The medical certificate for a Spanish visa: wording, age and translation
Updated · Official sources checked
Short answer
Every consulate asks for a doctor’s statement that you do not suffer from any disease that could have serious public health repercussions under the International Health Regulations of 2005, and most want it issued no more than three months before you apply. What differs is the language: Boston, Chicago and Houston ask for a bilingual certificate, Los Angeles needs no translation on its own model, and London, Edinburgh and Manchester ask for a translation and an apostille.
What it states
No disease with serious public health repercussions under the IHR 2005
Maximum age
3 months at most consulates; 90 days at Los Angeles
UK consulates
Translation and apostille; London and Manchester take UK or Spanish certificates only
Juranza, one-page medical certificate
€59, VAT included
What each consulate asks for
| Consulate | What it asks for | Max. age | Language | Apostille | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | From a registered medical practitioner, in the wording the checklist sets; issued in the UK or Spain only | 3 months | Sworn translation if not in Spanish | Yes, except official EU documents | Official page |
| Edinburgh | Signed and stamped by a registered doctor, stating the exact wording below | 3 months | Official translation, unless issued in Spain | Yes, unless issued in Spain | Official page |
| Manchester | From a registered medical practitioner, in the wording the checklist sets; issued in the UK or Spain only | 3 months | Sworn translation | Yes, except official EU documents | Official page |
| Boston | Bilingual, on the doctor’s or medical centre’s letterhead, with the doctor’s stamp and signature | 3 months | Bilingual: in Spanish or translated | Not stated | Official page |
| Chicago | Bilingual, completed by the examining physician, stamped or on letterhead; template recommended | 3 months | Bilingual | Not stated | Official page |
| Houston | Bilingual, signed by a doctor, stamped or on letterhead; template recommended | 3 months | Bilingual | Not stated | Official page |
| Los Angeles | Signed, with a doctor’s stamp or letterhead; the consulate publishes a model | 90 days | Spanish translation if in English; none on the model | Not stated | Official page |
| Miami | In the wording the consulate sets, on letterhead, signed and stamped; the page links a bilingual model | 3 months | Translated by a sworn or certified translator | Not stated | Official page |
| New York | A statement in the IHR 2005 terms | Not stated | Official translation | Not stated | Official page |
| San Francisco | Signed by a medical doctor, with name, licence number and contact details, stamped or on letterhead; template recommended | 3 months | Official translation if only in English | Not stated | Official page |
| Ottawa | From your family doctor, in the wording the page sets; for stays over 180 days | Not stated | Official translation where applicable | Legalised or apostilled | Official page |
| Sydney | A statement in the IHR 2005 terms | Not stated | Official translation where applicable | Legalised or apostilled | Official page |
The wording consulates set
| Consulate | The certificate states | Source |
|---|---|---|
| London, issued in the UK | “This health certificate states that Mr./Mrs. (…) 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” | Checklist |
| London, issued in Spain | “Este certificado médico acredita que el Sr./Sra. (…) no padece ninguna de las enfermedades que pueden tener repercusiones para la salud pública graves, de conformidad con lo dispuesto en el reglamento sanitario internacional de 2005” | Checklist |
| Manchester, issued in the UK | “This health certificate states that Mr./Mrs. (…) 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” | Checklist |
| Edinburgh | That you “does not suffer from any illness which represents a risk or a danger to the public according to the International Health Regulations of 2005” | Official page |
| Miami | “This medical certificate certifies that Mr. / Ms. (...) Does not suffer from any diseases that may have serious implications for public health in accordance with the provisions of the International Health Regulations 2005” | Official page |
| Ottawa | “This medical certificate states that Mr./Mrs. ….. does not suffer from any diseases that may have serious consequences on public health in accordance with the provisions contained in the 2005 International Health Regulations.” | Official page |
Timing and order
- Get it last: most consulates want it no more than three months old when you apply, and Los Angeles no more than 90 days.
- From the UK, Edinburgh’s checklist says to legalise first and translate afterwards, so the apostille and the translation both have to fit inside those three months.
- London and Manchester accept certificates issued only in the UK or Spain. London’s checklist adds that any accredited public or private medical centre there will do, and that the consulate gives no information about medical centres.
- Edinburgh does not provide or require a template; Chicago, Houston and San Francisco recommend theirs, and Los Angeles and Miami publish one.
Questions
Juranza is a translation service, not a law firm, and nothing here is legal advice. Requirements published by Spanish consulates and immigration offices change without notice — always check your own consulate before submitting.
What should a medical certificate for a Spanish visa say?
That you do not suffer from any disease that could have serious public health repercussions under the International Health Regulations of 2005. London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Miami and Ottawa set their own wording: Edinburgh asks for it literally, while London and Manchester accept the same terms “or similarly”.
How old can the medical certificate be?
No more than three months at London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami and San Francisco, and 90 days at Los Angeles. New York, Ottawa and Sydney do not say.
Does the medical certificate need an apostille?
From the UK, yes: London, Edinburgh and Manchester ask for one, Edinburgh unless the certificate was issued in Spain. Ottawa and Sydney ask for foreign documents to be legalised or apostilled under that item. The US consulate pages do not mention one.
Does the medical certificate need a sworn translation?
In the UK, London and Manchester ask for a sworn translation and Edinburgh for an official one. In the US, Boston, Chicago and Houston ask for a bilingual certificate, Los Angeles needs none on its model, Miami asks for a sworn or certified translator, New York for an official translation, and San Francisco for one if the certificate is only in English.
Official sources
- Consulate General, London — non-lucrative visa checklist (PDF)
- Consulate General, Edinburgh — non-lucrative visa
- Consulate General, Edinburgh — non-lucrative visa checklist (PDF)
- Consulate General, Manchester — non-lucrative visa checklist (PDF)
- Consulate General, Boston — non-lucrative visa
- Consulate General, Chicago — non-lucrative visa
- Consulate General, Houston — non-lucrative visa
- Consulate General, Los Angeles — non-lucrative visa
- Consulate General, Miami — non-lucrative visa
- Consulate General, New York — non-lucrative visa
- Consulate General, San Francisco — non-lucrative visa
- Embassy in Ottawa — non-lucrative visa
- Consulate General, Sydney — non-lucrative visa