If you are coming to Spain as an international student, health insurance is one of the most important things to get right before you apply for your visa, start your course or renew your stay. For many non-EU students, basic travel insurance is not enough — the policy may need full private medical cover in Spain, no copayments, no deductibles and the correct certificate. We help you arrange suitable Sanitas cover, which may include Sanitas International Students or Sanitas Residents.
Who for
This page is for international students coming to Spain for recognised studies, training, language courses, university programmes, exchange programmes or longer academic stays. It may be relevant if you are applying for a Spanish student visa, coming for university or postgraduate studies, joining an Erasmus or exchange programme, studying Spanish at a recognised academy, renewing your student stay, over 35 and applying through a student route, or unsure whether Sanitas International Students or Sanitas Residents is better for your case.
If you are applying from outside Spain, your consulate or visa centre may check your insurance certificate carefully. If you are renewing in Spain, the immigration office may want proof that your insurance remains active and suitable for the renewed period.
Why it matters
Spain has a strong healthcare system, but international students do not automatically have full access to public healthcare in every situation. Your healthcare rights depend on your nationality, residence status, length of stay, course type and whether you are applying for a student visa.
For many non-EU students, private health insurance is a core part of the visa file. The authorities want to see that you will have proper healthcare cover during your stay and that your policy does not leave you relying on the public system. A suitable policy should support your visa or renewal paperwork and give you practical access to private healthcare while living and studying in Spain.
Travel insurance
Usually, no. Travel insurance is designed for holidays, short stays and emergencies, not for someone living in Spain as a student for several months or longer. A travel policy may not be accepted if it only covers emergency treatment, has copayments or deductibles, works by reimbursement, has low limits, does not provide a suitable visa certificate, is not issued by an insurer authorised in Spain, or does not cover the full required stay. Even where it includes repatriation, that alone does not make it suitable for a student visa.
What it includes
For a Spanish student visa, your health insurance should normally include:
The exact wording can vary by consulate, country and visa centre, so always check the latest checklist for the place where you are applying.
Sanitas
Sanitas can be a strong option for international students because it provides private healthcare access and can support student visa applications when the correct product and certificate are used. The two main routes are Sanitas International Students and Sanitas Residents.
For eligible students aged 14 to 35 coming to Spain for a study stay from 3 to 14 months, Sanitas International Students is usually the first option to check. If the student is over 35, staying longer, applying under a different route, applying with dependants, or has unusual certificate requirements, alternative Sanitas options such as Sanitas Residents may need to be reviewed, subject to current terms and eligibility.
SIS
Sanitas International Students is designed for international students coming to Spain for recognised studies. It may be suitable if you are coming for a recognised study programme, have valid proof of enrolment or matriculation, are applying for a Spanish student visa, are a standard student applicant, and need a student-focused certificate. This can include university, master's, postgraduate, Erasmus, exchange and language students.
However, the student product is not automatically suitable for every person using a student-style immigration route. The applicant may need to provide valid proof of enrolment or matriculation from a recognised university, school, language academy or educational institution.
Residents
Sanitas Residents is a broader private medical insurance route often used for visa and residency purposes. For students, it may be more appropriate where you are over 35, applying for a longer stay, renewing in Spain, applying with dependants, planning to remain in Spain after studying, may later modify to another immigration route, or do not clearly fit the standard student-product profile.
This does not mean every student needs Sanitas Residents. But for mature students, longer stays and more complex cases, it can be the safer and more practical route. See Sanitas International Students vs Sanitas Residents.
By study type
Often the clearest cases — university student health insurance where there is recognised enrolment or matriculation.
Need careful checking around recognised course and enrolment — see language student health insurance.
One-year or longer postgraduate routes — see master's student health insurance.
Semester-abroad and Erasmus — see exchange student health insurance.
Certificate
For many non-EU students, the certificate is one of the most important documents in the visa file. It should normally show your name, insurer details, policy dates, medical cover in Spain, no copayments where required and repatriation wording where required. A policy may be good cover, but if the certificate does not match the consulate requirements, the application can still be delayed. See the student visa certificate page.
No-copay
For Spanish student visa applications, no-copay cover is usually the safest option, because policies with copayments can be questioned where full cover is required. Repatriation wording is also a recurring requirement — where the consulate expects it, the certificate should show it clearly.
Over 35
Spain attracts many mature students, including people studying Spanish, completing postgraduate studies, retraining or using study as part of a longer relocation plan. If you are over 35, your insurance route should be reviewed carefully — Sanitas Residents may be more appropriate than a standard student product. See over-35 student health insurance.
Renewals
If you are already in Spain and renewing your student stay, your insurance must remain active and suitable, usually with an updated certificate, proof of continued studies and no gap in cover. See student visa renewal health insurance.
Payment & NIE
Many international students arrange health insurance before arrival because the certificate is needed for the visa appointment, when they may not yet have a Spanish bank account, Spanish IBAN, NIE or TIE card. Spanish Health Insurance can help arrange Sanitas student cover with credit card payment options where available, and policies can normally be contracted in advance of the required start date. This is especially useful for students from the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and other non-EU countries.
Many students arrange cover before they have an NIE, using passport details, and pay by credit card where available. See student health insurance without an NIE and arranging cover before arrival.
Cities
We help students across Spain's main study destinations:
Mistakes
Next steps
Continue with the pages most relevant to your route:
Important information
Tell us the student's age, nationality, course type, course dates, Spanish city, visa route and any medical history, and we will help compare suitable Sanitas options. For eligible students aged 14 to 35 coming to Spain for 3 to 14 months, Sanitas International Students is usually the first option to check. Not sure whether your current travel, university or home-country cover is enough? Send us the details and we’ll help you check. 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 check the right Sanitas route, certificate and payment options in English, with no obligation.
FAQs
Common questions about health insurance for international students in Spain. Requirements vary by route and consulate — always confirm for your case.
We help international students from around the world arrange suitable Sanitas cover for a Spanish student visa. Find guidance for your country: