Canadians are non-EU (third-country) nationals, so moving to Spain usually means a visa route — most often the NLV for retirees, the Digital Nomad Visa for remote workers, or a student visa — and private medical insurance is normally one of the key requirements. Canadian provincial healthcare and travel insurance are not usually enough. This guide maps the Canadian routes to the right Sanitas option, with English-speaking help.
Home cover
Usually not. Canadian provincial healthcare is not normally a substitute for Spanish private medical insurance when applying for a Spanish visa or residence route. It may include limited out-of-country emergency reimbursement, but it generally does not provide the Spanish private insurance certificate, the no-copayment structure, the repatriation wording, or the residence-style cover that Spanish authorities expect.
Canadian travel insurance or an existing international policy may also fall short unless the certificate and cover structure meet the Spanish route requirements. For a Spanish visa, the safer route is a Spanish private policy such as Sanitas Residents or Residents Platinum, with the right certificate wording.
Routes
A quick map of the main Canadian situations — confirm the details for your case:
| Canadian applicant type | Route to check | Sanitas option to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian retiree | NLV / non-EU retiree route | Residents / Residents Platinum |
| Canadian remote worker | DNV route | Residents Platinum / Residents |
| Canadian student | Student visa | Sanitas International Students if eligible |
| Canadian family | NLV / DNV / dependant route | Each member assessed separately |
| Canadian over 60 | Retiree / NLV / private cover | Residents / Platinum / Unico by status |
| Canadian already resident | Private upgrade may be optional | Mas Salud / Unico / general options |
| Canadian with medical history | Underwriting review needed | Personalised quote |
NLV
Many Canadian retirees and financially independent applicants move to Spain on the Non-Lucrative Visa. Health insurance is normally one of the key documents, and it usually needs to be a Spanish private policy with no copayments, valid in Spain, and supported by suitable certificate wording — rather than Canadian provincial healthcare, travel insurance or a generic international policy. The usual plans are Sanitas Residents and Residents Platinum. See the NLV guide and the non-EU retirees guide. For full detail, see our dedicated guide: NLV health insurance for Canadian citizens.
DNV
Canadian remote workers may apply through the Digital Nomad Visa. The insurance position depends on whether you rely on private insurance, a social-security arrangement, your employment structure, or self-employed status. Where private cover is required, Residents Platinum is often the stronger comparison point, while Sanitas Residents may be enough for some lower-cost cases. See the DNV guide and remote workers guide. For full detail, see our dedicated guide: Digital Nomad Visa health insurance for Canadian citizens.
Retirees & age
Spain is popular with Canadian retirees, so age matters. The general picture for a new application (confirm current terms):
| Sanitas plan | Typical age for a NEW application | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sanitas Unico | Designed for 60+ — no upper contracting age | Generally no health questionnaire, subject to current terms |
| Sanitas Mas Salud / Mas Salud Familias | Commonly up to 75 for new applicants | Health declaration applies, subject to current terms |
| Sanitas Residents | Commonly up to 75 for new applicants | For non-EU visa / residency routes, subject to current terms |
| Sanitas Residents Platinum | Maximum contracting age of 64 | Broader / international-style cover — check current terms |
Age limits matter most at the point of application. Once a Sanitas policy has been accepted, contracted and paid, many plans continue without a maximum permanence age — reaching 75, for example, does not automatically cancel a policy you already hold — provided the policy stays active and its terms are met. These figures are a general guide only and should be confirmed against the current Sanitas tariff before buying.
Families
For Canadian family applications, each person may need to be named on the certificate with the correct start date, and each adult and child is assessed separately — so medical history can affect one person differently from another. Children need paediatric access checked locally, and the policy dates should match the visa file. See our non-EU families guide.
Medical history
Canadian retirees in particular often have some medical history — ongoing medication, previous surgery, a chronic condition or recent investigations. These should all be declared.
Having a condition or taking medication does not automatically mean a refusal. Each case is assessed individually through the health declaration and underwriting, and the outcome can be standard terms, an exclusion, a request for more information, or a decline. Nothing is guaranteed, so a personalised review is essential and you should never cancel existing cover until a new policy is confirmed.
See our pre-existing conditions guide and pre-existing conditions quote.
Next steps
Continue with the pages most relevant to you:
Important information
Tell us your route (NLV, DNV, student or family), your age and any medical history, and we will compare the suitable Sanitas options and prepare a personalised quote. Please check the actual current policy terms and your personal conditions before purchasing or using any Sanitas policy. Policies change and individual terms can vary.
We map your route to the right Sanitas option, in English, and prepare a personalised quote.
FAQs
Common questions from Canadians arranging Sanitas health insurance for Spain. Route and age both affect the answer — always confirm current terms.