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Digital Nomad VisaAfter approvalPublic + private together

Private Health Insurance After DNV Approval

Your visa is approved. What happens next with your healthcare depends on how you work and the Social Security arrangement that applies to you. If you become entitled to Spanish public healthcare, you can keep private Sanitas cover alongside it — for private appointments, hospital choice and English-speaking support.

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After approvalDNV
After approvalDepends on how you work
Self-employedUsually register via RETA
EmployedDepends on your arrangement
Public entitlementWhen it becomes active
Private alongsideAppointments, choice, English
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✓ Exclusive Sanitas Agent
✓ Sanitas International Experts
✓ English-speaking support
✓ Private cover alongside public
✓ Help choosing the right plan

The short answer

What Happens to Your Healthcare After DNV Approval?

Your healthcare position after DNV approval depends on how you work and the Social Security arrangement that applies to you. If you become entitled to Spanish public healthcare, you can still keep private Sanitas cover alongside it — for private appointments, hospital choice and English-speaking support. Approval on its own does not create public-healthcare entitlement, so what you do next depends on your own situation.

How your position is set

Your Social Security Position Depends on How You Work

Self-employed (autónomo)

Self-employed DNV holders normally register through RETA and begin their contributions. For many, that is the route that leads to Spanish public healthcare.

Employed by a company

If you are employed, your Social Security position depends on your employment arrangement. You may enter Spanish Social Security, or a different applicable arrangement may apply.

When public healthcare begins

Access to Spanish public healthcare begins when the relevant entitlement is active — not simply when the DNV is approved. Until then, your existing private cover continues to matter.

Your timeline

From Approval to Reviewing Your Cover

1. Approval

Your DNV is approved. At this point nothing about your healthcare changes automatically — your existing private cover still applies.

2. Register and set your Social Security position

If you are self-employed, you normally register through RETA. If you are employed, your applicable Social Security arrangement depends on your employment position and may not involve registration in Spanish Social Security.

3. Public entitlement becomes active

Access to Spanish public healthcare begins once the relevant entitlement is active; the timing follows your route.

4. Review your cover

With your position settled, we review your private cover with you so it fits how you now live, work and travel.

Why keep it

Why Keep Private Sanitas Cover Alongside Public Healthcare?

  • Access to private appointments with specialists and for diagnostic tests.
  • Your choice of doctor and hospital across the Sanitas network.
  • Continuity of care with the doctors and specialists you have already seen.
  • Cover for your partner or children, arranged alongside yours.
  • Everything handled in English, from booking to using your cover.
  • Private hospitals, surgery and hospitalisation as part of a comprehensive plan.

Using both

How Public and Private Work Together Day to Day

If you hold both public and private healthcare, you can choose which service to use for each healthcare need. You might use your public health centre for routine prescriptions and ongoing care, and your private Sanitas cover for a specialist appointment, a privately arranged diagnostic scan, or to choose a particular doctor or hospital. You decide which route to use each time, and our English-speaking team helps you get the most from both.

Before you change

What to Consider Before Changing or Cancelling Cover

If you are thinking of changing or cancelling the private policy you took out for your application, it is worth checking a few things first: whether your public healthcare entitlement is actually active yet, whether anyone in the family still relies on the private cover, and whether continuity or waiting periods would be affected by switching. We talk this through with you before anything changes, so you do not drop cover you still need.

Your ongoing cover

Choosing the Right Ongoing Sanitas Cover

Once your working and Social Security position is settled, it is worth reviewing which Sanitas policy best suits your healthcare needs in Spain.

Review your existing cover

If you took out Sanitas Residents Visado or Residents Platinum Visado for your application, it can continue — we check the level still fits how you now live and travel.

Self-employed? Compare Profesionales

The Sanitas Profesionales range is designed for autónomos. If you are registered through RETA, we help you compare it against your current cover.

Keeping cover for another reason

Some people keep comprehensive private cover whatever their public position. We match the plan to how you actually use it, rather than assuming one option is right for everyone.

Get a Personalised Quote →Compare autónomo plans

Two examples

Self-Employed and Employed DNV Holders

Self-employed (autónomo)

After registering through RETA, public healthcare becomes available once the relevant entitlement is active. You may also keep private cover for private appointments and choice of doctor or hospital, and as an established autónomo you can compare the Sanitas Profesionales range, designed for the self-employed, against your existing cover.

Employed by a company

Your healthcare position follows the Social Security arrangement that applies to your employment. If Spanish public-healthcare entitlement becomes active, you may keep private cover alongside it and compare the appropriate ongoing Sanitas options.

Get Your Personalised Sanitas Quote

Tell us where you are now and we will help you find the right private Sanitas cover for your situation. Share your nationality, your situation, date of birth, number of applicants and where in Spain you live.

  • A review of your current private cover
  • Private healthcare alongside public healthcare where it applies
  • Residents Visado, Platinum Visado or Profesionales
  • Cover for your partner or children
  • Everything arranged in English
  • English-speaking help from start to finish

Request a Personalised Quote

Applicant 1 (You)

Prefer to Talk It Through First?

Tell us your situation and our English-speaking advisers will help you find the right private Sanitas cover.

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FAQs

After-Approval Health Insurance FAQs

Common questions once your Digital Nomad Visa is approved and you are registered in Spain.

Not necessarily. DNV approval does not by itself create Spanish public-healthcare entitlement — that follows from how you work and the Social Security arrangement that applies to you. If you have active Spanish public-healthcare entitlement, you may choose to rely on that healthcare route rather than private insurance. Many DNV holders still keep private Sanitas cover for private appointments, hospital choice and English-speaking support.
Self-employed DNV holders normally register through RETA; employed applicants' position depends on their employment arrangement. Public healthcare becomes available when the relevant entitlement is active. From that point you can use public healthcare and keep private Sanitas cover alongside it if you want the extra access and choice.
Common reasons are access to private appointments with specialists and for tests, choosing your own doctor and hospital, continuity with the doctors they have already seen, cover for a partner or children, and being able to deal with everything in English.
Usually yes. We review your Residents Visado or Residents Platinum Visado cover with you and confirm it still fits now that you are settled — or, as an autónomo, we can compare the Sanitas Profesionales range with you. The right ongoing option depends on your situation.
No. Keeping private cover is your choice. Some people keep comprehensive cover, others adjust it once public healthcare is available to them. We will talk it through and help you decide.
Yes. Private cover can also be arranged for your partner or children — we can include them on your enquiry or arrange cover separately, whichever suits your household.

Related Guides & Next Steps

Digital Nomad Visa

DNV health insuranceEmployee vs self-employedSocial Security or private?DNV family cover (self-employed)

Living in Spain as an autónomo

Autónomo health insuranceBest Sanitas plan for autónomosPrivate alongside Social Security

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