the biggest reasons Bupa members ask about transferring to Sanitas is waiting periods. If the transfer is accepted and the correct documentation is provided, you may be able to avoid starting some waiting periods again, because your previous Bupa membership may be taken into account. However, this depends on:
Pre-existing
If you have pre-existing conditions, it is very important to handle the transfer correctly. A Bupa to Sanitas transfer may help preserve continuity compared with applying as a completely new customer. However, existing exclusions, medical restrictions or underwriting conditions may carry over to the Sanitas policy. You should declare your medical history accurately — and if you are currently receiving treatment, waiting for tests, pregnant, or have ongoing medical conditions, the case should be checked before the transfer is confirmed. See pre-existing conditions and health insurance in Spain.
Exclusions
If your Bupa policy already has exclusions, those exclusions may carry over to your Sanitas policy. This is one reason the transfer form is important: it helps Sanitas understand what is already covered, what is excluded, and how your current policy has been underwritten.
Expired?
Usually, a transfer is much harder or may not be possible if your Bupa policy has already expired or there has been a break in cover. If the Bupa policy is no longer active, Sanitas may treat you as a new applicant. That can mean:
No gap
A gap in cover can affect your transfer and may also create problems if you need health insurance for a Spanish visa, residence application or renewal. Avoiding a gap is important because:
Best plans
The right Sanitas plan depends on whether you need general Spanish cover, family cover, or a visa/residency-suitable policy. The main options:
Comprehensive Spanish private healthcare with no copayments — strong general cover for people moving from Bupa.
The family no-copay version, for households transferring from Bupa who want predictable costs.
A foreign-resident policy at a lower monthly price — useful for visa applicants who need Spanish documentation.
Premium foreign-resident cover with broader benefits — often suited to those used to higher-level Bupa cover.
Some former Bupa members want broader private healthcare choice, reimbursement-style benefits or higher-level cover. We can check which current Sanitas options fit your expectations.
Sanitas options at a glance:
| Sanitas Option | Best For |
|---|---|
| Más Salud Sin Copago | No-copay private healthcare in Spain |
| Más Salud Familias Sin Copago | Families wanting no-copay cover |
| Sanitas Residents | Foreign residents and lower-cost visa-style cover |
| Sanitas Residents Platinum | Premium foreign-resident cover and stronger benefits |
| Reimbursement / higher-level options | People used to broader Bupa-style choice |
| Copay plans | Supplementary cover where visa / residency proof is not the main issue |
Visa/residency
Many people transferring from Bupa to Sanitas are also applying for Spanish residency or a visa — Non-Lucrative Visa, Digital Nomad Visa, EU residency / green certificate, Student Visa, Work Visa, Entrepreneur Visa, family members or renewals. If the Sanitas policy will be used for a visa or residency application, it must match that route. That may mean:
NLV
If you are applying for Spain's Non-Lucrative Visa, the health insurance normally needs to be full private cover, no-copay, no-deductible, suitable for visa documentation and valid for the required period. If you currently have Bupa, transferring to Sanitas may be useful because Sanitas is a Spanish insurer and can provide Spanish documentation — but the policy chosen must still meet NLV requirements.
DNV
Digital Nomad Visa applicants need to be routed carefully. If you are an employee of a foreign company and do not have accepted Spanish public healthcare / social security proof, you may need full private visa-compliant cover. If you are self-employed and already covered through Spanish social security, private insurance may be supplementary. Your Bupa transfer should be matched to the right DNV route.
EU residents
EU citizens registering as residents in Spain may need private insurance if they are not working, self-employed or covered by an S1 / public healthcare. A Sanitas no-copay policy can be useful for green certificate registration, especially where the local office expects comprehensive private healthcare evidence. See EU residency health insurance.
Process
A typical transfer runs through eight steps. We handle the Sanitas side and guide you on the Bupa paperwork.
Tell us you are currently with Bupa and want to transfer to Sanitas.
We check the type of Bupa policy, insured members, renewal date and whether the policy is active.
You request the Bupa International Transfer Form / Interfund Transfer Form from Bupa, or we guide you on what to request.
We help compare suitable Sanitas options based on your needs, visa route, family members and budget.
You provide the Bupa transfer form, medical information, ID details and chosen Sanitas application details.
Sanitas reviews the documents and confirms whether the transfer can proceed.
Once accepted, the Sanitas policy is activated with the agreed start date.
Do not cancel Bupa before the Sanitas transfer is accepted and your new start date is confirmed.
Timing
The transfer time can vary depending on the documents, Bupa response time, Sanitas review and whether medical information is complete. Some transfers move quickly once complete documents are submitted, while others take longer where there are medical questions or missing documents.
Checklist
Run through this before you start, and again before you cancel anything:
Key points
The points that most affect whether a transfer is smooth — and why each matters.
| Transfer Point | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Active Bupa policy | Helps support continuity and transfer eligibility |
| No gap in cover | Important for waiting periods and visa / residency continuity |
| Transfer form | Confirms Bupa membership and policy history |
| Existing exclusions | May carry over to Sanitas |
| Medical history | Must be declared accurately |
| Same insured members | New members may need separate underwriting |
| Sanitas plan choice | Must match healthcare and visa needs |
| Start date | Should be coordinated before cancelling Bupa |
| Certificate | Needed if used for visa or residency |
| Approval | Transfer is subject to Sanitas review |
Mistakes
These are the transfer mistakes we see most often — each one is avoidable:
Get help
Spanish Health Insurance helps English-speaking Bupa members transfer to Sanitas in Spain. Whether you are moving to Spain, already living here, applying for residency, renewing a visa, or simply want Spanish private healthcare with English-speaking support, we can help check your transfer route and compare suitable Sanitas options.
Tell us about your Bupa policy and we'll check whether you may be able to transfer to Sanitas, what documents you'll need, and which Sanitas plan fits — coordinating the start date so there is no gap in cover. Acceptance and exact terms depend on the insurer's rules.
Contact us before your Bupa renewal — free, no-obligation advice from English-speaking advisers.
FAQs
Common questions from Bupa members moving to Spain or switching to Sanitas private health insurance.