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Navigating healthcare in Catalunya can feel complex. At callCarlos, we help you understand your options and take care of the practical steps.
Spain’s strong healthcare system plays an important role alongside factors such as climate and diet. Public healthcare is either free or very low cost for people who qualify, including residents who work or are self-employed and pay social security contributions, those receiving social benefits or a state pension, students under 26 studying in Spain, and resident pregnant women.
If you do not fall into any of these categories, there are still options available to access healthcare, which we explain further below.
If you are registered (empadronado/a) with your local ayuntamiento (town hall), the first step is to register with the Dirección General de la Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social (TGSS) in order to obtain a social security number.
Once you have received this number, you take it to your local health centre, known as a C.A.P. (Centro de Asistencia Primaria), together with your NIE and passport. You can then apply for your health card and will be assigned a family doctor. The physical card is usually issued shortly afterwards.
Prescription medication in Spain is generally much cheaper than in many northern European countries, and once registered in the public system, costs are further subsidised. In Catalunya, your health card is issued by CatSalut.
There is a C.A.P. in almost every town in Catalunya, meaning access to primary healthcare is never far away.
If you do not meet any of the requirements mentioned above and are not entitled to public healthcare, you will need to take out private health insurance. If you are registered with your local town hall as having been resident in Spain for a year or more but have never made social security contributions, you may be eligible for the convenio especial, a state-run healthcare scheme.
There are several types of convenio especial, depending on personal circumstances. The scheme is managed at regional level, including in Catalunya, and conditions may vary slightly between regions.
Alternatively, you can take out private health insurance with one of the many providers operating in Spain.
If you are not a resident of Spain but spend time here – or elsewhere in the EU – it is strongly recommended to have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). You apply for this card in your country of residence. It allows access to public healthcare if you need medical treatment during a temporary stay in Spain or another EU country.
The EHIC does not apply if you travel to Spain specifically to receive medical treatment. However, if you require care that cannot wait until you return home, the EHIC ensures free or reduced-cost treatment within the public healthcare system.
If you are a resident in Spain, you should apply for the Tarjeta Sanitaria Europea (TSE), the equivalent card for Spanish residents travelling within the EU. Please note that the EHIC or TSE only covers basic public healthcare. It is still advisable to take out additional travel insurance to cover other situations or services not included.
To see a doctor in Spain, you usually make an appointment through your local CAP (Centro de Asistencia Primaria), either in person or by phone. Waiting times for public healthcare vary by location, but are often a few days. Private healthcare typically offers shorter waiting times.
To see a specialist or receive non-urgent hospital treatment within the public system, you will first need a referral from your GP.
Most patients are treated via their local CAP, although some doctors run private practices. It is important to check whether a doctor offers public or private services, depending on your coverage. Some private GPs may not accept patients who do not speak Spanish unless an interpreter is present, whereas CAP centres on the Costa Brava often have staff who can assist in other languages.
For urgent medical situations, you can go directly to Urgencias, the equivalent of E.R. or A&E. On the Costa Brava, hospitals with emergency departments are located in Palamós and Blanes, with larger hospitals in Girona and Figueres further inland.
As in all EU countries, the emergency number to call is 112.
Unfortunately, visits to the dentist or the optician are not covered under the healthcare system in Spain, so unless you have a private health insurance policy that covers these, you just pay as you go.
Exception: there is currently a temporary subsidy for children up to and including 16 years old for glasses and visual correction, known as Plan Veo. This support is available until the end of 2026, subject to eligibility and local conditions.
We hope this has been useful in giving you an overview of how the Spanish healthcare system works for foreigners, whether living here or just visiting. If you need help navigating healthcare registration, insurance options or local services, callCarlos is happy to assist.
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