The medical care for foreigners is regulated by the Organic Law on the Rights and Freedoms of Foreigners in Spain and their Social Integration.
As a foreigner, am I entitled to medical care in Spain?
It has been determined that “the rights of foreigners to medical care are governed according to the current provisions of the health legislation”. In this sense, the latest legislation promoted by the government has as its primary goal to re-establish universal, free and public access to health services for all residents in Spain, whether local or foreign. This allows immigrants to enjoy equal rights with Spanish citizens, regardless of their legal residence status.
If you need assistance, we offer services for international patients;
How is healthcare in Spain regulated for foreigners?
Comprehensive health care in Spain for foreigners allows any individual, regardless of their circumstances, to receive care in a public health centre. However, to mitigate any potential misuse, several measures have been implemented.
These include the obligation to prove residence in Spain for more than 90 days, which prevents foreigners with medical coverage in their country of origin from taking undue advantage of this service.
Despite this requirement, undocumented migrants are also entitled to health care, provided that a social services report certifies that they lack basic resources. As for the purchase of prescription drugs, this group has to pay the same amount as Spaniards with an income of less than 18,000 euros, i.e. 40% of the total.
In addition, Spain’s healthcare rules for foreigners also cover organ transplants to combat medical tourism. In this context, in order to be included in the list of such operations, it is necessary to prove a period of residence of more than two years in the country.
In all cases, the right to universal public health care in Spain is only recognised within the country and cannot be used elsewhere. Migrants living in Spain on a regular basis must comply with the requirements established by the respective autonomous community in order to access health coverage.
Information on the new regulation
With the introduction of the new regulation, access to public health care is no longer linked to social security contributions. This means that you do not need to have a health card or be registered in a specific locality to take advantage of this service. The expansion of coverage for foreigners and also for Spaniards who have never been in the labour force benefit from this measure.
Have foreigners always had this right?
Prior to this reform, individuals from other countries who lacked proper documentation could not use the public health system in Spain. Exceptions were made for pregnant women, minors and adult emergencies. However, several autonomous regions implemented their own mechanisms to assist persons with irregular status in the country.
