DKV vs Adeslas: at a glance
| Feature | DKV | Adeslas |
|---|---|---|
| Plan name | DKV Visado | Adeslas Extranjeros |
| From price | From €57/month | €51.67/month ✓ |
| Contract length | 12 months, renewable ✓ | 36 months (tied in) |
| Max joining age | 75 ✓ | 65 standard* |
| No copayments | ✓ | ✓ |
| No waiting periods | ✓ (visa route) | ✓ (visa route) |
| Repatriation | ⚠ Verify directly | ✓ Included |
| 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 (annual) | Full upfront only |
| Digital health app | MyDKV app (Spanish) | No equivalent |
| English support | Limited — primarily Spanish | Limited — primarily Spanish |
| Network | 51,000+ professionals ✓ | Large contracted cuadro |
| Owned infrastructure | 23 DKV Espacios de Salud | None |
| 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 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 explicitly includes repatriation.
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, obtain personalised quotes from both insurers — from-prices are indicators only, and the actual premium depends on your age, province, and underwriting outcome.
Neither policy includes dental cover or a split-payment option, so both are comparable on those points. At entry level, Adeslas is the lower-cost published option of the two.
| Age band | DKV /month (from) | Adeslas /year (published) |
|---|---|---|
| 0–44 | From €57/mo | €620.04 ✓ |
| 45–54 | Confirm via quote | €875.16 |
| 55–59 | Confirm via quote | €1,176.00 |
| 60–64 | Confirm via quote | €1,573.08 |
| 65–75 | DKV accepts to 75 — confirm via quote | €2,152.92 (65–70)* |
DKV from-price confirmed at quote based on age and province. Adeslas prices from publicly published Extranjeros tariffs. *Adeslas standard max joining age is 65; above 65 is case-by-case with medical review. All prices subject to underwriting and current insurer tariffs.
Contract length: the most important structural difference
DKV Visado is a 12-month contract, renewable annually. After each policy year, you are free to reassess, compare alternatives, or continue. Adeslas Extranjeros is a 36-month contract — you are committed for three full years from the policy start date.
For visa applicants building a new life in Spain, this difference matters significantly. Over three years, your circumstances may change — your health needs may evolve, your region may change, you may want stronger English-language support, or you may simply want to compare the market after year one. DKV gives you that annual optionality. Adeslas does not.
When comparing on price, remember that the Adeslas premium is locked for three years. The modest price advantage at entry level should be weighed against a three-year commitment with no exit.
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 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. For applicants aged 66 to 75, DKV is the appropriate choice between these two insurers.
Repatriation: Adeslas confirms it, DKV needs verification
Adeslas Extranjeros explicitly includes repatriation cover. DKV's repatriation position is less clearly documented in publicly available materials. We recommend confirming this in writing with DKV or your specialist broker before purchasing if repatriation coverage matters to you. Do not assume it is included without written confirmation.
Network: both contracted, DKV has some owned health centres
Both DKV and Adeslas operate primarily through contracted provider networks. DKV has 51,000+ professionals and over 1,000 medical centres nationally, plus 23 DKV Espacios de Salud — DKV-operated health centres complementing the contracted network. Adeslas has one of Spain's largest cuadro médico networks by total provider volume. For most GP and specialist needs in major cities and coastal areas, both networks provide adequate access. Always check the specific cuadro médico for your destination province before purchasing.
Digital health and English support
DKV offers the MyDKV app — a Spanish-language health and wellbeing platform. Adeslas does not have an equivalent digital health app. Neither insurer provides comprehensive English-language customer service. Both operate primarily in Spanish for administrative and customer-service matters. For a 24/7 English-language digital health experience, Sanitas's BLUA app has no equivalent among these two insurers.
Not sure which is right for your age and situation? Get a personalised comparison across all insurers — including DKV, Adeslas, 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 renewable contract and annual flexibility
- Applicants uncertain about long-term plans who want to avoid a three-year commitment
- Those who want the backing of a major European insurer group (ERGO / Munich Re)
- Applicants who want some digital health functionality via the MyDKV app
Who should choose Adeslas?
- Price-sensitive applicants under 65 — €51.67/month from-price is cheaper than DKV
- Applicants who need confirmed repatriation cover documented in the policy
- Those comfortable with a three-year commitment who want the lowest published from-price
- Relocating to areas where the Adeslas cuadro médico breadth is particularly strong
Summary: two different trade-offs
These two policies represent genuine trade-offs rather than one being clearly superior. DKV offers meaningfully better contract terms — 12-month renewable versus Adeslas's 36-month lock-in — and accepts applicants to age 75. For most applicants, annual contract flexibility is a significant practical advantage over a modest entry-level price saving.
Adeslas is cheaper at entry level — €51.67/month versus DKV's €57/month — and explicitly confirms repatriation cover. If lowest from-price and documented repatriation are the primary criteria, and you are confident committing for three years, Adeslas meets those needs.
The honest summary: if you are under 65 and price is the main driver, Adeslas's entry-level price is lower — but the 36-month commitment is a real limitation. For anyone who values annual flexibility, is over 65, or wants certainty on their repatriation position without a three-year lock-in, DKV is the stronger structural choice. Get personalised quotes from both and confirm DKV's repatriation position in writing before purchasing.
Note: ensure your policy is issued as a visa-compliant route — DKV Visado or Adeslas Extranjeros — and not a standard consumer product, which may include waiting periods that Spanish consulates will reject.
Frequently asked questions
DKV is better if contract flexibility and age acceptance matter — 12-month renewable, accepts to age 75. Adeslas is better if lowest published from-price is the priority (€51.67/month vs DKV €57/month) and you need confirmed repatriation. Note Adeslas's 36-month contract is a significant commitment. Both are DGSFP-authorised.
DKV Visado is 12 months, renewable annually. Adeslas Extranjeros is a 36-month non-breakable contract — you are committed for three full years from the start date. This is the most significant practical difference between the two policies.
At entry level, Adeslas is approximately €5/month cheaper — from €51.67/month versus DKV from €57/month. For older age bands, personalised quotes are needed. From-prices are indicators; your actual premium depends on age, province, and underwriting.
DKV accepts to age 75. Adeslas has a standard cutoff of 65 (case-by-case above that). For applicants aged 66–75, DKV is the appropriate choice between these two.
DKV's repatriation cover is not as clearly documented as some other insurers. Confirm this directly with DKV or your specialist broker before purchasing. Adeslas explicitly includes repatriation cover.
No — neither includes dental as standard. For dental from day one, consider Sanitas Residents Visa, which includes 45+ free dental services as standard.
Both DKV and Adeslas typically issue the visa certificate within 48–72 hours via your agent. Allow at least 3 working days before your consulate appointment. Neither offers automatic issuance on payment.
DKV operates 23 DKV Espacios de Salud health centres across Spain. These are DKV-managed health and wellbeing facilities that complement the broader contracted network of 51,000+ professionals and 1,000+ medical centres. They are not major hospitals.
DKV's MyDKV app and customer service are primarily in Spanish. English may be available from individual providers in expat-heavy areas, but administrative matters are handled in Spanish. Both DKV and Adeslas are similarly limited on English-language support. For comprehensive English provision, consider Sanitas or ASSSA.
Both can generally be contracted up to approximately 90 days before the required start date. Sanitas allows up to 6 months advance contracting for those 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 DKV, Adeslas, 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.