A plain-English comparison of every main Spanish visa — short-stay, Non-Lucrative, Digital Nomad, work, student, family and the EU family card — so you can identify your route, then sort the health-insurance part with us.
How to choose
The right Spanish visa depends mainly on two things: your nationality and how you will support yourself in Spain. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a visa at all — they register their residence. For everyone else, the route is shaped by whether you will live on savings or a pension, work remotely, take a Spanish job, study, run a business, or join family who already live here.
This page compares the main options side by side, then answers the practical question people actually search for: “which visa suits someone like me?” For each route we also flag where private health insurance fits — the part we help with. We do not process visa applications or give immigration advice; always confirm eligibility with the relevant Spanish consulate or a qualified immigration specialist.
First split
The first fork is duration. Short-stay (Schengen) covers up to 90 days in any 180-day period for tourism, family visits or business; many nationalities are visa-exempt, others need a Schengen visa. It is not a residence route and short visitors use travel insurance, not a Spanish policy.
Long-stay (national) visas are for living in Spain beyond 90 days. They are applied for at a Spanish consulate (or, for some routes, from inside Spain) and lead to a TIE residence card. Most non-EU long-stay routes require comprehensive private health insurance from an insurer authorised in Spain, unless you are covered through Spanish social security or another accepted arrangement. Everything below is a long-stay route unless stated.
EU vs non-EU
If you hold an EU, EEA or Swiss passport you do not apply for a visa. Instead you complete EU residency registration (the green certificate / CUE), and if you are not working you may need to show suitable healthcare cover and means — often satisfied with a no-copay private policy. See EU residency health insurance.
Non-EU citizens (including British citizens since Brexit, plus US, Canadian, Australian and other nationals) need a long-stay visa to live in Spain. Non-EU family members of an EU citizen follow a separate, often simpler route: the EU family member card (tarjeta comunitaria), not national family reunification.
Comparison
| Visa type | Who it suits | Work in Spain? | Health insurance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Lucrative (NLV) | Retirees, savers, non-working residents | No | Private cover required |
| Digital Nomad (DNV) | Remote employees & freelancers | Remote, foreign clients | Private, or private + social security |
| Work visa (employee) | People with a Spanish job offer | Yes | Often via social security once employed |
| Highly Qualified Professional | Senior/specialist hires, EU Blue Card | Yes | Social security or employer scheme |
| Student visa | Students staying 3+ months | Limited hours | Student or private cover |
| Entrepreneur / startup | Founders, innovative projects | Yes (own business) | Private cover commonly needed |
| Family reunification | Joining a non-EU resident | Depends on permit | Cover for each member |
| EU family member card | Non-EU family of an EU citizen | Generally yes | Depends on the EU citizen's status |
The rest of this page goes route by route, then by situation.
NLV vs DNV
These two are the most-compared routes because both suit people without a Spanish employer — but they are opposites on work. The Non-Lucrative Visa is for people who will not work and can show sufficient savings or passive income (it is popular with retirees and the financially independent). The Digital Nomad Visa is for people who do work, remotely, for clients or an employer outside Spain.
Insurance differs too. The NLV expects comprehensive private cover with full cover in Spain and usually no co-payments. The DNV can be satisfied by full private cover, or by private cover alongside Spanish social-security registration if you set up as self-employed. See NLV health insurance and DNV health insurance.
DNV routes
Within the DNV there are two healthcare paths. A foreign employee working remotely usually needs full visa-compliant private insurance as their main proof. A self-employed nomad (autónomo) who registers with Spanish social security may rely partly on the public system, with private cover acting as a supplement. Which applies depends on how you structure your work — confirm with an immigration or tax specialist.
If you are self-employed in Spain more generally (not via the DNV), see health insurance for autónomos.
Study
The student visa is for courses lasting more than 90 days. It requires proof of enrolment, sufficient funds, and health insurance — either a suitable student policy or comprehensive private cover for the study period. Students aged roughly 14–35 on stays of around 3–14 months often use a dedicated student policy; longer or older cases may use a standard private plan. See student visa health insurance.
Work
The work visa is for people with a Spanish job offer; the employer is usually involved in the process. Once employed and registered with Spanish social security, healthcare is often covered publicly, though private cover may bridge the gap before that starts or add speed and English-speaking support.
The Highly Qualified Professional route (including EU Blue Card situations) is for senior or specialist hires and tends to be faster, with the employer sponsoring. Insurance may come via social security or an employer scheme — check what your package includes. See work visa health insurance and highly qualified worker health insurance.
Business
The entrepreneur route is for founders with an innovative or scalable business project. The timing of healthcare matters: private cover is typically needed at the visa stage, before the business and social-security registration are active, then the position can change once you are trading. See entrepreneur visa health insurance.
Family
These two are easily confused. Family reunification (reagrupación familiar) is for relatives of a non-EU legal resident, governed by Spanish immigration law, with income and housing conditions. The EU family member card (tarjeta comunitaria) is for non-EU relatives of an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen, governed by EU free-movement rules, and is often simpler and faster.
Both usually require health cover for the joining family members. See family reunification and the EU family member card.
EU & Golden Visa
EU residency registration is the route for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens — not a visa, but you may need to show healthcare cover if not working. See EU residency health insurance.
The Golden Visa (residency by investment) closed to new applicants in 2025. If you were considering it, the practical alternatives are usually the Non-Lucrative Visa (if you will live on savings/pension) or the Digital Nomad Visa (if you work remotely). We cover this in our Golden Visa alternatives guide.
By situation
Most non-EU retirees use the Non-Lucrative Visa and comprehensive private cover; EU retirees register residency and may use an S1 or a no-copay private plan. Older applicants should expect health-declaration questions — see retiree health insurance.
The Digital Nomad Visa is the usual fit; the insurance approach depends on whether you are a foreign employee (full private cover) or self-employed in Spain (private plus social security).
Families often move on one main route (NLV, DNV or work) with partners and children included, or reunify later. Each person normally needs cover — see family health insurance.
The student visa with a suitable student or private policy. Proof of enrolment is required to take out the dedicated student product.
A work or Highly Qualified Professional visa, with healthcare often via social security once employed and private cover bridging the start.
Insurance fit
Whatever route you choose, we handle the same part: arranging suitable Sanitas private health insurance where your route requires it, getting the certificate wording right, and timing the start date to your move. We do not handle the visa application itself.
| Route | Typical Sanitas position |
|---|---|
| NLV | Comprehensive, full cover in Spain, usually no co-payment |
| DNV (employee) | Full visa-compliant private cover |
| DNV (autónomo) | Private cover alongside social security |
| Student | Student or private plan for the study period |
| Work / HQP | Often social security; private to bridge or supplement |
| Family / EU card | Cover for each joining member, named on a certificate |
Compare visa-compliant cover, browse by nationality, or get a personalised quote.
Important information
Tell us your situation and we will flag the likely health-insurance requirement for your route and prepare a personalised quote. We help with the health-insurance part of your application. Acceptance and exact policy terms depend on the insurer’s rules; visa decisions rest with the Spanish authorities.
English-speaking Sanitas specialists can help with the health-insurance part of your visa or residency application.
FAQs
Common questions about this Spanish visa route and the health-insurance requirement. Always confirm current rules with the official authorities or a qualified immigration specialist.