The concern — and the reassuring answer
This is one of the most common questions from NLV applicants: you have to buy health insurance before you submit your visa application — but what if the visa is refused? You will have paid for a year of health insurance to cover a stay in Spain that may now not happen.
The good news is straightforward: all 6 major NLV-compliant insurers recognise this risk and have a visa refusal cancellation clause. If your visa is refused, you can cancel the policy and receive a refund of the premium — typically the full amount less a small admin fee.
This is not a legal right enshrined in insurance regulations — it is a commercial practice that all major NLV insurers honour in recognition of the reality that applicants must buy insurance before the visa is decided. In practice it works reliably. The key is to act promptly and correctly.
How the refund process works
- Receive visa refusal in writing — the consulate will issue a written notification of refusal. Keep this document. You will need it to claim the refund.
- Contact your insurer or broker promptly — do not wait. Most insurers have a notification window and delays can complicate the process. Contact the insurer (or your broker, who can manage the process for you) as soon as you receive the refusal.
- Provide written evidence of refusal — the insurer requires the consulate refusal letter or official notification as evidence. Supply a copy (scan or photograph is usually sufficient).
- Insurer processes the cancellation — the insurer cancels the policy with effect from the refusal date (or policy start date if the policy hadn't yet begun). They calculate the refund.
- Refund is issued — typically the full annual premium less a small admin fee. Allow several weeks for processing. Refund is typically made to the original payment method.
Insurer-by-insurer refund breakdown
Sanitas
Sanitas offers a visa refusal cancellation and refund. You must notify Sanitas promptly after receiving the refusal decision and provide written evidence. A small admin fee may apply. Sanitas is the most straightforward insurer for this process — their customer service team is experienced with NLV applicants and the visa refusal clause is well-established.
Key requirement: notify within the defined notification period after receiving refusal. Confirm the exact window in writing with Sanitas at the point of purchase.
Caser
Caser offers refunds on visa refusal. For applicants who purchased via a broker (the recommended route is 247expatinsurance.com), the broker handles the cancellation and refund claim on your behalf. Prompt notification is required.
Key requirement: notify via your broker as soon as the refusal is received. The broker manages the process with Caser directly.
ASSSA
ASSSA offers refunds on visa refusal and their English-speaking customer team is familiar with the process. As an expat-specialist insurer, ASSSA has a well-established practice for handling visa refusal cancellations. Contact their English-speaking team with the refusal documentation.
Key requirement: prompt notification. ASSSA's English team can guide you through the process.
DKV
DKV offers refunds on visa refusal. The specific terms — notification window and admin fee — should be confirmed with DKV at the point of purchase. This is important: confirm the refund policy in writing before you pay your premium.
Key requirement: confirm specific terms in writing before purchasing.
Adeslas
Adeslas offers refunds on visa refusal in principle. However, the 36-month contract terms add complexity to any cancellation process. The standard Adeslas contract is structured for long-term residency, not for visa applicants who may be refused. Before purchasing Adeslas for an NLV application, confirm the visa refusal refund policy explicitly and in writing — including whether the 36-month contract terms affect the cancellation rights.
Key requirement: get explicit written confirmation of refund terms before purchasing. Do not assume the standard process applies without verification.
ASISA
ASISA offers refunds on visa refusal. Confirm the specific terms — notification window and admin fee — with ASISA or your broker at the point of purchase.
Key requirement: confirm terms in writing before purchasing.
