Spain's Non-Lucrative Visa: What Is the Medical Certificate and How Do You Get One?

What Is the Medical Certificate for Spain's NLV?

Spain's Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) is the route that allows non-EU citizens — including Britons — to live in Spain without working, provided they can demonstrate sufficient passive income and meet a range of other requirements. Among those requirements is a medical certificate of good health.

The certificate does exactly what its name suggests: it confirms that you are in good health at the time of your application. But it has specific wording, format, and validity requirements that applicants need to get right — a certificate that doesn't meet the exact criteria can result in your application being rejected.

What the Certificate Must Say

According to Spanish consulates abroad, the medical certificate must state that the applicant does not suffer from any disease that could cause serious repercussions for public health in accordance with the 2005 International Health Regulations (IHR 2005).

The IHR 2005 is a global framework established by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to prevent and manage the international spread of infectious diseases. The reference to this framework is not optional — it must be explicitly included.

The required wording is along the lines of:

"[YOUR NAME] does not suffer from any of the diseases that may have serious public health repercussions in accordance with what is stipulated by the International Health Regulations of 2005."

The Spanish consulate in Los Angeles provides a template on its website that uses almost exactly this phrasing. It is worth checking whether your local Spanish consulate provides a similar template — many do, and using it removes any ambiguity about whether the wording meets requirements.

Who Can Issue It and What Format Is Required

The certificate must be issued by your doctor or a local hospital, and it must appear on official letterhead paper with an official stamp. Without a verifiable stamp and letterhead, the consulate cannot authenticate the document and it is likely to be rejected.

Alternatively, if your consulate provides a template, your doctor can fill that in instead — they should then print it out, sign it, date it, and stamp it. You must submit the original document, not a copy.

If you do not have a regular GP in your home country, or prefer a more streamlined process, specialist companies such as Wilmer Health can organise the certificate remotely. This typically involves completing a detailed medical history questionnaire and potentially a consultation with a doctor if there are any questions about your health history.

How Long Is It Valid?

The certificate must be issued no more than 90 days before you submit your visa application. This is a firm cut-off — a certificate issued more than 90 days before the application date will not be accepted, even if your health status has not changed.

Given that NLV applications involve gathering multiple documents — proof of income, private health insurance, criminal record checks, and more — it is worth timing the medical certificate carefully so it does not expire before you are ready to submit everything together.

Do You Need a Translation?

If the certificate is written in English (or any language other than Spanish), you will need to provide an official sworn translation into Spanish. Sworn translations must be carried out by an officially certified translator — not just any bilingual person — and the cost in Spain typically ranges from €30 to €80 per page.

One exception: if you use the template provided by your consulate (such as the Los Angeles template mentioned above), it may already include the Spanish text alongside the English, in which case no separate translation is required. Check your consulate's specific guidance.

Practical Tips for Getting Your Certificate

• Contact your GP practice early — some surgeries require an appointment to issue this kind of letter, and you may need to wait a week or two. Don't leave it until you're ready to submit everything else.
• Show your doctor the required wording — most GPs in the UK and other countries will not automatically know what a Spanish visa medical certificate needs to say. Bring the exact phrasing with you, or the consulate template, and ask your doctor to replicate it.
• Check whether your consulate provides a template — it simplifies the process and removes uncertainty about wording and translation.
• Factor in time for a sworn translation if your certificate is in English — this adds a few days and a small cost to the process.
• Don't get the certificate too early — with a 90-day validity window, getting it months in advance means it may expire before you submit your application.

The NLV at a Glance

The medical certificate is just one of several documents required for the Non-Lucrative Visa. The full application typically also requires:

• Proof of sufficient passive income (bank statements, pension letters, investment income)
• Private health insurance valid in Spain
• A clean criminal record certificate (apostilled)
• A completed visa application form and passport photos
• A valid passport with at least one year's remaining validity

All foreign-language documents generally require official sworn translation into Spanish, and most documents need to be apostilled to verify their authenticity.

This article is based on reporting from The Local Spain, published March 26, 2026, and information from the Spanish consulate in Los Angeles and Wilmer Health. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. For advice specific to your situation, consult a qualified immigration lawyer or gestor.