Do I need travel insurance for Spain?
For millions of Brits, Spain isn’t just a holiday destination – it’s practically a second home. But even your favourite place in the world can throw a curveball.
While your Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers state healthcare at the same rate as locals, it won’t cover getting you home if you’re not fit to fly, never mind extras like lost baggage or cancellation.
That’s where travel insurance can step in. Though it isn’t a legal requirement for Spain, it might be one of the best things you pack. At Avanti, we specialise in cover for pre-existing medical conditions and any age.
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Top tip: will I be asked for proof of insurance at the Spanish border?
There’s no blanket legal requirement for UK tourists to hold travel insurance to enter Spain. As part of the EU’s Entry/Exit system, (please keep link) border officials (or their digital kiosk counterparts) might ask if you have cover – but even if you don’t, it shouldn’t be a barrier to entry.
With this said, having your policy documents to hand will help prove that you have the funds to pay for any emergency medical costs and make for a much smoother start to your holiday.
What does Spain travel insurance cover?
Here’s a quick look at when your will and won’t apply. If you’re not sure how any of these points might affect you, our friendly team can talk them through over the phone and help you understand what your cover includes.
We can usually help if you…
- have to cancel your trip or come home early
If illness (including COVID), injury or bereavement means you can’t travel or need to cut your holiday short, we’ll help with the costs you can’t get back.
- need emergency medical treatment abroad
If you fall ill (including with COVID) or get injured overseas, we’ll cover hospital treatment, ambulance transport and – if needed – medical repatriation, with help from our 24-hour assistance team.
- lose your bags or passport
If your baggage, valuables or travel documents are lost or stolen, we’ll help you replace essentials so you can carry on with your trip.
- are disrupted by bad weather or strikes
If your flight or connection is delayed because of unexpected bad weather, strike action or a vehicle breakdown, we’ll help cover reasonable travel or accommodation costs to get you where you need to be. (This doesn’t apply if the strike or disruption was already public knowledge when you booked your trip).
- are delayed on your journey (Classic and Deluxe)
If your flight or ferry is delayed for 12 hours or more, you’ll get a fixed payment to help with the inconvenience.
- can’t stay in your accommodation (Classic and Deluxe)
If a fire, flood or major power cut means you can’t stay in your hotel or apartment, we’ll help arrange and pay for somewhere else.
- are admitted to hospital while abroad (Classic and Deluxe)
If you’re kept in hospital overnight (including due to COVID), we’ll pay a daily benefit to help with small personal costs while you recover. (If you’re injured in a mugging, an extra payment may also apply).
- are delayed by volcanic ash (Deluxe only)
If a volcanic ash cloud grounds your flight for more than 12 hours, you’ll receive a fixed payment to help with the delay.
- accidentally cause injury or damage
If you unintentionally injure someone or damage their belongings, your policy includes personal liability protection.
- are injured in an accident abroad
If you need legal help after being injured overseas, we’ll cover your legal costs, so you’re not left to manage it alone.
Cover won’t apply if you…
- haven’t told us about a medical condition
If you don’t declare a pre-existing condition, or if your health changes before you travel and you don’t update your policy, we won’t be able to cover related claims.
- travel against UK Government or medical advice
There’s no cover if you travel somewhere the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has advised against, or if your doctor says you shouldn’t travel for medical reasons.
- have an accident because of alcohol or drugs
We can’t cover claims if alcohol or drugs directly or indirectly contribute to an accident, injury or loss.
- miss a flight because of personal delays
If you don’t leave enough time to reach the airport or check-in, we can’t pay for missed flights or connections.
- leave belongings unattended
There’s no cover if something is lost or stolen after being left unattended – for example, on a sunbed, in an unlocked car or in a public place.
- are travelling for arranged medical treatment abroad
Travel insurance is designed for unexpected illness or injury, not for medical procedures, tests or check-ups arranged before you go.
- booked during a known strike or disruption
If strike action or travel problems were already public knowledge when you booked, your policy won’t apply to those delays or cancellations.
- take part in an activity that isn’t covered
Some higher-risk activities – such as certain winter sports – aren’t automatically included unless you’ve added the right optional cover.
- are waiting for a medical procedure
If you’re awaiting an operation or follow-up test, cancellation and curtailment claims won’t be covered unless it’s an accepted procedure shown on your validation certificate.
Top tip: does travel insurance for Spain include Spanish territories like the Canaries?
If you’re buying a single-trip policy, you’ll be covered for the destination(s) listed on your validation certificate. Just tell us where you’re going, whether that’s Spain, the Canary Islands, Mallorca or somewhere more far-flung, and we’ll make sure you’re covered for just that.
Annual multi-trip policies are a bit different and cover a set geographical region. Spain (including the Balearics and Canary Islands) falls under our Europe policies. If you don’t know which region to choose, don’t fret. Just talk us through where you’re planning to go over the year, and we’ll make sure you get the right cover.
