Do I Need Insurance to Move to Spain?

It's one of the first questions people ask when planning a move to Spain: do I actually need insurance, and if so, which kinds? The answer depends on your nationality, your visa situation, whether you're buying or renting, and what you're bringing with you. This guide gives you a clear, plain-English breakdown.

The Short Answer

For most people moving to Spain, you will need at minimum:

• Private health insurance (required for many visas; strongly recommended for all)
• Car insurance if you own or plan to drive a vehicle
• Home insurance if you own a property (required by most mortgage lenders)

Beyond these, travel insurance and life/funeral cover are important but often overlooked. Let's look at each in detail.

Health Insurance: The Most Important Policy

Private health insurance is, for most expats moving to Spain, the single most important insurance to arrange — and in many cases it's a legal requirement before you can even arrive.

Visa Applicants Must Have It

If you're applying for a Spanish residency visa — whether the Non-Lucrative Visa, the Digital Nomad Visa, the Golden Visa, or similar — private health insurance is a mandatory part of your application package. The policy must be comprehensive, issued by a Spanish-registered insurer (authorised by the DGSFP), and cover the full period of your visa without repatriation as the only benefit.

This is not negotiable. Applications submitted without valid health insurance documentation are routinely refused. And the type of policy matters too — a bare-bones emergency-only policy won't suffice.

EU Citizens Still Need It

EU citizens moving to Spain don't need a visa, but that doesn't mean health insurance is optional. Your EHIC card (or its successor, the GHIC) covers emergency medical treatment when you're temporarily in another EU country. It does not cover you as a resident — once you live in Spain, the EHIC no longer applies in the same way.

Access to Spain's public health system (Sanidad) for EU expats typically requires registration at your local health centre and in some cases depends on your employment or social security status. Until that's established, private health insurance is the safest option.

British Expats Post-Brexit

British citizens who moved to Spain before 31 December 2020 under the Withdrawal Agreement may have established rights to access the Spanish public health system. Those who arrived after that date — or who are planning to move now — are generally treated as non-EU residents and must meet standard visa requirements, including private health insurance.

Car Insurance: Required by Spanish Law

If you're driving in Spain, you must have at minimum seguro a terceros — third party liability insurance. This is the legal minimum and covers damage or injury you cause to other people and their vehicles.

Most expats, however, opt for fully comprehensive cover (seguro a todo riesgo), which additionally covers damage to your own vehicle in an accident, theft, fire, and natural events. The extra cost is usually modest, particularly for newer vehicles.

Registering Your Vehicle in Spain

If you're bringing a car from the UK or another country, you'll need to formally import and register it in Spain — a process known as matriculación. This involves paying import duties, getting a Spanish MOT (ITV), and registering with the DGT. Once the vehicle is Spanish-registered, you need Spanish insurance. Contact us at 247 Expat Insurance — we can advise on the timing and arrange cover for you.

Home Insurance: Not Legally Required, But Essential

Home insurance in Spain is not a legal requirement for property owners, but it is almost universally required by mortgage lenders. If you're buying with finance, expect your bank or lender to require at minimum a building insurance policy from the day of completion.

Beyond mortgage requirements, the practical case for home insurance is clear. Spain experiences severe weather events — including storms, floods, and (in some areas) earthquakes. Home burglaries, water damage, and fire are also real risks. Without insurance, you bear all of those costs yourself.

Renters

If you're renting rather than buying, your landlord's policy will cover the building structure, but your own possessions won't be covered. A contents insurance policy for renters in Spain is affordable and protects your belongings against theft, fire, and accidental damage.

Travel Insurance: Don't Assume Your Spanish Policy Covers Trips Away

Many expats are surprised to learn that their Spanish health insurance doesn't cover them when they travel outside Spain. If you visit the UK, travel to the US, or take a holiday in Asia, you'll want a travel insurance policy that covers medical expenses, cancellation, and disruption.

An annual multi-trip travel insurance policy is usually the most cost-effective option for expats who make regular trips. If you're over 65 or have pre-existing conditions, make sure these are fully declared and covered — otherwise you could find a claim rejected when you need it most.

What Insurance You Can Leave Until Later

Not everything needs to be arranged before you board the plane. Dental insurance, pet insurance, and life insurance, for example, are worth arranging but aren't typically urgent on day one. Focus first on health, car (if applicable), and home — then build your cover from there.

Getting it Right with 247 Expat Insurance

Navigating the Spanish insurance market in a foreign language, from abroad, without knowing what's required is genuinely stressful. That's exactly why we exist. Our English-speaking team understands both the Spanish insurance landscape and the specific needs of expats.

We can advise on exactly what you need based on your nationality, visa route, and circumstances — and arrange policies from leading Spanish insurers, quickly and simply. Get in touch with us today.