Medical certificate for the Spain non-lucrative visa: wording and template rules

Short answer: Yes — the medical certificate for the Spain non‑lucrative visa must explicitly state you don’t have a disease that could endanger public health, be dated and signed by a licensed physician on official letterhead, and usually be apostilled and translated into Spanish. Read on for exact wording examples, what to tell your GP, how to legalise it, and a ready‑to‑print template you can hand to the doctor.

What consulates actually require (one clear rule)

There’s a single practical rule to remember: the consulate needs a formal medical statement that you are free of contagious diseases which could constitute a public‑health risk. That is the line immigration officers read first — not a full clinical history, not your blood pressure chart, just the statement.

How that is delivered varies. Here’s what most Spanish consulates will check on receipt:

• The certificate is on official letterhead (clinic/hospital), has the doctor’s name, medical licence/registration number, contact details, date and a wet signature and stamp.
• It names the applicant (full name) and identifies them by passport number or date of birth.
• It contains an explicit sentence to the effect that the applicant “does not suffer from any disease that may have public health implications” (some consulates quote the International Health Regulations — see example wording below).
• It was issued within the time window the consulate requires (commonly within 3 months of the visa appointment; some places accept 6 months — check locally).
• If issued abroad, it is apostilled (Hague) or legalised, then translated into Spanish by a sworn (jurado) translator.

That’s it. Doctors on clinic letterhead, the right sentence, signature and stamp, and the correct legalisation/translation chain.

Exact wording consulates like (templates you can use)

If your GP asks what to write, give them one of the two short examples below. The Spanish version is the one translators/consulates will prefer; if your doctor can write it in Spanish on letterhead, you often avoid a separate sworn translation.

Suggested English wording (hand this to an English‑speaking GP):

To whom it may concern: I, Dr [Full name], medical licence no. [xxxxxx], hereby certify that I have examined [Patient full name], passport no. [xxxxxxxxx], born [dd/mm/yyyy], and find no clinical evidence that they suffer from any disease which could pose a public health risk in accordance with current public health regulations. This certificate is issued for the purpose of a Spanish visa application and is true to the best of my knowledge. Date: [dd/mm/yyyy]. Signature and stamp.

Suggested Spanish wording (preferred if possible):

Certifico que el/la Sr./Sra. [Nombre completo], con pasaporte número [xxxxxxxxx], nacido/a el [dd/mm/yyyy], ha sido examinado/a por mí, Dr/a [Nombre del médico], colegiado/a número [xxxxxx], y no presenta signos ni síntomas de enfermedad transmisible que pueda suponer un riesgo para la salud pública según la normativa vigente. Documento expedido a efectos de solicitud de visado. Fecha: [dd/mm/yyyy]. Firma y sello.

Notes on the wording: do not ask your doctor to add medical detail unless the consulate asked for it. A short, categorical statement is usually what they want. If a consulate requires different phrasing, they’ll say so on their document checklist — always check your consulate’s page.

How to get the certificate issued correctly — step by step

Do this in order. If you scramble steps you’ll waste time and money.

1. Check your consulate’s visa checklist online. This is the single most important step — consulates differ. The Spanish Ministry provides general visa guidance, but your local consulate’s page is the one that decides which documents they accept: exteriores.gob.es — visas.
2. Book a GP/private clinic appointment. Tell the receptionist it’s for a “visa medical certificate for Spanish non‑lucrative visa” and bring the wording above. Give them your passport number and full name to include.
3. Ask the doctor to issue the certificate on letterhead, include the medical registration number, stamp and wet signature, and to date it the day they sign. If possible, ask them to write the Spanish text directly.
4. If the certificate is issued outside the country where you’ll present it, arrange an apostille (Hague) or consular legalisation according to the issuing country’s rules. In the US, that is an apostille from the state secretary; in the UK, an apostille from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Do not skip this unless the consulate explicitly says it isn’t needed.
5. Have the final, apostilled document translated into Spanish by a sworn (jurado) translator. Send the translator a copy of the letterhead version so the translation mirrors the original exactly.
6. File the translated, apostilled certificate with your other visa documents ahead of the consulate appointment.

Checklist: documents and common fine points

• Doctor’s certificate on official letterhead (clinic/hospital) — include passport number or DOB.
• Doctor’s full name, medical registration/licence number, contact address and phone.
• Wet signature and official stamp.
• Clear, explicit sentence stating no contagious disease posing public health risk (see templates above).
• Issued within consulate’s accepted timeframe (commonly 3 months).
• Apostille/legalisation if issued abroad, unless consulate states otherwise.
• Sworn (jurado) translation into Spanish of the original document.

