Libbie Stevens, Spanish Visa Advisor @ Wilmer Health | 15th April 2025 | hello@wilmerhealth.com
Planning a move from the UK to Spain? If you are, there’s one important document you’ll need to get right – a Medical Certificate for a Spanish Visa. This certificate proves to the Spanish authorities that you’re free from serious infectious diseases, and it’s a key requirement for your visa application, however, even small mistakes can lead to delays or rejection.
The good news is that most of these mistakes are easy to avoid and in this short guide, we’ll explain the most common errors people make with their Spanish Visa Medical Certificate — and how you can can get it right the first time!
A Spanish visa medical certificate is a letter from a UK-registered doctor confirming you’re in good health and free from contagious diseases. It’s typically required for long-stay visas, such as the non-lucrative visa or student visa, and demonstrates to the Spanish consulate that you don’t have any serious illnesses that could pose a risk to others in Spain.
To be accepted, the certificate must:
Use the exact wording as required by the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005).
Be written in Spanish or have an official Spanish sworn translation.
If there are any mistakes on the certificate, your visa might be delayed or refused. In the next sections, we’ll go through the most common mistakes people make — and how you can avoid them.
Your certificate must include the following exact sentence according to the IHR (2005):
“[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.”
If the wording is even slightly different, the Spanish consulate may reject it. That includes missing the reference to the International Health Regulations (2005).
An apostille for a Spanish visa medical certificate is a special stamp from the UK government that proves your document is real. Without this stamp, the Spanish consulate won’t accept your certificate.
To get the apostille in the UK, the doctor who signs your certificate must be registered with the FCDO (the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office).
The signature on your Spanish visa medical certificate is very important and it must be done the right way. The doctor must sign a physical copy by hand using a pen. This is called a wet ink signature.
Digital signatures, scans, or photocopies are not allowed. The UK government (FCDO) and the Spanish consulate will only accept the original certificate with a real, handwritten signature.
Even if the rest of the certificate is correct, using a copy or digital version could cause delays or lead to your visa being refused.
✔️ Wilmer Health sends you the physical certificate with a wet ink signature via secure tracked delivery, so you have the correct version to submit.
The Spanish consulate has strict rules about the language of your medical certificate. They will only accept certificates that are:
This means you can’t just translate it yourself or use online tools. The consulate needs to see either a certificate already in Spanish or one that’s been translated by someone they officially recognise (also known as a sworn Spanish translation).
Timing is really important when it comes to your Spanish visa medical certificate. The certificate is only valid for 90 days from the date issued. If you get it too early, it might expire before your visa appointment. But if you leave it too late, you might run out of time to get it translated and legalised with an apostille.
Here’s what you need to watch out for:
✔️ Tip: Aim to order your certificate around 4–6 weeks before your visa appointment for the best timing.
At Wilmer Health, we have made it easy for people in the UK to get their Spanish visa medical certificate. Our certificates are written by UK-based doctors who are fully registered with both the General Medical Council (GMC) and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), so they meet all the rules set by the Spanish consulate.
You can apply online from home — no need for any in-person appointments. Once your certificate is ready, we’ll post the original copy to you anywhere in the UK. We also include a Spanish translation, so you don’t have to pay extra for a separate translator.
Begin by completing a quick online form with your details and a brief medical background — it only takes a few minutes
A doctor registered with both the GMC and FCDO will check your application and issue your certificate, making sure it follows all the rules for the Spanish visa.
You’ll get both a digital version and a printed copy of your certificate, complete with a Spanish translation. We use secure tracked delivery. Each certificate comes with an original wet-ink signature and official stamp, meeting all the requirements set by the Spanish authorities.
Need an apostille? We can take care of that too. It’s a popular add-on that ensures your certificate is fully legalised and ready for submission with your visa application. We manage the entire process and send the completed documents straight to your door — no extra steps required on your part.
Making sure your Spanish visa medical certificate is completed correctly is one of the easiest ways to keep your application on track — but it’s also a common area where applicants make mistakes.
At Wilmer Health we’re experts in handling the whole process — just place your order online, and we’ll take care of the rest. Ready to get started? Get your Spanish Visa Medical Certificate today.
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.
