Applying for health insurance in Spain does not need to be complicated. Whether you need private medical cover for a visa, residency application, student stay, EU registration, family relocation or everyday healthcare, the process usually follows a clear sequence: quote, plan recommendation, application details, medical questions, payment, policy issue and certificate delivery.
Spanish Health Insurance helps expats arrange Sanitas health insurance in English, so you understand what information is needed, which plan is suitable, how long the process takes and what happens after your policy is approved.
Spanish Health Insurance helps expats arrange Sanitas private health insurance — Sanitas is part of the Bupa group and is one of Spain's leading private health insurers. This page explains exactly what happens after you request a quote: medical questions, payment, certificate, policy documents, Mi Sanitas setup.
New to this? Start with our broader How to Get Health Insurance in Spain → guide. This page goes deeper into what happens AFTER you request a quote.
At a Glance
Before we go through all 14 steps in detail, here is the whole application process in plain language. This page goes deeper than the broader beginner guide at How to Get Health Insurance in Spain — focusing on the operational mechanics that come AFTER the initial quote.
The exact process depends on the plan, your age, medical history, number of people covered, payment method and whether the policy is needed for a visa or residency application.
Before You Start
You do not need to have everything finalised before requesting a quote, but it helps to know:
If you are missing some details, you can still request a quote and we will guide you.
The Sanitas application process starts with a quote. Prices in Spain are not one-size-fits-all — they depend on your age, province, plan type, copay choice, medical history and number of people to cover. Without these details, the insurer cannot give an accurate price.
To prepare a personalised quote, we typically need:
Once we have these details we can recommend the most suitable Sanitas plans for your situation — and confirm the exact price before you decide to proceed.
The cheapest plan is not always the right plan. Before recommending a Sanitas option, we confirm the reason for cover — because the requirements vary significantly between use cases.
You may need cover for one of these reasons:
Knowing the reason early helps us match you to a plan that actually meets the requirement — for example a no-copay visa-suitable plan rather than a cheaper copay plan that would be rejected.
Sanitas offers a range of plans for different needs. We recommend the option that fits your reason for cover, age, medical history and budget. This page goes deeper than the broader beginner guide — for the broader overview, see How to Get Health Insurance in Spain.
Common Sanitas plan options include:
Your exact price depends on age, province, plan type, medical history and number of people. Acceptance and exact terms depend on the insurer's rules.
If your policy is for a visa or residency application, the plan must meet the requirements of that specific route. Get this wrong and the consulate or immigration office may reject the application.
Normally requires a visa-suitable private health insurance with no copays, no waiting periods, full hospital and outpatient cover, and a Spanish authorised insurer. Sanitas Residents is the most common starting point.
Requirements depend on your social security position. If you are not paying into Spanish Social Security or covered under another EU/Convenio system, a no-copay private health insurance policy is typically required.
Usually requires a visa-suitable student health insurance policy. Sanitas International Students is designed for students aged 14–35 coming to Spain to study and needing cover for use in Spain during their study period. If you are older than 35, contact us because another Sanitas policy may be more suitable.
EU citizens not working in Spain often need to prove private health insurance access to register. A no-copay plan such as Sanitas Más Salud Sin Copay is a common choice.
Once your plan is chosen, the next step is sending the insurer the personal and contact details required to issue cover. We collect these in English on your behalf.
You may need to provide:
Note: an NIE is not always mandatory to start. Many applications can begin with passport details only and the NIE can be added later when you have it.
Most Sanitas plans require some medical information before cover can be issued. This protects both you and the insurer — and ensures your policy will pay out when needed.
Common medical information requested:
Depending on the answers, Sanitas may accept the application normally, request more information, apply specific exclusions, delay cover, or recommend a different plan.
If medical information is flagged for review, the insurer's underwriting team will look at the case before issuing cover. This is normal — it doesn't necessarily mean a problem.
Possible outcomes of medical review:
Underwriting can take a few extra working days. Start the process early if you have a deadline — for example a consulate appointment or visa interview.
The cover start date is one of the most important fields on your application — especially for visa applications. The certificate will show this date, and your application can be rejected if the date doesn't fit consulate requirements.
For visa or residency, consider aligning your start date with:
Cover cannot start retroactively. Always choose a start date that gives the insurer time to issue the policy and certificate before any deadline.
Payment is normally arranged before the policy is issued. The available options depend on the plan and on whether the policy is for a visa or non-visa use.
Common payment options:
For visa-related policies, annual or bi-annual payment is often preferred or required depending on the product, payment method and application route — even when monthly payment is available on the same plan in non-visa cases.
Once underwriting is complete and payment is set up, Sanitas issues the policy. You will receive confirmation by email — often the same day, sometimes within a few working days.
When the policy is issued, you should check:
Errors are easier to correct now than later. If anything looks wrong, flag it before relying on the policy for a visa application or appointment.
For most expat applications, the health insurance certificate is the key document. It is what consulates, immigration offices and universities want to see — not the marketing brochure.
A typical certificate shows:
Keep both digital and printed copies. You may need to upload the digital version online and present a printed copy at an appointment.
Beyond the certificate, you will normally receive a set of policy documents describing exactly what is and isn't covered. Skim them as soon as they arrive — they explain what the policy actually does.
Typical policy documents include:
Pay particular attention to waiting periods, exclusions, authorisation rules, emergency procedures, copay amounts and network limits. These are the sections that catch people out later.
Once your policy is active, you can register for Mi Sanitas — the Sanitas member app and online area. It is how you actually use the policy day to day.
