Libbie Stevens, Spanish Visa Advisor @ Wilmer Health | 28th April 2025 | hello@wilmerhealth.com
Applying for a Spanish visa can be stressful, and the last thing you want is for something to be rejected. While it’s not ideal, it does happen more often than you might think. If your Spanish visa medical certificate has been refused, don’t worry — you’re not alone. Many applicants face the same issue, and in most cases, it’s easy to fix once you understand what went wrong.
In this article, we’ll explain the most common reasons why medical certificates get rejected for Spanish visa applications — and how you can avoid rejection.
The Spanish consulate is very strict about the wording and format of their medical certificates. They expect each certificate to meet their specific criteria, which includes the following:
If your certificate is missing any of these details or uses vague or different wording, it’s likely to be rejected. Some doctors are not familiar with the exact phrasing needed, which can cause issues.
When applying for a Spanish visa from the UK, the Spanish consulate usually requires your medical certificate to be legalised with an apostille. This means it must have an Apostille stamp from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in the UK. Without this stamp, the consulate cannot accept your certificate, even if everything else is correct.
The Apostille process confirms the identity of the doctor who signed your medical certificate, and confirms that they are a licensed physician.
To learn more about the Apostille process, check out our guide on 👉 Apostilles for Spanish Visa Documents in the UK.
A key requirement for your Spanish visa medical certificate is that it must be issued and signed by a doctor registered with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). This is a crucial requirement for obtaining the apostille stamp for your certificate – without FCDO-registration, an apostille cannot be issued.
Some certificates get rejected because they don’t include enough information about the applicant. Your medical certificate should clearly show:
If the certificate only shows your name and nothing else, the consulate may reject it because they can’t be sure it belongs to you.
Timing is crucial for your Spanish visa medical certificate. Spanish consulates require your medical certificate to be issued within 90 days of submitting your visa application.
If there’s a long gap between your medical appointment and your visa interview, your certificate could expire and you might need a new one.
To stay on the safe side, aim to complete your medical certificate around 4-6 weeks before your visa appointment.
When it comes to translation, if your medical certificate is in English, the Spanish consulate will require it to be translated into Spanish. It’s important to know that:
Informal translations (such as those done with online tools) will not be accepted.
The translation must be carried out by a Spanish government-approved translator – known as a sworn translator.
Alternatively, you can choose a provider that issues a bilingual certificate (in both English and Spanish) to save you the hassle of organising a separate translation – such as at Wilmer Health.
At Wilmer Health, we specialise in helping UK applicants avoid Spanish visa rejections by getting everything right the first time. We provide fully compliant medical certificates, signed by doctors registered with both the General Medical Council (GMC) and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) – meeting all Spanish consulate requirements.
Everything is completed online, so you can apply from the comfort of your home. We deliver your documents anywhere in the UK or abroad. Plus, we’re the only service that offers certificates already translated into Spanish — saving you over £100 in sworn translation fees!
Our simple online form lets you share your details and medical history in just a few minutes.
Our doctors will check your information and issue a certificate that meets all Spanish consulate requirements.
We’ll send both a digital and a physical copy, with a wet-ink signature, an official stamp, and a full Spanish translation.
Need legalisation too? We can arrange the apostille stamp for you, making sure your certificate is fully ready to submit — no extra steps or stress.
Having your Spanish visa medical certificate rejected can be frustrating, but it’s often due to small, easy-to-fix issues and it happens more often than you might think. By knowing what the consulate needs and carefully checking your documents, you can avoid many common pitfalls.
If you’re not sure whether your current certificate is correct or you need a new one that fully meets all the requirements, we’re here to help. Our service makes sure your Spanish Visa Medical Certificate is 100% compliant, saving you time, stress, and unnecessary rejections. Apply now and let’s get your Spanish visa journey started!
Same-day medical certificates and doctor’s letters, all from the comfort of your home — quick, easy, and hassle-free.
hello@wilmerhealth.com
All certificate requests submitted before 9pm (BST) are issued the same day.