Item	Must include	Typical timing / cost
Doctor’s certificate	Letterhead, passport number, wording, doctor’s licence, stamp, signature	Issued same day; £20–€80 depending on country and clinic
Apostille / legalisation	Apostille stamp from issuing authority (state/foreign office)	2–14 days typical; €10–€50 or variable depending on service used
Sworn translation	Complete, stamped jurada translation into Spanish	€40–€120 depending on length and translator

What you can do yourself — and when to pay someone

Do this yourself:

• Book and attend the medical appointment. Hand the doctor the wording and your passport details.
• Arrange the apostille or legalisation with the issuing authority — many countries have online appointment systems for apostilles.
• Find and book a sworn translator. You can email translators directly; many will give clear quotes and turnaround times.

Consider paying a professional if:

• You don’t want to manage the apostille/legalisation (a gestor or visa service will do this for a fee).
• You’re applying from a country where consulate rules are unusually strict and you want a double‑check on wording — a local immigration lawyer or visa specialist can confirm phrasing.
• Your medical history is complicated (recent hospital admissions, reportable infections) and you need guidance on how to present information without triggering extra checks.

I usually recommend doing the straightforward parts yourself — the savings are real — and using a gestor only for the legalisation chain if you aren’t comfortable chasing the apostille office. A gestor will charge, but they stop small mistakes that lead to rejections.

Common problems and how to avoid them

Problem: certificate is in English only. Solution: have the doctor write the short Spanish sentence directly or get a sworn translation. Some consulates will accept English, but most want Spanish.

Problem: doctor forgets licence number or stamp. Solution: check the certificate before you leave the clinic. If you catch it there, they can correct it on the spot.

Problem: you apostilled the wrong paper (a photocopy). Solution: apostilles are applied to originals. Always apostille the original signed certificate. If you have to apostille later, don’t book the consulate appointment until you have the apostilled copy.

Problem: careless wording. Solution: give the doctor the Spanish template above. A single sentence is enough — no need to over‑explain.

Next practical action you should take (do this today)

Phone or email your nearest Spanish consulate and ask for their latest document checklist for the non‑lucrative visa. Ask these three direct questions: 1) Do you require an apostille/legalisation for a foreign medical certificate? 2) What is your acceptable timeframe for the certificate’s issue date? (3 months is typical but confirm.) 3) Do you accept English certificates or must they be in Spanish (or translated by a sworn translator)? Record their answers.

Then book a doctor’s appointment and bring the Spanish template. If the consulate accepts Spanish text, ask the doctor to write the Spanish sentence on letterhead. If they require an apostille, book that appointment next (state office). Finally, find a sworn translator and request a quote so you know the total time and cost before your visa appointment. If you want a checklist you can print and hand to a GP, copy the templates above and the checklist into a single page.

FAQ

How recent must the medical certificate be for a Spanish non‑lucrative visa?

Most consulates require the certificate to be issued within 3 months of your visa appointment. Some accept up to 6 months; a few insist on 30 days. Always check the specific consulate’s checklist — that page controls timing.

Do I need an x‑ray or blood tests for the certificate?

Usually no. The standard non‑lucrative‑visa medical certificate is a short statement from a doctor and does not require lab tests or x‑rays. If a consulate specifically asks for a chest x‑ray (rare), it will say so. Don’t assume extra tests unless instructed.

Can I use a translated English medical certificate or must it be sworn?

If the certificate is in English most consulates will still require a sworn (jurada) translation into Spanish. The safer route is to get the original certificate in Spanish from the doctor or have it translated by an officially recognised sworn translator — see our guide on sworn translations for the Spain visa (/en/visas-legal/spain-visa-sworn-translations).

My doctor refuses to add passport details — is that a problem?

Yes, it can be. The consulate likes the certificate to identify the applicant clearly (passport number or DOB). If your doctor won’t include passport details for privacy reasons, ask them to include full name and date of birth instead. If the consulate still rejects it, request a short addendum from the doctor with the passport number, signed and stamped, rather than re‑doing the whole certificate.

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Useful further reading on the site: how to handle sworn translations (/en/visas-legal/spain-visa-sworn-translations), tips for getting the consulate appointment (/en/visas-legal/spain-visa-consulate-appointment-tips), and the criminal record certificate requirements that you’ll likely file at the same time (/en/visas-legal/criminal-record-certificate-spain-visa). For background on public‑health wording you might encounter, see our healthcare primer (/en/healthcare/emergency-healthcare-spain-tourists-residents).