Consulate-compliant private health cover for the Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa — zero co-payments, full repatriation, English certificate.
What you need to know first
The Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa (Visado de Residencia No Lucrativa) is the route most commonly used by non-EU nationals — particularly British, American, and Canadian applicants — to retire to Spain or live there without working. One of its core requirements is private health insurance. Get this wrong and your visa application will be refused.
The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs sets out the insurance requirements, and consulates apply them. While the exact interpretation can vary slightly between consulates, the general requirements are consistent. Your health insurance policy must:
Requirements can vary slightly between consulates. The Spanish consulate in London may have different documentary requirements to those in New York, Los Angeles, Dublin, or Sydney. Our team are familiar with the requirements across the main consulates used by UK, US, Canadian, and Irish applicants, and can confirm what your specific consulate needs before you commit to a policy.
We tailor consulate-compliant cover to your nationality and stage — from first application to renewal at TIE year 5.
Consulate-compliant cover for British NLV applicants — Manchester, Edinburgh, London consulates.
Learn moreCover that meets Spanish consulate requirements for US passport holders applying from any US consulate.
Learn moreCover for Canadians applying from Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Ottawa consulates.
Learn moreMaintaining NLV-compliant cover at TIE renewal (year 2 and year 5).
Learn moreAvoid these mistakes
These are the insurance-related mistakes that get NLV applications rejected or delayed. Our team see these regularly — and help applicants avoid them.
The most frequent error. If your policy charges you anything at point of use — even a small copago — it will not be accepted. You must have a sin copago (no copayment) policy.
Travel insurance is for trips, not residency. Even comprehensive travel insurance will not be accepted by the Spanish consulate for an NLV application. You need a genuine private health insurance policy from a Spanish-registered insurer.
UK an international health insurer, US health plans, and international health insurance policies based outside Spain are not accepted for NLV purposes even if they technically cover Spain. The policy must be with a DGSFP-registered Spanish insurer.
If your policy expires before your visa does, the consulate may refuse or delay your application. The insurance must cover at least the duration of the initial visa period — typically one year — from the start date you intend to enter Spain.
Some consulates require the certificate to be in a specific format or translated into Spanish. Policies purchased directly online without agent support often do not come with the right documentation. We ensure your certificate is in the correct form for your consulate.
Some consulates require the policy to be active at the time of application, not just purchased. Leaving your insurance to the last moment risks delays or being unable to get the documentation before your appointment.
Our process
We have guided a large number of NLV applicants through the health insurance requirement — from first-time applicants to people renewing at year one or applying again at year three. Here is how we work with you.
Which consulate are you applying through? How many people need cover? What is your intended start date in Spain? Any relevant health history? We gather what we need to find the right policy for your situation — not a generic one.
We recommend policies we know to be accepted by Spanish consulates for NLV purposes — no copayments, comprehensive cover, DGSFP-registered, with full Spain coverage. We explain the policy in English so you know exactly what you are buying.
Once you are happy to proceed, we arrange the policy and ensure you receive the insurance certificate in the correct format for your consulate. We deal with the insurer on your behalf throughout.
With your certificate in hand, you submit your NLV application knowing the insurance element is correctly handled. If your consulate has any questions about the policy, our team can support.
The NLV is initially issued for one year, then renewable for two-year periods. Your health insurance must be renewed in line with each visa renewal. We contact you ahead of each renewal date to review your options and ensure continuous, compliant cover.
After your visa is approved
The NLV process does not end at approval. Your visa will need to be renewed, and your health insurance must remain compliant throughout. Here is what to expect at each stage.
Your initial NLV is granted for one year. Your health insurance policy must cover this full period from your intended arrival date. At the end of Year 1, you renew your residency card (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero, or TIE) for a further two years — and your health insurance must be renewed and compliant for this renewal application too.
At Year 3, you apply for a further two-year renewal. The same health insurance requirements apply. Some applicants at this stage choose to reassess their policy — perhaps moving to a different insurer or level of cover — and we can advise on the best options at renewal time.
