Do Canadian citizens need a visa to live in Spain?
Yes. Canadian citizens can visit Spain and the Schengen zone for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. To live in Spain beyond that, Canadians must apply for a Spanish residency visa. The Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) is the most common route for Canadians who want to retire in Spain, live there on passive income, or work remotely for non-Spanish employers.
Canada's provincial health plans only cover you within your home province and provide very limited coverage outside Canada — typically for emergencies only, and only for a defined period after you leave. Once you establish residency abroad, most provinces terminate your provincial health coverage. None of this is relevant to a Spanish visa application in any case — Spanish consulates require Spanish private health insurance only.
Spanish consulates in Canada consistently require that repatriation (repatriación) is explicitly stated on your insurance certificate. This is a firm requirement — not a preference. Ensure the word repatriation appears clearly on the visa letter issued by your insurer before attending your consulate appointment. All policies recommended on this site include repatriation as standard.
What health insurance do Canadians need for the Spanish NLV?
The six core requirements apply to all NLV applicants including Canadians. For applicants at Spanish consulates in Canada, the certificate wording is scrutinised — especially around repatriation and copayments.
Zero copayments, zero deductible, zero co-insurance. 100% of costs covered from day one.
At least one year from the policy start date. Short-term and travel policies are not accepted.
Must cover all of Spain — mainland, Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla.
Provincial health plans and Canadian private insurers are not accepted. Must be from a Spanish-registered insurer.
Canadian consulates require repatriation to be explicitly named on the certificate. All recommended plans include it — verify it appears in your visa letter.
Full cover from the policy start date — no initial exclusions or waiting periods for general medicine or emergencies.
Does Canadian health insurance work for the Spanish NLV?
No. Canadian health coverage of any kind is not accepted for Spanish NLV applications. Here is what does not work:
Provincial health plans only cover you within your home province — with very limited temporary coverage for emergencies elsewhere in Canada or abroad. They are public health programs with no standing for Spanish visa applications. OHIP (Ontario), MSP (BC), RAMQ (Quebec), AHCIP (Alberta), and all others are explicitly not accepted.
Canadian private health insurers are not registered with Spain's DGS and cannot issue a compliant Spanish-language visa certificate. They do not satisfy the formal NLV requirements regardless of their international coverage provisions.
Travel insurance is designed for temporary trips and is not residential health insurance. Spanish consulates will reject any travel policy. This includes comprehensive Canadian travel insurance policies that include medical cover.
Which insurers are accepted at Spanish consulates in Canada?
The Spanish consulates in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal apply similar scrutiny to Australian and US consulates when reviewing NLV insurance documents. Repatriation must be explicit and the certificate must be in in Spanish. The following two insurers have the strongest track records for Canadian NLV applicants:
Sanitas issues its visa certificate instantly at policy activation — in Spanish with repatriation explicitly stated. Its track record at Canadian consulates (Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal) is consistently strong. The Residents and Residents Platinum plans are the top choice for Canadian applicants at all three major consulates.
ASSSA is a strong second option — particularly for Canadian applicants over 70. Its English-speaking team understands the documentation requirements for English-speaking country consulates and its certificates are correctly worded for repatriation confirmation. Caser is a good value choice for Canadians under 70 seeking dental cover included as standard.
Best health insurance plans for Canadian NLV applicants
Which Spanish consulate do Canadians apply to?
Canadians must apply at the Spanish consulate covering the province where they currently reside. The three main Spanish consulates in Canada are:
Always verify jurisdiction assignments on the relevant consulate website before booking your appointment — assignments can be updated. You cannot apply at a consulate outside your province of residence.
How to apply for the Spanish NLV as a Canadian citizen
Choose Sanitas or ASSSA. Activate your policy and request the carta para visado — confirm repatriation is explicitly stated in the certificate. Sanitas issues this instantly by email.
Valid Canadian passport, National Visa form + Form EX-01, passport photos, bank certificate showing ~CAD $43,000+ in passive income/funds, RCMP criminal record check (apostilled), medical certificate from your doctor, and proof of accommodation in Spain.
Book at the Spanish consulate serving your province (Toronto, Vancouver, or Montreal). Appointments typically book out 4–8 weeks in advance. Book as early as possible.
Bring all originals and photocopies. The consulate has one month to issue a decision. Most Canadian consulate decisions come within 2–4 weeks.
Once approved, collect your passport with the NLV visa sticker. Valid for one year. Within 30 days of arriving in Spain, register at the local ayuntamiento and apply for your TIE at the police station.
Frequently asked questions — Canadians & the Spanish NLV
No. OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) only covers healthcare within Ontario. It has no standing for Spanish visa purposes. The same applies to all Canadian provincial health plans — MSP (BC), RAMQ (Quebec), AHCIP (Alberta), and others. Spanish consulates require private Spanish health insurance from a Spanish-registered insurer. Provincial health plans do not satisfy this requirement.
The Spanish Consulate in Toronto covers Ontario (and several other eastern provinces). The Spanish Consulate in Vancouver covers British Columbia and western provinces including Alberta. The Spanish Consulate in Montreal covers Quebec. Always verify the jurisdiction assignment on the relevant consulate website before booking — these can be updated.
Yes. Spanish consulates in Canada consistently require repatriation (repatriación) to be explicitly stated on the insurance certificate. It must appear clearly on the visa letter — not just in the general policy terms. All insurers recommended on this site include repatriation as standard and state it explicitly on the visa certificate. Always confirm this before attending your appointment.
No. Canadian private health insurers are not registered with Spain's DGS and cannot issue a compliant in Spanish visa certificate. Their policies do not satisfy the formal NLV requirements. You must use a Spanish-registered insurer regardless of how comprehensive your Canadian coverage is.
The benchmark is approximately €28,800/year — roughly CAD $43,000–$46,000 at 2026 exchange rates. Acceptable income sources include investment income, RRSP/RRIF drawdowns, pension income, rental income outside Spain, and liquid savings. Employment income from Canadian clients is not permitted on the NLV. Each additional family member adds ~€7,200/year to the requirement.
No. The NLV must be applied for from Canada at a Spanish consulate before you travel. You cannot submit your NLV application from within Spain. Once you have your visa, you travel to Spain and then apply for your TIE (residency card) within the first 30 days of arrival.
Most Spanish insurers allow you to purchase a policy 30–90 days before the start date. Sanitas is the most flexible — policies can be contracted up to 6 months before the policy start date, which is helpful given that Spanish consulate appointments in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal can book out weeks in advance. The policy start date should align with your planned arrival in Spain.
Most Spanish health insurers will cancel and refund your premium if you notify them promptly after a refusal. Sanitas and Caser both have clear refund procedures for visa refusals. You typically need to provide proof of refusal and request cancellation within 30 days. Confirm the exact cancellation terms and any admin fees in writing before you purchase.