How do I meet the healthcare requirement?

To acquire residency in Spain as a beneficiary under the Withdrawal Agreement, you have to demonstrate that you meet the EU residence criteria on healthcare. The rules are designed to ensure that as an EU citizen living in Spain, you do not become a liability on the Spanish healthcare and social security system. Therefore, if you are employed or self-employed in Spain and make contributions to the Spanish social security system, you have the right to access state healthcare. If you are not employed, you will most probably have to contract private health insurance unless you are a student or you receive UK State pension.

If you contract private health insurance your insurance provider will have to be a Spanish company, or a company registered to operate in Spain. You will have to ensure that your insurance policy meets the following requirements for residency applications:

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No co-payments

This means that you do not have to pay additional fees every time you go to the doctor or hospital – your health insurance must cover payment for all types of visits, whatever their nature.

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Complete (including repatriation)

Your policy will have to be complete, covering hospitalisations or any kind of medical transportation and must include repatriation.

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No waiting periods, lacks or ‘carencies’

A waiting period is the amount of time you must wait before some or all of the coverage comes into effect. Your health insurance must provide you with all the coverage included in your policy from the start date.

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Maximum coverage in Spain

Your health insurance must be from a Spanish insurance company or insurance company authorised to operate in Spain, that provides the same coverage as the public Spanish healthcare system and be valid throughout Spain.