If you are researching DKV Visado health insurance for a Non-Lucrative Visa, you have landed in the right place. DKV is one of Spain’s most established private health insurers, and their Visado product is specifically configured to meet the requirements of the Spanish residency application process. This page explains what the product includes in broad terms, who it suits, and the questions worth asking before you decide.
We are independent brokers with over 35 years of experience in the Spanish insurance market. We work with DKV alongside a number of other providers, which means we can give you an objective view of whether this is the right product for you — or whether another insurer would serve you better.
Contents
- Is DKV Visado accepted for the Visa?
- What does the policy cover?
- Waiting periods
- Pre-existing conditions
- The Medical network
- Using the policy day to day
- Renewal and Cancellation
- Is DKV the right choice for you?
Is DKV Visado accepted for the Non-Lucrative Visa?
Yes. DKV Visado meets Spanish consulate requirements for the Non-Lucrative Visa. It carries no copayments, and cover begins from the policy start date. You can pay the first year’s premium by bank transfer, debit card, or credit card, which is practical if you are still based in the UK or US at the time of application.
A very small number of consulates also ask for repatriation cover as part of the application. In our experience, neither UK nor US consulates currently require this. If you are applying through a different consulate, check whether your consulate requires it and let us know when you get in touch. Where it is required, we can arrange it separately and it will not prevent your application from proceeding.
For a full overview of what any NLV health insurance policy must include, see our Non-Lucrative Visa health insurance guide.
What does the policy cover?
DKV Visado offers one of the most comprehensive levels of cover available in the Spanish private health insurance market. In broad terms, the policy includes access to general medicine, specialist consultations across all medical and surgical disciplines, diagnostic tests and procedures, 24-hour emergency care, hospitalisation, surgery, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, psychology, dental care, and travel assistance within Europe and beyond.
The medical network gives access to over 51,000 professionals and more than 1,000 associated centres across Spain. You choose which doctor or specialist you want to see within that network, and in most cases you go directly without a referral.
What the policy does not cover is treatment for pre-existing conditions, cosmetic procedures, or the cost of prescription medicines at the pharmacy. We explain pre-existing conditions in more detail below, as this is where individual circumstances vary most and where it is important to take proper advice.
Waiting periods
The DKV Visado product is specifically structured for visa applicants. Cover begins from the policy start date with no waiting period, with one exception: treatment related to childbirth or Caesarean section carries an eight-month wait. For the majority of NLV applicants this is not a relevant consideration, but it is worth being aware of.
For more background on how waiting periods work and why they matter for your visa application, see our waiting periods guide.
Pre-existing conditions
As with all private health insurers in Spain, DKV does not cover pre-existing conditions. When you apply, you will complete a health questionnaire. Any condition that existed before your policy start date will be excluded from cover, and you will sign a document acknowledging those exclusions. This is standard practice across the entire Spanish market.
These exclusions do not typically appear in the documentation presented to Spanish consulates and embassies as part of your visa application — but it is important that you understand them fully before you commit to a policy.
One practical point worth knowing: if you take regular medication for a pre-existing condition, your policy covers you to consult an associated doctor and obtain a repeat prescription. However, the policy does not cover further investigation or treatment of the underlying condition itself, and you pay for any prescription medicines directly. All Spanish private health insurers apply this same approach.
If you have any health conditions, past or present, we would encourage you to speak with us before applying anywhere. We will give you an honest view of how DKV and other insurers are likely to respond to your situation, and we will approach the company we believe is most likely to offer you suitable cover.
Read our full guide to pre-existing conditions and the Non-Lucrative Visa
The medical network
DKV operates one of the largest private medical networks in Spain, with access to over 51,000 professionals and more than 1,000 associated centres nationwide. You search for doctors and specialists through the Activa DKV app or at medicos.dkv.es, filtering by location and specialty. In most cases you book directly with the clinic and attend with your digital insurance card — no paperwork, no payment at the point of use.
Before we recommend DKV to a client, we take into account where in Spain they intend to live. Network availability and the range of local specialists varies by region, and this is one of the factors we consider when advising you on the right insurer.
Using the policy day to day — the Activa DKV app
Once your policy is active, the Activa DKV app is the main tool for managing everything. Through the app you can access your digital insurance card, find doctors and specialists near you, request and track authorisations, view your policy documents, and check payment details. The app also connects to DKV’s telemedicine services, including 24-hour medical chat and video consultations with specialists.
DKV also offers a second app — Quiero Cuidarme Más — which gives access to a broader range of digital health services including online physiotherapy, remote speech therapy, a symptom checker, a health diary, and a 24-hour medical helpline for a range of specific needs. These are additional features that go well beyond what most insurers provide.
The app handles most routine tasks without you needing to contact anyone. For anything more complex, DKV offers telephone support, WhatsApp, and a customer area online. During office hours, we are also available if you need help navigating a particular situation.
See our guide to using the Activa DKV app
Renewal and cancellation
Your policy renews automatically each year. You will receive notification of your renewal premium in advance of the renewal date. If you wish to cancel rather than renew, Spanish insurance law requires written notice — including a copy of your ID — received by the insurer at least one month before the renewal date.
A lapse in cover can have implications for your visa renewal, so this is not something to leave to the last minute. We can help you with obtaining the appropriate health insurance documentation you need at renewal. If your circumstances have changed and you want to consider alternatives, we can look at that too.
Read our renewal guide | Read our cancellation guide
Is DKV Visado the right choice for you?
DKV is one of the providers we recommend most frequently for NLV applicants. The breadth of cover, the size of the medical network, and the quality of the digital tools make it a strong option for people who want a comprehensive, well-established product. It tends to suit applicants who prioritise the depth of the medical network and the range of services available, and who are in reasonable health or have a straightforward medical history.
Whether it is the right choice for your specific situation depends on where in Spain you plan to live, your age, your medical history, and which consulate you are applying through. It is not automatically the right answer for everyone, and we would not tell you it was if we did not believe it.
If you would like to talk through your situation, we are happy to do that without any obligation.
For a full overview of health insurance requirements for the Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa, including timing, documentation, and what different consulates expect, visit our comprehensive NLV health insurance guide.