If you are coming to Spain to study, you may need private health insurance for your Spanish student visa, university enrolment or course registration. Sanitas International Students is designed for foreign students coming to Spain and is suitable for students aged 14 to 35 — for study stays in Spain from 3 to 14 months. It provides private healthcare cover in Spain during your study stay, with no copayments, no waiting periods and repatriation included.
Sanitas' official International Students product is aimed at foreign students aged 14 to 35 studying in Spain. It is described as suitable for student visa requirements, with no copayments and no waiting periods. Sanitas is part of the Bupa group — Sanitas' 2024 annual report reports 2.9 million customers in Spain.
Important: Sanitas International Students is designed for student visa use, but the final decision always rests with the consulate, immigration office or institution reviewing your documents. We help you arrange suitable student cover with the right certificate wording — we cannot guarantee visa approval.
Students coming to Spain
Spain welcomes thousands of international students every year for university degrees, Erasmus exchanges, language courses, master's programmes, postgraduate study and academic mobility programmes. If you are coming to Spain to study, you may need to prove that you have suitable health insurance before your visa is approved or before your course registration is completed.
Student visa health insurance is not the same as travel insurance. A travel policy is usually designed for short trips, cancelled flights, lost luggage and emergency medical situations. Student visa insurance should provide proper healthcare cover while you are living and studying in Spain.
Who it's for
Sanitas International Students is designed for foreign students coming to Spain to study. It is suitable for students aged 14 to 35 who need private health insurance for Spain.
It can be suitable for:
The key point is simple: this is for students coming to Spain, not residents applying for an NLV or DNV and not people looking for worldwide health insurance.
Main benefits
For students aged 14–35 coming to Spain to study, Sanitas International Students is the main Sanitas policy we recommend. It is more relevant than Sanitas Residents or Residents Platinum for most standard student visa applicants because it is specifically designed for international students studying in Spain.
Sanitas International Students is designed to meet student visa health insurance requirements for students coming to Spain. It provides the type of healthcare documentation students commonly need for a Spanish student visa application.
This policy is designed for healthcare access while you are studying in Spain. It is not sold as worldwide private medical insurance — it is for students who need cover during their stay in Spain.
The policy is suitable for international students aged 14 to 35 coming to Spain to study. Students over 35 should contact us so we can check alternative options.
Sanitas International Students is a no-copayment policy. Students do not pay a small extra fee each time they use covered medical services, subject to the policy terms — useful because healthcare costs are easier to budget while studying.
Covered services are available from the start of the policy, subject to the policy conditions. This matters because student visa applicants usually need cover to be valid from the beginning of their stay.
Repatriation is important for many Spanish visa applications. Sanitas International Students includes repatriation cover, helping the policy align with student visa requirements.
Sanitas describes the product as suitable for stays of a minimum of 3 months and a maximum of 14 months — relevant for academic years, Erasmus stays, language courses and exchange programmes.
Visa requirements
If you are applying for a Spanish student visa, your health insurance should normally provide proper private healthcare cover for your stay in Spain. Requirements can vary slightly depending on the consulate, course type, nationality and study duration, but student visa insurance commonly needs to include:
Sanitas International Students is designed for students who need this type of cover for their stay in Spain.
What's covered
Sanitas International Students is designed to provide private healthcare cover in Spain while you are studying. Depending on the current policy terms, cover may include:
The exact cover should always be checked against the current policy conditions before purchase.
Plan comparison
Three Sanitas plans are sometimes confused for student visa use. For a typical student aged 14–35 coming to Spain to study, the correct product is clear.
| Feature | Sanitas International Students | Sanitas Residents | Residents Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|
| From price | €42.65/month | €67.76/month | €107.23/month |
| Designed for | Foreign students coming to Spain | Foreign residents moving to Spain | Premium foreign residents |
| Best for | Student visa applicants 14–35 | NLV applicants | DNV / premium NLV |
| Age range | 14–35 | No specific age range | No specific age range |
| Cover scope | Healthcare in Spain | Healthcare in Spain | Healthcare in Spain |
| Stay duration | 3–14 months | Long-term residency | Long-term residency |
| No copayments | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| No waiting periods | ✓ Yes | Option available | Waived for visa |
| Repatriation | Included | Included | Included |
| Recommended for student visa | ✓ Yes | – No | – No |
Prices are from-prices. Your exact premium depends on age, dates, course duration and policy issue conditions.
