If you are a US citizen moving to Spain on a Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV), Digital Nomad Visa (DNV), Student Visa, Family Reunification or other long-stay route, your visa file needs to include compliant health insurance. US health insurance plans (employer, Affordable Care Act marketplace, Medicare) don't cover residents living abroad and are not designed to meet Spanish visa requirements. This guide covers what compliant Spanish visa health insurance looks like for Americans applicants, why local US health insurance and Medicare health cover typically doesn’t meet the requirements, and how 247 Expat Insurance prepares the right insurance pack for your Spanish Consulate.
247 Expat Insurance prepares Spanish-licensed visa health insurance certificates for Americans moving to Spain. Seven days a week.
Get a QuoteTalk to an AdviserMost Spanish Consulates require health insurance that complies with Spanish visa requirements. Many applicants — including Americans — choose a Spanish-licensed insurer (with DGSFP authorisation) because these policies are specifically designed to meet Non-Lucrative Visa and Digital Nomad Visa requirements.
US health insurance plans (employer, Affordable Care Act marketplace, Medicare) don't cover residents living abroad and are not designed to meet Spanish visa requirements. Cover from US health insurance and Medicare (whether public or private) typically doesn’t hold Spanish DGSFP authorisation and isn’t structured to match Spanish visa requirements. The required structure — annual, no copayments, no waiting periods, comprehensive cover, from a DGSFP-licensed insurer — is specific to Spain.
These requirements may vary slightly by Consulate. The applicable Consulate’s current requirements should be confirmed before submission.
US applicants commonly take:
For Americans submissions:
Payment options for Spanish-licensed insurance: Spanish or EU IBAN, bank transfer, or credit/debit card. Annual upfront on credit/debit card is the cleanest route — the payment receipt clearly shows 12 months in one transaction.
Insurance should be arranged before your Consulate appointment but not too far in advance — typically 1–2 weeks before the appointment date. Confirm the certificate date matches or precedes the start of cover.
Spanish-licensed insurer policies are available across age bands, including over-65 and over-70. Pre-existing conditions are accommodated through specific medical underwriting on certain policy types.
Send us your Consulate, appointment date, ages and visa route. We’ll prepare the insurance certificate, payment receipt and policy schedule.
Get a QuoteTalk to an AdviserSpanish-licensed insurer certificate (DGSFP) with NLV reference, sin copago, sin carencias, annual cover, plus annual payment receipt.
Most Spanish Consulates require cover from a Spanish-licensed insurer with DGSFP authorisation. US health insurance and Medicare is typically not designed to meet Spanish visa requirements.
Dirección General de Seguros y Fondos de Pensiones — Spain’s insurance regulator. Consulates require cover from DGSFP-authorised insurers.
Without copayments — you don’t pay at the point of service.
Without waiting periods — cover applies from day one.
Many Spanish Consulates expect or require it. Check current checklist.
For many straightforward applications, certificates are often issued within 1 business day once the insurer has approved the application and payment has been completed. Processing times can vary depending on age, medical history, underwriting requirements and insurer workload.
Yes — annual upfront payment is the cleanest route. Payment options: Spanish or EU IBAN, bank transfer, or credit/debit card.
Spanish-licensed policies can be structured for families. Each member typically needs their own certificate.
Spanish-licensed insurer policies are available across age bands.
Accommodated through specific medical underwriting on certain policy types.
The Consulate may request corrections or refuse the application.