After five years of legal residence in Spain under the NLV, you may be eligible to apply for long-term or permanent residency. At this point, the private health insurance requirement under the NLV no longer applies in the same way, though most long-term residents continue to hold private health insurance for practical access reasons.
Why choose us
Getting your health insurance wrong on your NLV application costs you time, money, and potentially your visa. We get it right the first time.
We only recommend policies we know to be accepted for NLV applications — no copayments, comprehensive cover, DGSFP-registered, and correctly documented.
NLV applications are time-sensitive. We work quickly to arrange your policy and ensure your certificate reaches you without unnecessary delay before your consulate appointment.
We know the requirements for UK, US, Canadian, Irish, Australian, and other consulates. If your consulate has specific requirements, we are already familiar with them.
We remind you before Year 1 and Year 3 renewals, advise on your options, and make sure your cover remains uninterrupted and compliant throughout your NLV journey.
Policy advice, documentation, certificates, and ongoing support — all in English. No navigating Spanish-only paperwork at a critical stage of your visa application.
Available Monday to Sunday. If your consulate appointment is on a weekend and you need something urgently, we are here to help.
Common questions
These are the questions we are most commonly asked by NLV applicants. If yours is not answered here, call or WhatsApp our team — 7 days a week.
Yes. Private health insurance is a mandatory requirement for the NLV application. Without a valid, compliant health insurance certificate, your application will be refused. The policy must be issued by a Spanish-registered insurer, cover the full duration of the visa, have no copayments, and provide comprehensive cover across Spain.
A copayment (copago) is a small charge you pay each time you use your health insurance — for example €2–€5 per GP visit. Many standard Spanish private health insurance policies include copayments because they lower the monthly premium.
For the NLV, most Spanish consulates require a policy with no copayments at all — known as sin copago. If your policy includes any copayments, it will generally not be accepted. These policies cost slightly more per month but have no charges at point of use.
No. International health insurance policies based outside Spain — including UK an international health insurer, international health insurers, international health insurers, and similar providers — are not accepted for NLV purposes even if they technically cover Spain. The policy must be with a DGSFP-registered Spanish insurer. We can arrange a compliant policy specifically for your NLV application.
NLV-compliant health insurance typically costs more than standard policies because it must be sin copago (no copayment). As a rough guide, expect to pay from around €70–€150 per month for a single adult, depending on age and the insurer. Older applicants will pay more. The exact premium depends on your age, any declared health conditions, and the insurer.
Contact us for a quote based on your specific situation and age.
Generally, yes. Most consulates require an active policy — not just a quote or intention to purchase — at the time you submit your NLV application. The certificate should ideally show a start date on or before your planned entry date into Spain. Contact us well in advance of your appointment to allow time to arrange the policy and receive your certificate.
This varies between consulates and applicants. Some consulates require a policy with no waiting periods; others are less prescriptive. In practice, most NLV-compliant policies do include pre-existing conditions after a waiting period, or exclude them but accept the applicant. The key point is transparency — always declare all pre-existing conditions honestly when applying.
Our team can advise on how to approach this based on your health history and your consulate's requirements.
Your health insurance must be renewed in line with each NLV renewal — at Year 1 (initial renewal) and Year 3 (first two-year renewal). The same requirements apply at each renewal point. We contact you in advance of each renewal, advise on your options, and ensure your cover remains continuous and compliant throughout your NLV residency.
Yes, they can. The requirements set by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs are consistent, but individual consulates sometimes interpret or apply them slightly differently — particularly around documentation formats and what counts as compliant cover. We are familiar with the requirements at the main consulates used by UK, US, Canadian, Irish, and Australian applicants. Let us know which consulate you are applying through and we will advise accordingly.
As a specialist expat insurance agent, we cover all the main insurance needs you may have in Spain — not just one product.
Our English-speaking team will find you a compliant, no-copayment health insurance policy for your Non-Lucrative Visa application — with the certificate you need, in the right format, fast. No jargon, no pressure, no obligation.
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