Do you need insurance for a trip to Spain

Spain is a Schengen country, so medical insurance is mandatory for a visa. Without a policy that meets the requirements the visa centre will not accept your documents. The Canary and Balearic Islands are part of Spain and do not need separate insurance.

Insurance requirements for the visa

  • Sum insured — at least EUR 30,000.
  • Territory — all countries of the Schengen Area.
  • Period — every day of the trip. Insurers often add a 15-day grace period to Schengen policies; it is convenient but not mandatory: when you buy through the calculator on polisre.ru, the grace period is added automatically.
  • Cover — emergency medical care, hospitalisation, medical transportation and repatriation.
  • Deductible — consulates require a policy with no deductible.

Which sum to choose for Spain

The minimum EUR 30,000 meets the visa requirement, but treatment in private resort clinics and especially hospitalisation are expensive for foreigners. For a beach holiday we recommend EUR 50,000; for a trip with children, older travellers or a ski resort — EUR 100,000.

Features of a holiday in Spain

  • Sun. On the Costa Brava, Costa del Sol and the Canaries the sun is strong most of the year. Sunburn is covered by a separate option.
  • The ocean and water sports. The Canaries have strong waves and currents, and surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing are popular. These require the active sports option.
  • Mountains. Sierra Nevada near Granada and the Pyrenees resorts — skiing requires the skiing or snowboarding option.
  • Pickpockets. In Barcelona and Madrid bag and document theft is a common problem for tourists. The “Loss of documents” and baggage options help offset some of the costs.
  • Festivals and holidays. Mass events carry a higher risk of injury. Remember that most plans do not cover incidents while intoxicated.
  • Long stays. For a national visa, study or residence in Spain the insurance requirements are different — check them with the consulate.

A Schengen policy is valid in all Schengen countries: if you also visit France or Portugal, you do not need new insurance.

How to buy insurance to Spain in a few minutes

On polisre.ru there is no need to fill in a request and wait for a call. The calculator above the text compares prices from 16 insurance companies via Polis Re’s partner, the Cherehapa service. The policy is issued by the insurer you choose and sent straight to your e-mail.

  1. Set the dates, the number of travellers and their ages.
  2. Choose the sum insured and, if necessary, add sunburn, water sports, loss of documents, visa refusal.
  3. Pick a plan by comparing price, deductible and assistance company.
  4. Enter your first and last name in Latin letters exactly as in your international passport, then pay by card.
  5. Receive the policy by e-mail and save the assistance phone number in your contacts.

What to do if something happens in Spain

Your first step is a call to the assistance company whose phone number is shown in the policy. The assistance company will choose a clinic, approve the treatment and pay for it directly. If someone’s life is at risk, call the local ambulance at once and notify the assistance company as soon as you can.

  1. Call or message the assistance company (many accept requests via messengers); give the policy number, your full name, your location and what happened.
  2. Go to the clinic named by the assistance company and take your passport and policy with you.
  3. If you had to pay yourself, keep the doctor’s report, invoice, receipts and prescriptions: after you return, attach them to your claim to the insurance company.

Step-by-step guidance is available in the “Insured event” section.

Nearby destinations

If your route covers several countries, see the other pages too: insurance to the Schengen Area, insurance to Italy, insurance to France, insurance to Germany. The full list of destinations, annual policies and tips on choosing cover are on the travel insurance page.