The Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) lets you live in Spain legally while working remotely for companies based outside the country. Among the required documents is medical insurance, held to the same strict standards as other residency visas. Below: exactly what gets checked in the policy, when to buy it, and what happens to it when you renew.
What the DNV policy must look like
- Full coverage with no co-payments (copago — a fee the patient pays per visit; see our guide to co-pay or no co-pay).
- No waiting periods (carencia — the time after signing up when some services are not yet covered; see waiting periods explained) — cover from day one.
- Valid across all of Spain, including Tenerife and the Canaries.
- With a certificate for the consulate or immigration office confirming compliance.
So a cheap “annual” travel policy with an excess won’t do — it’s almost always rejected. The conditions are the same as for any residency-visa policy: plans from the “for foreigners” range in Spain usually meet them as standard. If you’d rather not check every insurer’s wording yourself, you can find a policy that meets DNV requirements — a manager will confirm the certificate says everything it needs to.
What the certificate is checked for: a checklist
The consulate and the immigration office don’t read the whole contract — they read the insurance certificate. Before you apply, run it against this table:
| What the certificate must show | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Full name and passport number exactly as on the application | a mismatch gets the file sent back for correction |
| Start date no later than your entry date (or your application date if applying from Spain) | a policy that starts “later” doesn’t prove cover on the day you arrive |
| Term covering the whole period requested | usually a year; a few months’ cover doesn’t match the visa term |
| The wording “sin copagos” and “sin carencias” | without it the certificate doesn’t prove the requirement is met |
| Territory: all of Spain | ”Canaries only” or “while travelling” policies don’t qualify |
| Doctors, emergencies, hospitalisation, repatriation | they want a full medical policy, not travel assistance |
Policies for foreigners usually issue this certificate as a PDF as soon as you pay.
Applying at the consulate or from Spain: when to buy the policy
There are two routes to the DNV, and the policy start date depends on which you take:
| Route | What you get | Policy must run from |
|---|---|---|
| Consulate in your home country | a visa for up to one year, then a residence permit from inside Spain | your planned entry date |
| From inside Spain, while legally in the country | a residence permit for up to three years | the date you submit the application |
Residency-visa policies can usually be bought in advance — up to 150 days before arrival — with a future start date, and the certificate comes immediately. That way the document is ready for the application and you don’t pay for months before you’ve landed. One caveat: these policies are generally non-refundable unless the visa is officially refused, so buy it once the rest of your paperwork is in place.
Employee or freelancer: who needs a private policy
The law asks for medical insurance — public or private. If your foreign employer is registered with Spanish Social Security, or a certificate of coverage under a social-security agreement between the two countries applies, the consulate may accept that instead of a private policy — check with the consulate before you apply. In every other case, which means most freelancers and anyone employed by a company with no presence in Spain, you need a private policy from the “for foreigners” range. If you plan to register as a freelancer (autónomo) after the move, see our guide to insurance for autónomos.
Common mistakes when applying for the DNV
- Buying a cheap travel policy and getting refused on the medical part.
- Choosing a policy with co-payments, not knowing the visa needs one without them.
- Setting the policy start date after the entry date — the certificate then doesn’t prove cover on arrival.
- Leaving it late — the certificate has to be ready before you apply.
Renewing the DNV and the policy in year two
The DNV residence permit is renewable, and the renewal asks for valid insurance again. Residents’ policies usually run for a year and roll over into the next one unless you opt out before the term ends, so there’s no gap in cover. One thing to plan for: from the second year, payment usually has to come from a Spanish bank account (IBAN), so open one in your first months in the country.
Worth knowing
A DNV policy isn’t just “a document for the visa”. It genuinely covers doctors, emergencies, diagnostics and hospitalisation across Spain — which matters when you’re relocating for the long term and want to be treated without queues. Not sure the DNV is the right route? Compare it with the non-lucrative visa (NLV): the insurance requirements are the same.
If you’re moving with a partner or children on the DNV, they can often be added to a single family policy. Each family member needs their own certificate.
Cost
The price is individual and depends on age and coverage. A manager will calculate the exact amount for your situation — free and with no obligation.
Planning to apply for the DNV and unsure which policy will be accepted? Ask in the chat — we’ll explain the requirements and calculate the cost.