Adeslas vs DKV: at a glance
| Feature | Adeslas | DKV |
|---|---|---|
| Plan name | Adeslas Extranjeros | DKV Visado |
| From price | €51.67/month ✓ | From €57/month |
| Contract length | 36 months (tied in) | 12 months, renewable ✓ |
| Max joining age | 65 standard* | 75 ✓ |
| No copayments | ✓ | ✓ |
| No waiting periods | ✓ (visa route) | ✓ (visa route) |
| Repatriation | ✓ Included | ⚠ Verify directly |
| Dental cover | Not included | Not included |
| Certificate | 48–72 hrs via agent | 48–72 hrs via agent |
| Advance contracting | ~90 days max | ~90 days max |
| Payment options | Full upfront only | Full upfront only (annual) |
| Digital health app | No equivalent | MyDKV app (Spanish) |
| English support | Limited — primarily Spanish | Limited — primarily Spanish |
| Network model | Contracted third-party | Contracted + 23 own health centres |
| Network professionals | Large contracted cuadro médico | 51,000+ professionals ✓ |
| Owned infrastructure | None | 23 DKV Espacios de Salud |
| DGSFP authorised | ✓ | ✓ |
Adeslas: 36-month tied contract
Adeslas Extranjeros is a 36-month non-breakable contract. You should not assume you can switch or cancel after year one or year two. Confirm this with your agent before purchasing and factor the full three-year commitment into your decision.
DKV: verify repatriation cover before purchasing
DKV's repatriation cover is not clearly documented in publicly available materials. We recommend confirming the repatriation position directly with DKV or your specialist broker before purchasing if repatriation is important to you.
Price: Adeslas is cheaper at entry level
Adeslas Extranjeros is publicly priced from €620.04/year (€51.67/month) for applicants aged 0–44. DKV Visado starts from €57/month. At entry level, Adeslas is approximately €5/month or €65/year cheaper. For older age bands, the gap may vary — personalised quotes from both insurers are necessary for an accurate comparison above age 44.
It is worth noting that neither policy includes dental cover, so both are comparable on that point. Neither offers a split-payment option — both require annual payment in full upfront. At entry level, Adeslas is the lower-cost option of the two, though the difference is modest.
| Age band | Adeslas /year | DKV /month (from) |
|---|---|---|
| 0–44 | €620.04 | From €57/mo |
| 45–54 | €875.16 | Confirm via quote |
| 55–59 | €1,176.00 | Confirm via quote |
| 60–64 | €1,573.08 | Confirm via quote |
| 65–75 | €2,152.92 (65–70)* | DKV accepts to 75 — confirm via quote |
Adeslas prices from publicly published Extranjeros tariffs. DKV from-price confirmed at point of quote based on age and province. *Adeslas standard max joining age is 65; applications above 65 are case-by-case subject to medical review. All prices subject to underwriting and current insurer tariffs.
Contract length: the most important difference
The single most significant structural difference between these two policies is the contract term. DKV Visado is a 12-month contract, renewable annually. After each year you are free to reassess, switch insurers, change plan, or continue. Adeslas Extranjeros is a 36-month contract — you are committed for three full years from the policy start date.
For visa applicants, this matters more than it might seem. Your circumstances over three years in Spain may change significantly — your health needs may evolve, your region may change, you may want to switch to an insurer with better English-language support, or you may decide to return home. With DKV, you reassess annually. With Adeslas, you are locked in for three years regardless.
This is not a marginal difference. Over a three-year period, if you decide Adeslas is not the right insurer after year one, you have limited recourse. Always confirm the exact contract terms — and any exit provisions — with your specialist broker before purchasing Adeslas.
Maximum joining age: DKV accepts to 75
DKV Visado accepts applicants up to age 75. This is a meaningful advantage for older applicants — particularly retirees and Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) applicants in their late 60s or early 70s.
Adeslas Extranjeros has a standard entry age cutoff of 65. Applications above age 65 may be considered on a case-by-case basis, subject to medical review — but this is not a guaranteed acceptance route. Applicants aged 66 to 75 should treat DKV as the appropriate choice between these two insurers.
Repatriation: Adeslas confirms it, DKV needs verification
Adeslas Extranjeros explicitly includes repatriation cover as part of the policy. For visa applicants, repatriation cover is often a consulate requirement and a practical necessity — knowing your policy covers the cost of returning you home in the event of serious illness or death is important.
DKV's repatriation position is less clearly documented in publicly available materials. This does not mean DKV does not include repatriation — but we recommend confirming this directly with DKV or your specialist broker before purchasing. Do not assume it is included without written confirmation.
Network: both are contracted, DKV has some owned facilities
Both Adeslas and DKV operate primarily through contracted provider networks — neither owns hospitals in the same way as Sanitas or ASISA's HLA group. However, DKV does operate 23 DKV Espacios de Salud health centres across Spain. These are DKV-operated facilities for general health and wellbeing consultations — they are a complementary element rather than a full hospital network, but they represent a degree of owned infrastructure that Adeslas does not have.
DKV's contracted network includes 51,000+ professionals and over 1,000 medical centres nationally. Adeslas has one of Spain's largest cuadro médico networks by total provider volume. For most GP and specialist consultations in major cities and coastal expat areas, both networks provide adequate access. Check the specific cuadro médico for your destination province on each insurer's website before purchasing.
Digital health: MyDKV vs no equivalent at Adeslas
DKV offers the MyDKV app — a digital platform focused on health and wellbeing, primarily in Spanish. It allows policyholders to manage their health data, access services, and find providers. It is not a 24/7 English-language platform in the way that Sanitas's BLUA is, but it provides more digital functionality than Adeslas currently offers.