Key rules across all insurers
| Rule | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Notify promptly | Most insurers have a notification window. Waiting months before contacting the insurer can invalidate the refund claim. Act as soon as you receive the refusal. |
| Get written refusal from consulate | You need official written evidence of the visa refusal to support the cancellation claim. Verbal notification is not sufficient. |
| Confirm refund policy before purchasing | The specific terms (notification window, admin fee) vary by insurer. Get written confirmation before you pay your premium — not after. |
| Small admin fee typically retained | Most insurers retain a small admin fee, typically €30–100. You will not receive the exact amount you paid, but will receive close to it. |
| Claims made affect refund | If you made any claims on the policy between activation and refusal, the refund may be reduced by the value of those claims, or refused entirely if claims exceeded the premium. |
| Adeslas: extra caution required | Adeslas's 36-month contract structure requires explicit written confirmation of visa refusal refund terms before purchasing. Do not assume. |
Do not assume the refund process is identical across all insurers. Confirm the visa refusal refund policy with your insurer or broker IN WRITING before purchasing. Ask specifically: "If my NLV is refused, can I cancel and receive a full refund? What admin fee applies? What is the notification window?" The policy documents don't always make this clear, but all major insurers do honour this in practice — get the terms confirmed upfront.
What to do if your visa is refused
A visa refusal is not necessarily the end of your Spain plans. Consider these options before cancelling your insurance:
Option 1 — Appeal the visa decision
NLV refusals are often procedural or documentation-related — missing financial proof, insufficient income evidence, or administrative errors — rather than fundamental grounds for permanent refusal. Many applicants successfully appeal or reapply. If you appeal, your insurance policy remains valid throughout the appeal period. Do not cancel the policy until the appeal process is fully resolved.
Option 2 — Reapply with corrected documentation
If the refusal was for a correctable reason, you can reapply with the deficiency addressed. Your health insurance can be renewed or extended for a new application. Most insurers will accommodate reapplication scenarios — discuss with your insurer or broker before cancelling.
Option 3 — Cancel and receive your refund
If you decide not to reapply or appeal, proceed with the cancellation under the visa refusal clause as described above.
Frequently asked questions
Yes — all 6 major NLV-compliant insurers (Sanitas, Caser, ASSSA, DKV, Adeslas, ASISA) will cancel the policy and refund the premium if your visa is refused, provided you notify them promptly with written evidence of the refusal. A small admin fee (typically €30–100) may be retained. Always confirm the specific refund terms in writing with your insurer before purchasing.
Yes. Sanitas refunds the policy premium if your Non-Lucrative Visa is refused. You must notify Sanitas promptly after receiving the refusal and provide written evidence of the consulate decision. A small admin fee may apply. Confirm the exact terms and notification window in writing with Sanitas at the point of purchase.
Contact your insurer (or broker) as soon as you receive written confirmation of the visa refusal. Provide a copy of the refusal letter or notification from the consulate. Request cancellation under the visa refusal clause. The insurer will process the refund minus any applicable admin fee. Act promptly — most insurers have a notification window and delays can complicate the process.
If your Non-Lucrative Visa is rejected, you can cancel your health insurance policy and receive a refund of the premium paid, typically minus a small admin fee. You must notify the insurer promptly and provide written evidence of the refusal. If you have made any claims during the policy period, the refund may be reduced or refused.
Most insurers process a near-full refund minus a small admin fee, typically €30–100. If you have made no claims on the policy, the refund should be the full annual premium minus the admin fee. If any claims were made during the policy period, the refund may be reduced by the value of claims processed.
Adeslas does offer refunds on visa refusal, but the 36-month contract terms make the cancellation process more complex. You must explicitly confirm the visa refusal refund terms in writing before purchasing an Adeslas policy. Do not assume the standard refund process applies without written confirmation from Adeslas.
Yes. If you appeal the visa refusal decision and the appeal succeeds, your insurance policy remains valid throughout the appeal period. Do not cancel the policy until your visa situation is fully resolved — either the visa is granted (keep the insurance) or the appeal is finally rejected (then cancel under the refusal clause).
Each insurer has their own notification window — typically a matter of weeks after receiving the refusal. Do not delay. Contact your insurer or broker as soon as you receive the refusal decision. Waiting months before notifying the insurer can complicate or void the refund claim.
Get a quote — buy with confidence
All 6 mainstream NLV insurers offer visa refusal protection. We will match you with the right insurer and confirm the refund terms before you commit.
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