Compulsory Health Insurance is the legislative step that guarantees that the student has complete medical coverage in Spain. Without proof of this insurance, the consulate rejects the visa application (for Non-EU), and the immigration office blocks the issuance of the residence permit (for EU).

EU/EEA Profile
European students have access to the public or private system simplified, thanks to community agreements.

- Solution 1 (Free): European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
- How it works: The student obtains it free of charge from the country of origin (e.g. from CNAS in Romania) before departure.
The user uploads a photo of the EHIC card. The platform validates the step and generates the instructions for arrival: "Go to the nearest public health center (Centro de Salud) in Spain with this card, passport and Empadronamiento receipt to be assigned to a Spanish family doctor.
- Solution 2 (Private): If the university or master's program requires dedicated private insurance, the rules below apply (Non-EU Flow).

Non-EU/EEA Profile
Spanish consulates have extremely rigid rules. Over 30% of visa applications are delayed or rejected due to non-compliant medical insurance. A simple travel policy (Travel Insurance) is completely useless.

- Mandatory Consulate Requirements (Validation Conditions in Code):

1. No Copayments (Sin Copagos): The student does not have to pay any additional fees when going to the doctor or hospital.

2. No Waiting Periods (Sin Carencias): All medical services must be active from the first day of validity of the policy (without clauses that postpone access to treatments by 3-6 months).
3. Full Coverage (Seguro Médico Completo): Be equivalent to the Spanish public health system, including consultations, tests, emergencies, hospitalization and surgeries.
4. Repatriation Included (Repatriación): Mandatory clause that covers the costs of medical repatriation or in the event of death.
5. Authorized Company: The insurer must be officially licensed to operate in Spain (ex: Sanitas, Asisa).

1. Sanitas International Students
- Age: 14 – 35 years old.
- Average price: Starting from ~42€ / month.
- Advantage: Natively meets 100% of the consulates' criteria. Offers digital medical assistance through video consultations and includes a free basic dental services component (Dental 21).

2. Asisa International / Student
- Advantage: Contracting process fast online with just your passport. Documents and contract are issued directly in English (format agreed by consulates).

- Calendar Synchronization: Private insurance must be purchased at least one month before the visa appointment date, as the insurance certificate issued in PDF format must be printed and physically included in the visa file.

Sanitas International Students

Is the benchmark product in Spain for health insurance for foreign students, specially designed to meet the strict legal criteria required by consulates and immigration offices (Extranjería).
The policy is valid for young people between the ages of 14 and 35, and the contract can be concluded for flexible periods (between 3 months and 1 year, with the possibility of renewal).

Why is this product perfect for a student visa?
Spanish consulates automatically reject files if the insurance does not tick three specific clauses. Sanitas includes them natively in this dedicated package:
- Sin Copagos (No Copayment): The student has 100% coverage for any medical service. He will not pay any additional out-of-pocket fees at the clinic or hospital.
- Sin Carencias (No Waiting Periods): All services (including operations or complex analyzes) are active from the first day of validity of the contract.
- Repatriación (Repatriation Included): Fully covers the logistical and medical costs of repatriation to the country of origin in the event of death or extreme emergency.

What does the policy actually cover?
Students have access to the largest private medical network in Spain (over 50,000 doctors and 4,000 Sanitas or affiliated clinics):
- General medicine and all specialties (Cardiology, Dermatology, Gynecology, etc.).
- 24/7 emergencies in hospitals, plus emergency medical assistance on international trips (up to €12,000/year outside Spain).
- Hospitalization and surgeries fully included.
- Free dentistry (Dental Package 21): Includes free consultations, annual cleaning, X-rays and simple extractions, plus discounts on other complex treatments.
- Digital Assistance (Blua): Emergency video consultations or scheduled directly on the mobile app (also available in English).

Commercial and Financial Details (For 2026/2027)

- Estimated Price: Rates start from approximately €41 – €43 per month. The final price is calculated according to the exact age of the student.
- Payment Method: For the visa application, Sanitas often requests an advance payment of premiums (semi-annual or annual). This payment can be made online with an international bank card or through the Spanish IBAN obtained in Step 2 from Banco Santander.
- Issuance of documents: The official certificate required for the visa is generated in PDF format immediately after confirmation of payment and is written in a standardized format that consulates validate instantly.

Asisa International / Health Students

Is the second most recommended product in Spain for student visas, being the main competitor to Sanitas. It is a comprehensive health insurance policy, specially designed to be instantly approved by consulates and immigration offices (Extranjería).
Asisa is often the most flexible option in terms of price and contracting logistics.
Why is it perfect for student visas?
Asisa natively meets the eliminatory criteria imposed by Spanish legislation:
- Sin Copagos (No copayments): All consultations and interventions are covered 100%, without additional fees at the clinic.
- Sin Carencias (No waiting): All services (including hospitalization and surgeries) are active from the first day.
- Repatriación (Repatriation): Includes the mandatory clause for medical repatriation or in the event of death.
- Travel Assistance: Provides emergency coverage of up to €14,000 - €25,000 when the student travels outside of Spain (e.g. on vacation at home).

Competitive advantages of Asisa vs. Sanitas:

1. No Medical Questionnaire: In the standard online process, Asisa does not require the completion of a detailed medical history (sin quizencia médico), allowing automatic approval of the policy.
2. Extended Age Limit: The student product applies to young people between the ages of 0 and 40 (Unlike Sanitas, which limits the student package to 35).
3. Family Packages: Allows the addition of family members accompanying the student to Spain to the same policy (spouse, children), maintaining the same visa conditions.
4. Instant Issuance: The official certificate in PDF format (accepted by embassies) is generated in less than a minute after making the online payment.

What does the medical coverage include?
- Primary care, 24/7 emergencies and direct access to all medical specialties.
- Full hospitalization and surgical interventions.
- Dental Guarantee: Includes free basic dental services and reduced rates for complex treatments.

Commercial Details and Prices
- Estimated Price: It is slightly cheaper than Sanitas, with rates starting from ~38€ – 44.50€ per month.
- Flexibility: It can be contracted for exactly the number of months the student needs (e.g. 3 months, 6 months or an academic year).
- Payment method: Supports online payment with international card or through the Spanish IBAN from Banco Santander obtained in Step 2.