Why Spanish consulates require it
The medical certificate is part of the sanitary control Spain applies to long-stay visa applicants from abroad. The legal basis is the International Health Regulations 2005 (IHR-2005), adopted by the World Health Assembly and in force in Spain since 2007. Its purpose is to identify and prevent the international spread of diseases with serious public health repercussions — a category the regulation defines with an evolving list.
When a Spanish consulate abroad (London, New York, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Miami, Houston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, etc.) processes a visa application, this certificate is one of the central documents of the file, alongside the passport, the criminal record certificate (ACRO/FBI/etc.), proof of financial means and private health insurance.
Spanish visas and procedures requiring this document
- Non-lucrative visa (NLV). The most frequent: retirees with passive income, professionals with savings who don't intend to work for a Spanish employer, individuals who want to reside without professional activity.
- Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) created by the 2022 Startups Act. In high demand from remote tech professionals.
- Golden visa for property investment of €500,000+, public debt investment, deposits, etc. (currently undergoing regulatory transformation).
- Long-stay student visa (courses longer than 180 days, university programmes, masters).
- Family reunification visa when initiated from the consulate of the country of residence.
- Work visas in their various modalities (employee, highly qualified professional, intra-corporate transfer).
UK-issued certificate formats we frequently handle
The UK is the dominant origin of the medical certificates we translate, partly because of post-Brexit British residency applications to Spain and partly because the UK market has specialised providers that issue the certificate pre-formatted for Spain visa:
- ZoomDoc Health — CQC-registered online GP service. Issues certificate with QR verification code, ZDVAP- reference number, GP signature and seal with GMC number. Template specifically designed for Spanish visa applications.
- GP Matters (Glasgow) — private clinic that issues a bilingual English-Spanish certificate ready for filing at some consulates without further translation when the consul accepts the format. Even so, for files before authorities within Spain (renewals, TIE, etc.) the sworn translation of the original is typically required.
- Private NHS GPs and private clinics (BMI, Bupa, etc.) issuing certificates on their own template.
- Private consultants and specialists (cardiologists, endocrinologists, surgeons) who issue more detailed certificates when the applicant's medical history justifies a specialist's involvement.
Each format has its own wording, layout and formal elements — and we reproduce all of them faithfully in the sworn translation, apostille included.
US-issued certificate formats
For Spain visa applicants from the United States, certificates are typically issued by:
- MDs in private practice at their regular office with their own template.
- CityMD, Concentra and other urgent-care clinics that issue visa certificates on quick templates.
- GPs in dedicated visa-medical programmes (some clinics specialise in immigration certificates).
In all cases the certificate must be apostilled by the U.S. Department of State (federal apostille) — private medical certificates are treated as federal-level documents for apostille purposes because they are not issued by a state government.
Certificate formats from EU and other countries
- France: certificat médical issued by a médecin généraliste with their RPPS number (Répertoire Partagé des Professionnels de Santé) or by a Centre de Santé. NOT covered by EU Regulation 2016/1191 (which only covers civil status), so the apostille is still required.
- Germany: ärztliches Attest from the Hausarzt with their Approbation.
- Latin American countries: certificate from the licensed doctor, with apostille from the issuing country.
What we translate exactly
Our sworn translation of the medical certificate reproduces in full:
- Patient identification (full name, date of birth, passport or ID number).
- Issuing doctor's details (name, professional registration number — GMC in the UK, state medical board licence in the US, RPPS in France, equivalent in other countries — specialty, clinic affiliation).
- Literal declaration of absence of diseases with public health repercussions, with reference to the International Health Regulations of 2005.
- Specific enumeration of diseases when the certificate lists them (smallpox, poliomyelitis, pandemic influenza, SARS, cholera, plague, yellow fever, viral haemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola, Lassa, Marburg, West Nile Virus, dengue, Rift Valley fever, meningococcal disease).
- Declaration of absence of drug addiction and mental illness when the certificate includes it.
- Medical centre seal, doctor's signature, date and place of issue.
- Verification codes (QR, ZDVAP- reference number, etc.) some providers include.
- Apostille translated in full.
Delivery format and timing
We deliver the translation as a PDF signed electronically with the sworn translator's qualified digital signature, valid before all Spanish consulates and immigration offices. The medical certificate is typically one page, two at most, so the translation turnaround is among the fastest in the catalogue. Urgent options for time-sensitive consular appointments are available.
Common pitfalls to avoid
- Requesting the certificate too early. Three months pass quickly between obtaining a consular appointment, completing the file and submitting it. Order the certificate close to your consular appointment.
- Not apostilling. Consulates reject it almost automatically without apostille. Apostille before sending for translation.
- Certificate without IHR-2005 reference. If the doctor issues a generic health certificate without the legal reference to the International Health Regulations, the consulate may request a redrafted version. Tell the doctor you need it for Spain visa with explicit IHR-2005 reference.
- Illegible or missing professional registration number. Both the GMC in the UK and its equivalent in each country must appear legibly on the certificate.
- Name discrepancies between the certificate and the passport: we cover this with a translator's note — flag it when uploading.
Spanish bodies that accept our translation
- Spanish consulates abroad (long-stay visa filings)
- Sub-delegation of the Government and Immigration Offices (residency authorisation renewals, modality changes)
- Ministry of the Interior (specific procedures)
- Regional health services (when the applicant's medical eligibility is being assessed)
Related pages
- Sworn translation of a criminal record certificate — the other basic document for visa files.
- Sworn translation of FBI background check — for US applicants.
- Sworn translation of UK ACRO Police Certificate — for UK applicants.
- Sworn translation of a birth certificate — for family reunification and dependants in the visa.