Travelling with a medical condition?
97% of customers who declare a condition are offered cover with us. In fact, since 2014, we’ve helped more than 1.3 million travellers arrange cover for over 1,300 medical conditions (subject to screening) – from high blood pressure and diabetes to cancer and heart disease.
In the rare event we can’t offer you travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions, we’ll always try to point you in the right direction. We’re proud to be listed by MoneyHelper – a government-backed money guidance service that keeps a free, independently run directory of those who might be able to help with pre-existing medical conditions.
Medical conditions we regularly cover
Heart and circulatory conditions
Travelling with a circulatory or heart condition like heart disease, high blood pressure or atrial fibrillation? You’re not alone.
Cancer
Our travel insurance policies can include cover for a wide range of cancers – including some of the most common, such as breast, prostate, bowel, lung and skin cancer.
Breathing and lung conditions
We regularly help travellers with a wide range of breathing conditions, including asthma, bronchitis, COPD and lung fibrosis.
Digestive conditions
Many Avanti travellers live with stomach and bowel conditions such as IBS, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and acid reflux.
Neurodegenerative diseases
Our policies can include protection for neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis and motor neurone disease, as well as rarer conditions such as Huntington’s disease, Batten’s disease, spinocerebellar ataxia and spinal muscular atrophy.
Mental health conditions
Travel can do wonders for mental wellbeing. If you’re managing a condition like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), we’d love to help you see the world.
Autoimmune conditions
The Avanti team regularly arrange cover for travellers with autoimmune conditions such as arthritis, lupus, Addison’s disease and multiple sclerosis. This can include conditions managed with long-term medication or those that cause occasional flare-ups.
Kidney conditions
We often help kidney patients with conditions such as chronic kidney disease (CKD), kidney stones, renal failure, nephritis and urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Back and chronic pain
Chronic pain can have many causes – including autoimmune, neurological and digestive disorders – and we understand how differently it can affect each person day to day. We often cover those with conditions such as chronic back pain, slipped discs, sciatica, fibromyalgia and other long-term pain conditions.
Allergies
Allergies shouldn’t stop travel in its tracks. Whether it’s a common sensitivity or something more specific like allergic rhinitis or aspergillosis, we’ll do our best to find the right protection for your trip.
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How to buy holiday insurance for Spain
Step 1
You can get a quote online or over the phone. We’ll start by asking a few quick questions – like whether it’s single trip or annual cover, your travel dates, destination and if you’re going on a cruise.
It’s easy to cover an individual, couple, family or group of up to nine travellers online (or up to 30 by phone).
Step 2
Next, we’ll go through a few details about your health over the past two years – including any diagnoses, symptoms, tests or treatment.
Step 3
Once you’ve shared your details, we’ll talk you through your quote, whether online or over the phone. You can choose your level of cover, add any extras and confirm your policy there and then.
You’ll get instant access to your policy documents in My Avanti, where you can view, download or update your details any time.
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Planning a cruise?
Our Classic or Deluxe cruise cover can protect your nautical adventures against missed port departures, cabin confinement, itinerary changes, and more. And because nobody wants to be underdressed at the captain’s table, we’ll even pay up to £100 for emergency evening wear, if yours don’t make it on board. Just let us know you’re cruising when you get a quote.
When to buy travel insurance for Spain
MoneySavingExpert’s Martin Lewis calls it the ASAB rule — “As Soon As you Book”. Spain proves why. Air-traffic-control walk-outs can spring up overnight, causing rolling delays and same-day cancellations across island and mainland airports. You’re covered with Avanti as long as the strike wasn’t common knowledge when you booked or bought your policy. If you put off buying cover, you could miss the safety net.
Buy travel insurance for Spain the moment your villa, cruise cabin or city-break flights are confirmed, and your cancellation limit of up to £7,500** will kick in straight away (unless you choose to delay your start date by up to 90 days on annual cover), giving you the extra reassurance you need to enjoy your holiday.
How much is travel insurance for Spain?
There’s no one-price-fits-all for Spain holiday insurance. A 3-day city break in Seville usually costs less to insure than a month cycling Mallorca because longer trips carry more risk. Your age, any medical conditions and chosen cover level all influence the premium.
When you’re comparing prices, it helps to think about what’s behind them. Policies that include higher medical cover or cancellation limits might look pricier at first, but they’ll also provide more cover if something unexpected happens. According to GOV.UK, emergency medical treatment for something like a broken leg and repatriation home from Spain could cost in excess of £25,000.
If you head to Spain more than once a year, annual multi-trip travel insurance can give you better value than buying separate single-trip policies each time you go abroad. If you’re quoted more than £80 for an annual policy, you can even spread the cost across 12 months.*
How to get cheaper travel insurance for Spain
Spain is usually one of the more affordable holiday destinations to insure. It’s short-haul, meaning emergency repatriation costs are lower than, for example, the USA or Australia. The Spanish healthcare system is well-developed, which keeps treatment costs predictable – and your GHIC card entitles you to state healthcare at local rates.
