The Spain Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) opened to all non-EU nationalities in 2023. The health insurance requirement is consistent across nationalities, but consulate strictness varies — and whether you apply as an employed remote worker or as an autónomo (freelance/self-employed) affects the supporting documents you need. This hub brings together the nationality-specific guides to help you apply with confidence.
Spain's Ley de Startups (Law 28/2022) established the Digital Nomad Visa for remote workers employed by — or contracted to — companies outside Spain. The health insurance requirement mirrors the Non-Lucrative Visa standard: a private policy with no copayments, full Spanish territory coverage, and a visa-specific certificate issued by a Spanish-registered insurer. All six mainstream insurers are accepted. Prices range from approximately €50 to €130/month depending on your age and plan tier.
You have a foreign employment contract — a salary paid by a company registered outside Spain. You apply under the cuenta ajena route with your employment contract as the key supporting document.
You are a freelancer or self-employed contractor working for one or more foreign clients. You apply under the cuenta propia route, demonstrating active business activity and client relationships.
Zero copayments, zero deductible. The policy must pay 100% of costs from the first euro — no ticket moderador, no franchise.
Mainland Spain, Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla — all included. No regional restrictions.
Must be a Spanish-registered private insurer. The certificate (carta para visado) — not the standard policy schedule — is required by the consulate.
Each guide covers consulate-specific requirements, accepted insurers, typical costs, and tips for getting your application approved first time.
DNV requirements for UK nationals — London & Edinburgh consulates, GHIC situation, and what changes post-Brexit.
DNV requirements for Americans — stricter US consulate reviews, repatriation requirements, and best insurers for US applicants.
DNV requirements for German nationals — EU freedom of movement vs DNV, and when private insurance is needed despite an EHIC.
DNV requirements for Dutch nationals — EU citizen considerations, Dutch Zorgverzekering and why it doesn't satisfy Spanish requirements.
DNV requirements for Australians — which Spanish consulate handles Australian applications, and the Medicare situation explained.
Spain's Digital Nomad Visa is open to all non-EU nationalities. We currently have detailed guides for the five nationalities above, with more in development. If your nationality is not yet listed, the insurance requirements are virtually identical to those for the Non-Lucrative Visa — so the by-nationality hub NLV guides will cover the core insurance requirements you need. You can also read the full DNV health insurance guide for complete requirements that apply regardless of nationality.
Browse all nationality guides →The core insurance requirements — no copayments, full Spain coverage, private insurer certificate, minimum 12 months — are the same for all nationalities. However, how strictly individual consulates apply these rules can vary. Some consulates (for example certain US cities) tend to scrutinise documentation more carefully than others. Within the nationality guides on this site, we note any known consulate-specific requirements or quirks.
US consulates — particularly New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and Houston — are consistently reported as the most thorough reviewers of DNV insurance documents. They often request explicit repatriation wording and confirmation of coverage amounts on the certificate. The Spanish consulate in London is generally more straightforward. If applying at a US consulate, use Sanitas or ASSSA for their proven track record.
Yes. The same six insurers accepted for the Non-Lucrative Visa — Sanitas, Adeslas, DKV, ASISA, ASSSA, and Caser — are all accepted for the Digital Nomad Visa. The policy requirements are nearly identical: no copayments, full Spanish territory coverage, 12+ months duration, and a visa-specific certificate. You do not need a different type of policy for the DNV.
Yes. The DNV insurance requirement mirrors the NLV standard: zero copayments, zero deductible, no waiting periods from day one, and full coverage across all of Spain. The visa certificate must confirm these points explicitly. Budget or travel insurance policies with copayments are not accepted.
The insurance policy itself is the same for both employed and autónomo (self-employed/freelance) DNV applicants. The difference lies in what other documents accompany it: employed applicants submit a contract with their foreign employer; autónomo applicants submit proof of client contracts and business activity. Both must show the same type of private health insurance certificate.
Buy your insurance policy at least 2–4 weeks before your consulate appointment. The policy start date should be on or before your intended travel date to Spain, not necessarily before your appointment date. With Sanitas, the visa certificate is issued instantly by email when you pay — so last-minute purchases are possible. However, building in time allows you to resolve any documentation queries. Policies can generally be contracted up to 6 months in advance of the start date.
Compare all 6 accepted insurers, get your visa certificate quickly, and submit a complete DNV application.
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