Seeing a doctor in Barcelona as an Erasmus or international student
Updated on
With a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and your passport or ID card, you can use Catalonia's public health service on the same terms as a local resident. It covers health problems that come up during your stay, not planned treatment. For an ordinary appointment you go to a CAP (the local primary care centre, roughly a GP surgery), and for advice at any hour you call 061. Students from outside the EU need their own health insurance.
This is correct as of the date this guide was updated. Cover depends on the country that issued your card, so check with them before you travel.
What the EHIC covers in Catalonia
According to CatSalut, the Catalan health service, the EHIC gives you the same public cover as residents. The condition is that the health problem arises during your stay and before your planned return date. When you're seen, you show:
- Your EHIC, or the provisional replacement certificate if the card hasn't arrived yet.
- A valid passport or national ID card.
You apply for the card in your home country before you leave. How long it lasts depends on the issuing country, so make sure it runs to the end of your exchange. UK students: CatSalut accepts the GHIC or a UK EHIC while it's still valid, and says the UK student EHIC lasts for the length of your studies.
What it usually doesn't cover
The European Commission and CatSalut list these limits:
- Planned treatment, or travelling specifically to get medical care.
- Private healthcare.
- A flight home for medical reasons.
- Anything that is free at home but charged in Spain. You pay what a local resident pays.
The Commission is clear that the EHIC is no substitute for travel insurance.
Your CAP: the local GP
The CAP (centre d'atenció primària) is the way into the public system. You see a family doctor or a nurse there, and they refer you to a specialist if needed. Every address is assigned to one CAP. Type your street and number into the CatSalut CAP finder to see which one is yours (the page is in Catalan, but the form is simple).
Appointments are booked at the front desk, by phone or through the La Meva Salut app, as explained on the CatSalut primary care page. Find your CAP in your first week. You won't feel like looking for it once you're ill.
Emergencies: who to call
| Situation | What to do | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Serious emergency or danger to life | Call 112 | 24/7 |
| Health question, or not sure where to go | Call 061 Salut Respon | 24/7, every day of the year |
| Urgent but not serious, CAP closed | Go to a CUAP | 24/7 |
| Something that can wait | Book at your CAP | Centre opening hours |
| Medicine at night or on a bank holiday | Duty pharmacy | On a rota |
061 Salut Respon gives health advice and tells you which CAP is yours. It can also send an ambulance. You don't need a referral, and it's part of the publicly funded service.
CUAPs (primary care emergency centres) are open round the clock for low and medium complexity cases. The council's Barcelona International Welcome portal suggests ringing first to check how busy they are.
Duty pharmacies
Outside normal opening hours there are always duty pharmacies on a rota, and some open 24 hours. The Barcelona College of Pharmacists runs Farmaguia, a live locator: enter an address and it maps the pharmacies open right now. You can also pick another date and time.
Mental health: free lines
Canal Salut is the Catalan government's health site. It says it's worth getting help if you've felt low for more than two weeks in a row, or if it hits suddenly and hard.
- 061 Salut Respon has psychiatrists, psychologists and mental health nurses available 24 hours a day.
- 024 is the Ministry of Health line for suicidal thoughts. It's free and confidential by phone or chat, and you can call if you're worried about someone else.
- EstarB is the city council's service for 12 to 25 year olds, free and confidential. Drop in without an appointment, ring 932 563 560 or send a WhatsApp to 619 006 974.
- Your CAP can treat mild anxiety or depression and refer you on.
When someone is in immediate danger, call 112.
Students from outside the EU
If you're a non-EU national studying for more than 90 days, health insurance is part of your study visa or permit. The city council requires public or private cover from an insurer authorised to operate in Spain. The University of Barcelona points out that travel insurance doesn't count. CatSalut adds that if you can't show any cover, you pay for the care you receive.
For the order of your paperwork (padró, NIE or TIE), read our Erasmus paperwork guide.
FAQ
Is healthcare free in Spain for international students?
EU students with an EHIC pay what a local resident pays for necessary public care. Non-EU students rely on the health insurance required for their visa.
How do I see a GP in Barcelona as an Erasmus student?
Find your CAP with the CatSalut finder and book there. Bring your EHIC and your passport or ID card.
Can I use my EHIC in Spain after Brexit?
Yes. CatSalut accepts the UK GHIC and the UK EHIC while it's valid. The UK student EHIC lasts for the length of your studies.
What number do I call for medical advice in Barcelona?
Call 061 Salut Respon, open 24 hours a day. For a serious emergency, call 112.
How do I find a pharmacy open at night in Barcelona?
Use Farmaguia, the live pharmacy locator run by the Barcelona College of Pharmacists.