Updated 16/03/2025

Country overview

There are no restrictions for people living with HIV for entry and residence in Spain. Antiretroviral medicines can be brought into Spain for personal use in an amount corresponding to about 3 months usage. It is advisable to take a letter from your doctor If you have a supply of treatment for more than 3 months. For refugees, there aren't specific rules, but HIV is not a reason for refusal to stay and submit documents.

Labor migrants

If you have permission to work and a contract to work, you need to do the following:

Take a census in Madrid.
Go to your health center with your census and your ID.
The administrator gives you a temporary paper for your health card.
In one month, you need to come back to the center to pick up your health card.

If you don’t have permission work, you need to do the following:

Take a census in Madrid.
Wait three months until your census, then you need to go to the health center with your census and your passport.
The administrator will give you a questionare and an appointment with a Processing Unit.
In this appointment, the administrator gives you a DASE.

If you don’t have enough ART, you can use a new norm of Public Health, for access to the sanitary system for public health reasons, for access to quick attention.

Refugees

If you are a refugee, you need to do the following:

Take a census in Madrid.
You need to go to the health center with your census and your passport.
The administrator will give you a questionary and an appointment with a Processing Unit.
In this appointment, the administrative gives you a DASPI.

If you don’t have enough ART, you can use a new public health facility to quickly access medical care. This facility provides access to the medical system in Spain for people living with HIV who do not have health insurance. To do this, you must visit a hospital or health care center and present your identification document. Additionally, please seek consultation in advance from one of the non-governmental organizations.

Access to treatment

HIV medical services are integrated into hospitals. To get ART you must make an appointment at your health center, and they will refer you to your hospital. The drugs are also provided in your hospital.

Your health center will refer you to your hospital. Your hospital depends on your census.

Treatment for people living with HIV is the responsibility of the Ministry of Health, so it is not possible to buy ART treatment on your own without a prescription. However, by contacting a doctor you can get prescriptions for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

You should seek advice and help from local NGOs if you are left without ART, have difficulties with your insurance, or do not have the proper documents. You can find contacts and addresses in the section NGOs.