All of this means a better policy price for you, however, there are a few more ways you might be able to shrink the cost of your policy.
- Trip duration – shorter trips usually cost less to insure because there’s less time for something to go wrong.
- Destination – some places are more expensive to insure than others. The USA, Canada and the Caribbean have some of the world’s highest medical costs, while Europe and the UK are often cheaper to cover.
- Policy level – Avanti offers three levels of cover – Essentials, Classic and Deluxe. Essentials is the most cost-effective option for travellers looking to keep things simple.
- Luggage cover – think about what you really need to take with you. Packing lighter and setting a lower luggage limit on your policy can bring the cost down.
- Excess – a higher voluntary excess means a lower premium. Just make sure it’s an amount you’d be comfortable paying if you claim.
- Discounts – it’s also worth checking our current offers before you buy. You can find the latest Avanti discount codes on our discounts page.
Avanti pays when it matters most
We know how important it is to feel confident that your claim will be handled quickly and fairly.
Between February 2024 and July 2025, our customers received more than £31 million, with over 18,000 claims settled.
You can expect to hear from our claims team within 5 working days of submitting your claim, and in most cases, Avanti strives to make a decision within five days of receiving your documents.
That’s one of the reasons Avanti has been awarded Best Insurance Customer Service by the Personal Finance Awards (2025).
Does travel insurance for Spain cover travelling to my holiday home?
Many Brits look to Spain for a holiday home, with up to 11,900 properties sold to UK residents in 2024 alone. Whether you’re visiting your second home or renting a Spanish property to see the sights, it all still counts as a holiday, so we’ll be able to cover your trip.
Your policy will include things like trip cancellations, repatriation back home, medical emergencies and baggage. However, it won’t cover any claims relating to your holiday home – that’s covered by your property insurance.
Does travel insurance for Spain cover theft?
Spain is safe for the most part, but the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) does warn holidaymakers to keep an eye out for pickpockets. Petty crime can take place in busy markets, city hubs and train stations, so it’s best to keep your belongings close or locked away in your hotel safe.
If something gets stolen, it’s good to know we cover luggage up to £3,000, and passports and personal money up to £600 on Deluxe policies. This includes cancellation fees should your passport be stolen up to seven days before your departure date, and extra travel and accommodation costs you might have to pay abroad to get a replacement.
Does travel insurance for Spain cover winter sports?
Yes, it’s true – sunny Spain has great spots for skiing! If you’re planning on braving the slopes, our winter sports cover can protect you from the unexpected while skiing or snowboarding, ski touring, sledging, snowshoeing, snow cat skiing, tobogganing and more.
Our cover includes:
- Loss, theft or damage of your own winter sports equipment
- Loss, theft or damage of ski pass
- Piste closure
- Avalanches or landslides
- Search and rescue
- Physiotherapy
If you have a medical emergency while skiing, we can cover your air evacuation, medical expenses, and repatriation back home if needed (up to policy limits). Our winter sports cover can be added to all our single-trip policies and is already included in our Classic or Deluxe annual multi-trip policies, covering you for a total of 17 fun-filled days on the slopes.
Hear it from our happy travellers…
“I purchased travel insurance from Avanti for my trip to Spain, and while I’m pleased to say I didn’t need to make any claims, I can share my experience with their service.
Coverage & Booking: The policy was straightforward to purchase and appeared to offer decent coverage for my Spain booking at a reasonable price point. The terms were clearly outlined, and I felt adequately covered for my trip
Communication: One aspect I genuinely appreciated was their proactive communication. Throughout the period leading up to and during my trip, Avanti sent regular updates at appropriate intervals. These included policy confirmations, reminders about coverage details, and helpful travel information. It’s reassuring to know they maintain contact with customers rather than just disappearing after taking payment.
Claims Experience: Fortunately, I didn’t need to file any claims during my trip, so I can’t speak to how they handle that process. However, the fact that everything went smoothly and I had peace of mind knowing I was covered was worth it.”
Lavesh, 23 October 2025
“Last year we went to Spain for 14 days and unfortunately had to go into hospital for 6 days. The hospital and Avanti representatives in Spain were excellent. When I was discharged, the hospital gave me information to give my doctor in England and the conclusion was that I had a colonoscopy and the results were positive and no more action was taken. I would recommend Avanti, that’s why I am going back to Spain in 3 weeks’ time.”
John, 19 January 2025
“I have given Avanti travel insurance 5 stars for the following reason. We previously booked a holiday to Spain, my wife took ill as we travelled to the airport and had to go to A&E resulting in a cancelled holiday. Avanti Travel Insurance were excellent and a full holiday cost refund was issued , no delays no problems, which was quite a relief, as you do not know how good an insurance company is, until you make a claim. I have rebooked travel insurance with Avanti because I have peace of mind knowing they are good”
Mr Bunt, 22 October 2025