Study routes
Sanitas International Students can be suitable across different types of academic stay in Spain — provided you meet the age and study requirements.
If you are coming to Spain for a university degree, you may need health insurance for both your visa application and your university enrolment. Sanitas International Students is designed for foreign students studying in Spain and can be suitable for this route.
Erasmus students may need private health insurance depending on nationality, existing healthcare rights, university requirements and visa status. If you need Spanish student visa insurance, Sanitas International Students can be a suitable option if you meet the age and study requirements.
Students attending Spanish language schools may need student visa insurance if the course length and visa route require it. Sanitas International Students can be suitable for eligible students coming to Spain for language study.
Master's and postgraduate students aged 14–35 can usually consider Sanitas International Students. If you are over 35, contact us so we can check another suitable Sanitas policy.
Exchange students often need insurance documents for both their home institution and the Spanish institution. A Spanish private health insurance policy can make this easier.
If you are coming to Spain for another type of recognised study programme — academic mobility, vocational study, summer institute — get in touch so we can confirm whether Sanitas International Students fits your situation.
By age
Sanitas International Students is designed for students aged 14 to 35. Here's how that breaks down by age band.
May be eligible for Sanitas International Students, but minors may need a parent, guardian or responsible adult involved in the visa and insurance process.
One of the most common groups for Spanish student visas, Erasmus, language courses and university study. Sanitas International Students is usually the most relevant Sanitas policy for this group.
Older students, postgraduate students and master's students may still be eligible if they are within the 14–35 age range and coming to Spain to study.
Sanitas International Students is designed for ages 14 to 35. If you are over 35, we should check an alternative Sanitas option before you apply. Contact us before applying. We may be able to recommend another Sanitas policy suitable for your age, visa and study situation.
Duration
Sanitas International Students is designed for study stays in Spain with a minimum duration of 3 months and a maximum duration of 14 months.
This can work well for:
Documents
To apply for Sanitas International Students, you may need:
Sanitas' official contracting requirements include being aged 14–35, presenting a residence card or passport, and providing proof of the studies to be undertaken.
No NIE needed
Yes — many students apply before they have an NIE or TIE. Sanitas International Students can be arranged using a passport or residence card as part of the application requirements.
This is useful because student visa applicants often need their insurance certificate before they arrive in Spain.
Travel insurance warning
Travel insurance is usually not the right product for a Spanish student visa. It is designed for temporary travel risks, not for living and studying in Spain.
A student visa health insurance policy should provide healthcare cover while you are in Spain and should be suitable for visa documentation. Sanitas International Students is designed specifically for this purpose.
Costs
Sanitas International Students starts from €42.65/month.
The final price may depend on the current Sanitas tariff, age, duration, start date and policy issue conditions. Always confirm the exact premium with a personalised quote.
Under-18 students
For students aged 14 to 17, a parent or guardian usually needs to complete the application, sign the forms, provide contact details and coordinate the visa and insurance documentation. School, host-family or guardian arrangements may also affect which documents are requested. We can guide parents and guardians through the process so the cover and certificate are set up correctly for a younger student.
Longer courses
Sanitas International Students is designed for stays of roughly 3 to 14 months. If your course is longer, contact us before buying. Depending on the course length, your age, the visa type and the extension or renewal route, a different Sanitas option or a renewal structure may be needed. We will check what suits your situation so your cover matches the full length of your studies.
EU vs non-EU
EU, EEA and Swiss students may have other routes, such as an EHIC, an S1 or university-specific arrangements, depending on their situation. Non-EU (third-country) students are more likely to need private Spanish student visa insurance. This page is mainly for students who need private cover for a Spanish student visa. If you are an EU student, ask us and we will point you to the route that fits your situation.
Common questions about Sanitas International Students and Spanish student visa health insurance.
Need student visa health insurance? Request a personalised quote in English.
We help with the health-insurance part only. Visa and residency decisions are made by the Spanish authorities, and requirements can vary by route and office. Always confirm the full requirements with the relevant Spanish consulate, Extranjería office or a qualified immigration specialist where applicable.
Tell us your age, course type, study dates and when you are coming to Spain, and we will confirm whether Sanitas International Students is suitable for you.
Free, no-obligation advice from Sanitas exclusive agents who understand student visa needs.