Adeslas does not have an equivalent digital health platform for this visa product. For applicants who want a digital-first experience for managing their health insurance in Spain, DKV has the modest advantage here — though both insurers are significantly behind Sanitas on English-language digital health provision.
English-language support: both primarily Spanish-language
Neither Adeslas nor DKV provides comprehensive English-language customer service or a bilingual app. Both insurers operate primarily in Spanish. In expat-heavy areas — Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, Barcelona, Alicante — many provider-network doctors will speak English at a personal level, but this is at the discretion of the individual provider. For administrative matters — claims processing, certificate requests, authorisations — both operate in Spanish.
If English-language support across the full customer journey is a priority, neither of these insurers meets that need. Consider Sanitas (BLUA app, English customer service) or ASSSA (multilingual, expat-focused) for stronger English support.
Not sure which is right for your age and situation? Get a personalised comparison across all insurers — including Adeslas, DKV, Sanitas, ASISA, and ASSSA.
Get a quote →Who should choose DKV?
- Applicants aged 66–75 — DKV accepts to age 75; Adeslas standard cutoff is 65
- Anyone who wants a 12-month contract and the freedom to reassess annually
- Applicants who are uncertain about long-term plans in Spain — 12-month contract gives optionality
- Those who want some level of digital health management via the MyDKV app
- Applicants who want the backing of a major European insurer group (ERGO / Munich Re)
Who should choose Adeslas?
- Price-sensitive applicants under 65 — from €51.67/month is cheaper than DKV's from €57/month
- Applicants who need confirmed repatriation cover documented in the policy wording
- Applicants who are comfortable committing to three years and want the lowest from-price
- Those relocating to areas where the Adeslas cuadro médico breadth is particularly strong
Summary: two different trade-offs
These two policies represent genuinely different trade-offs rather than one being clearly better across the board. Adeslas is cheaper at entry level — from €51.67/month versus DKV's €57/month — and explicitly includes repatriation cover. If lowest from-price and clear repatriation documentation are the priorities, Adeslas meets those needs.
DKV offers meaningfully better contract terms — a 12-month renewable policy versus Adeslas's 36-month lock-in. For most applicants, the ability to reassess their insurer every year is a significant practical advantage. DKV also accepts applicants up to age 75 versus Adeslas's standard cutoff of 65, which is a hard limit rather than a matter of preference.
The honest summary: if you are under 65 and primarily driven by price, Adeslas is marginally cheaper — but you are committing to three years. If you want annual flexibility, are over 65, or want confirmed coverage without a long-term lock-in, DKV is the stronger structural choice. Either way, obtain personalised quotes from both and confirm the repatriation position for DKV in writing before purchasing.
Note: ensure your policy is issued specifically as a visa-compliant route — Adeslas Extranjeros or DKV Visado — and not a standard consumer product, which may include waiting periods that Spanish consulates will reject. Confirm this with your specialist before purchasing.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on your priorities. DKV is better if contract flexibility and age acceptance matter — it is a 12-month renewable policy and accepts applicants to age 75. Adeslas is better if lowest from-price is the priority (€51.67/month vs DKV's €57/month) and you need confirmed repatriation cover. Both are DGSFP-authorised and accepted at Spanish consulates worldwide.
DKV Visado is a 12-month contract, renewable annually. Adeslas Extranjeros is a 36-month non-breakable contract. This is the most significant practical difference between the two policies — with Adeslas, you are committed for three full years from the policy start date.
At entry level, Adeslas is approximately €5/month cheaper — from €51.67/month versus DKV from €57/month. For older age bands, personalised quotes from both insurers are necessary for an accurate comparison. From-prices are indicators; your actual premium depends on age, province, and underwriting outcome.
DKV Visado accepts applicants up to age 75. Adeslas Extranjeros has a standard entry age cutoff of 65 — applications above 65 may be considered case-by-case with medical review, but this is not guaranteed. Applicants aged 66 to 75 should use DKV between these two insurers.
DKV's repatriation cover is not as clearly documented in publicly available materials as some other insurers. We recommend confirming this directly with DKV or your specialist broker before purchasing if repatriation is important to you. Adeslas Extranjeros explicitly includes repatriation cover in the policy.
No — neither Adeslas Extranjeros nor DKV Visado includes dental as standard in the visa-compliant policy. If dental is a priority from day one, consider Sanitas, whose Residents Visa policy includes 45+ free dental services and no waiting periods as standard.
Both Adeslas and DKV typically issue the visa certificate within 48–72 hours via your agent, after acceptance and payment are confirmed. Neither offers automatic issuance on payment. Allow at least 3 working days before your consulate appointment.
DKV operates a national contracted network of 51,000+ professionals and over 1,000 medical centres across Spain, plus 23 DKV Espacios de Salud health centres. Coverage is broadly national. Check the specific cuadro médico for your destination province before purchasing.
DKV's MyDKV app and main customer service are primarily in Spanish. English may be available informally from individual providers in expat-heavy areas, but administrative matters are handled in Spanish. Adeslas is similarly limited. For English-language support throughout, consider Sanitas or ASSSA.
Both Adeslas and DKV can generally be contracted up to approximately 90 days before the required policy start date. If you are planning your move more than 3 months in advance, check the current position with your broker. Sanitas allows up to 6 months advance contracting for applicants planning further ahead.
Get a personalised quote for your age and situation
From-prices are a starting point. Your actual premium depends on your age, province, and underwriting outcome. Get a personalised comparison across Adeslas, DKV, and all other major insurers.
Pricing shown is sourced from each insurer's own published pages and is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. Premiums are individually underwritten and confirmed at quote stage. Always verify current terms directly with the insurer or your specialist before purchasing.