Mi Sanitas typically gives you access to:
Set this up early. It is much faster than calling for every appointment — and the digital card on your phone is normally enough at clinics and hospitals.
Once the start date arrives, you can begin using your cover. Sanitas operates across Spain with a wide network of clinics, hospitals and specialists.
With your active policy you can typically:
Most expat clients use Sanitas alongside Spain's public system once that becomes available — using private cover for speed and English-speaking access, and the public system as the long-term safety net.
Timing
It depends on the type of application. Straightforward private cover can sometimes be issued the same day. Visa-related, medically reviewed, family or annual-payment applications usually take a few working days. Allow at least 7–14 days if you have a visa appointment.
Things that can extend timing:
Start the application early — don't wait until the week of your visa appointment.
Before Arrival
Yes. Many Sanitas applications are started while the applicant is still outside Spain. This is common for visa and student applications, because the policy and certificate are usually needed before the visa is approved or stamped.
Common applicant groups that apply before arrival:
You give the planned Spanish province and postcode at application time. Address details and NIE can usually be updated once you arrive.
No NIE Needed
Yes — in many cases. Most Sanitas applications can be started using passport details only. The NIE is typically added to the policy record once you have it.
Banking, payment, certificate format and visa file requirements may eventually require an NIE — but the insurance application itself usually does not need one to begin. We confirm at the time of quote whether your specific plan needs it.
No Spanish Bank Yet
Sometimes — it depends on the plan. Many Sanitas plans accept a European IBAN (SEPA) for direct debit. Some plans accept card or transfer payment. Fully non-EU accounts can be more difficult, but options often exist.
For visa policies specifically, payment terms can be stricter — annual or bi-annual payment with a European or Spanish IBAN, or annual payment with a credit card. Tell us about your bank situation and we will match the right Sanitas plan to your payment method.
Families
Each person on a family application is typically a named insured. They each appear on the policy schedule, each have their own certificate where needed, and each have their own application details (especially medical questions).
For each person, we usually need:
Don't only cover the main applicant. For visa applications, each adult typically needs their own certificate — and children sometimes need their own certificate too, depending on the consulate.
Pre-existing
Apply early if you have a pre-existing condition — the insurer may need extra time to review the case before issuing cover. Many applicants with medical history can still be considered, but acceptance always depends on the insurer's underwriting rules. Sanitas may accept the application, request more information, apply exclusions, adjust terms, recommend another plan or decline the application.
Examples of conditions the insurer may ask about:
Possible outcomes include normal acceptance, acceptance with specific exclusions, request for further information, recommendation of a different plan, or decline. Declare honestly and we will guide you through the options.
Visa Applications
Visa applications are stricter than non-visa applications. The policy needs to meet the route's requirements, and the certificate needs to be in the format the consulate or immigration office accepts.
Common visa application mistakes:
Tell us the exact visa type when you request a quote — NLV, DNV, student, family reunification, etc. We match the plan and certificate format to the specific route.
Students
Sanitas International Students is designed for students aged 14–35 coming to Spain to study and needing cover for use in Spain during their study period. It is the first choice for most student applications. If you are older than 35, contact us because another Sanitas policy may be more suitable.
To apply, prepare:
EU Citizens
EU citizens often need to show private health insurance to register as residents — especially if they are not working in Spain. No-copay plans such as Más Salud Sin Copay or Más Salud Familias Sin Copay may be suitable depending on whether the application is for an individual, couple or family. The right option depends on age, province, family size and the requirements of the local office.
Things to consider when applying as an EU citizen:
NLV / DNV
The NLV and DNV are the two most common non-EU residency routes for expat clients — and they have specific health insurance expectations.
Requires a visa-suitable no-copay private health insurance policy with no waiting periods, from a Spanish-authorised insurer. Sanitas Residents is the standard option, with Residents Platinum as the premium choice. The certificate format and annual payment setup are both important on this route.
Requirements depend on your social security position. If you are not paying into Spanish Social Security and cannot evidence an accepted social security arrangement, a private no-copay policy such as Sanitas Residents or Residents Platinum may be appropriate. The correct route depends on your employment structure and application file.
Avoid These
These are the application mistakes we see most often — most of them are easy to avoid once you know what to watch for.
Consulate appointments, medical underwriting, and certificate issue all take time. If your visa appointment is in 7 days, requesting cover the day before is risky.
The cheapest plan is not always the right plan. For visas, EU registration or families, suitability matters more than the lowest premium.
Hiding pre-existing conditions can void the policy when you need it most. Insurers assess each case individually — declare honestly.
Start date matters for visas, students and EU residency. The certificate often needs to align with your planned arrival or registration date.
If you are moving with a partner or children, include them at application time. Each person usually needs their own cover and certificate for visas.
Many Sanitas applications can begin with passport details only. The NIE is typically added later. Do not delay your quote waiting for an NIE.
Not every Sanitas plan is suitable for a visa application. Visa-suitable plans usually need no copays, no waiting periods and the correct certificate wording.
Waiting periods, exclusions, authorisation rules, copay amounts and network limits matter. Read your condiciones generales before signing.
Get Started
Spanish Health Insurance is an English-speaking team helping expats apply for Sanitas private health insurance. We make the application process clear and stress-free — from the first quote to your active policy and certificate.
We can help with:
Request your Sanitas health insurance application today — and we will guide you through every step, from quote to certificate, in English.
Tell us about your situation and we'll come back with a personalised Sanitas private health insurance quote in English — based on your age, province, plan preference, residency route and number of people to cover. No obligation.
The 16 most common questions expats ask about applying for Sanitas health insurance in Spain — process, documents, certificate, timing.