Travel Insurance for Spain (Visitors) 2026

If you need a Schengen visa, yes—travel medical insurance with at least €30,000 coverage is mandatory. If you're visa-free (US, UK, Canada, Australia, etc.), it's not legally required, but it's highly recommended. Spain has high-quality private healthcare, but costs can be significant without insurance. Plus, insurance covers much more than just medical: theft, delays, cancellations, and repatriation.

No. EHIC/GHIC only gives you access to state-provided healthcare—not private clinics, not repatriation, not baggage, not cancellations, not theft. It's a helpful card for public healthcare access, but it is not travel insurance. Most expat insurance advisors recommend using EHIC for public healthcare access plus travel insurance for everything else.

For Schengen short-stay visa applications, your travel insurance must: cover urgent medical treatment and repatriation, be valid across all Schengen Member States, cover your entire stay period, have minimum coverage of €30,000, and provide a certificate showing these details matching your passport name.

For a 1-week Spain trip, expect €8-40 depending on age, coverage level, and add-ons. Basic medical-only policies start around €8-15/week. Comprehensive policies with cancellation, electronics, and sports cover €25-40/week. Annual multi-trip policies may be better value if you travel frequently.

Yes, most travel insurance policies cover theft of personal belongings including phones, wallets, and electronics. However, there are important conditions: you typically need a police report (denuncia), proof of ownership or purchase receipts, and there are often sub-limits for electronics (€200-500 per item). Policies also exclude items left unattended or in unlocked vehicles.

Good travel insurance covers delays after a certain threshold (usually 4-12 hours) including accommodation, meals, and alternative transport costs. Missed connections are usually covered if caused by circumstances beyond your control (weather, airline issues). Always keep carrier documentation and receipts.

Most insurers require you to purchase before your trip starts. Some allow mid-trip purchase but may have waiting periods or exclusions for pre-existing conditions. If you forgot to buy insurance before leaving, contact a broker immediately—options exist but are more limited.

Standard travel insurance rarely covers rental car damage fully. You'll typically need: CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) from the rental company or a separate policy, excess reimbursement insurance, and possibly third-party liability beyond the rental company minimum. Always check before you travel.

Not automatically. Skiing, surfing, hiking, cycling tours, and water sports often need to be explicitly included. Sierra Nevada skiing, Pyrenees hiking, and Costa Brava water sports all require confirmation. Check your policy wording and add-ons before booking activities.

For medical claims: medical reports, diagnoses, itemized invoices, and proof of payment. For theft claims: police report (denuncia), proof of ownership, receipts. For delays/cancellations: carrier confirmation, booking confirmations, receipts for extra expenses. The rule: documentation decides speed and payout.

Choose an insurer that provides instant certificate downloads, or request a custom letter from support. The certificate must show: your name (matching passport), policy number, validity dates, geographic area (Schengen/Europe), and medical coverage amount (minimum €30,000). Allow 24-48 hours for custom letters.

This guide is for visitors traveling TO Spain. If you're a Spain resident traveling OUT of Spain, you need outbound travel insurance (holiday insurance from Spain), which works differently—often annual policies tied to your Spanish residency. Residents should use the Holiday Insurance from Spain guide instead.

Some plans offer coverage for stable pre-existing conditions with medical screening. You must declare all conditions when purchasing—hiding pre-existing conditions can void your entire policy. Premium plans generally offer better pre-existing condition coverage than basic plans.

Common exclusions include: alcohol-related incidents, extreme sports without explicit add-on cover, intentional self-harm, claims arising from ignoring FCO/government travel warnings, and items left unattended or in unlocked vehicles. Always read your policy's exclusions carefully.

Most insurers allow extensions if requested before the original policy expires. Contact your provider as soon as you know your plans have changed. Some insurers charge extra for mid-trip extensions, while others have maximum trip length limits.