Updated: October 2026

Moving to a new country can be exciting, but it also brings challenges that can affect your mental health. Many expats in Spain experience periods of loneliness, stress, or anxiety—especially during the first months. The good news is that Spain offers a growing range of mental health resources, both public and private, and there are many ways to get support as a foreigner. Here’s what you need to know about looking after your mental well-being in Spain.

Common mental health challenges for expats

• Loneliness and homesickness
• Culture shock and language barriers
• Stress from bureaucracy or job searches
• Relationship and family pressures
• Adjustment to new routines and environments

Where to find help in Spain

• Public health system: You can access a psychologist or psychiatrist through your local health center (centro de salud), though waiting times can be long.
• Private therapists: Many English-speaking psychologists work in major cities. Try menteAmente in Madrid or Therapy in Barcelona.
• Online therapy: Platforms like BetterHelp and Talkspace offer sessions in English and other languages.
• Support groups: Many expat communities run peer support groups, both in person and online (check Facebook or Meetup).
• Emergency help: For urgent mental health support, call 112 or visit the nearest hospital’s emergency department.

Tips for protecting your mental health as an expat

• Stay connected with friends and family back home.
• Join clubs, sports, or volunteering to build a local network.
• Learn Spanish—it helps you feel more in control and less isolated.
• Maintain healthy routines: eat well, sleep enough, and exercise.
• Don’t hesitate to seek professional help—mental health is just as important as physical health.

Useful links

• English-speaking psychiatrists and psychologists in Madrid (menteAmente)
• Therapy in Barcelona
• Spanish public health centers (official directory)
• BetterHelp – online therapy
• Talkspace – online therapy

FAQ: expat mental health in Spain

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Always contact a professional for specific mental health advice.

Updated: October 2026

Spain has one of the best public health systems in Europe – but as a foreign resident you only get access once you are registered in the right way. How you qualify depends on whether you work, receive a pension or live on your own income. Here is how it works in 2026, step by step.

Who can use the public health system?

• Employees and self-employed (autónomos): you are covered through your social security contributions, and so are your registered family members.
• EU pensioners: register your S1 form from your home country with the Spanish social security (INSS). Your home country then pays for your care in Spain.
• Residents without work or S1: you can join the public system by paying a monthly fee through the convenio especial – after at least one year of registration on the padrón. The national fee is around €60 per month under 65 and €157 from 65, and some regions run their own schemes.
• Visitors and new arrivals: EU citizens on a short stay can use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Others need travel or private insurance.

How to register – step by step

1. Get your NIE and padrón – you need both for almost everything. See how to get your NIE.
2. Get your social security number – your employer usually arranges it, or you apply yourself at the social security office.
3. Apply for recognition of your right to healthcare at the INSS (online or by appointment), with your S1 form if you are a pensioner.
4. Register at your local health centre (centro de salud) with your passport, NIE, padrón and INSS document. You will be given a family doctor.
5. Receive your health card (tarjeta sanitaria individual) by post or at the health centre. Download your region’s health app to book appointments.

Public or private health insurance?

• Public: free at the point of use (prescriptions have a co-payment based on income). Waiting lists for specialists can be long.
• Private: faster access to specialists and English-speaking doctors. Many expats combine both. Policies typically cost €50–150 per month per adult, depending on age and cover.
• For visas: non-lucrative, digital nomad and student visas require private insurance with full cover and no co-payments (sin copagos) unless you are covered by social security.

Emergencies

Call 112 for any emergency – operators often speak English. Public hospital emergency departments (urgencias) treat everyone; if you are not covered, you may receive a bill afterwards.

FAQ: healthcare in Spain

Useful links

• Spanish social security (INSS)
• Official directory of public health centres
• Mental health support for expats

Disclaimer: This article is general information only. Rules and fees differ between regions and can change – always check with the INSS or your regional health service.

Updated: October 2026

Cataract surgery is one of the most common operations in Spain, and laser surgery to stop wearing glasses is widely offered by private clinics. This guide is for expats weighing up the public and private routes. You will learn what the public system covers, how long you may wait, what to ask a private clinic and how to prepare for recovery.

Cataract or glaucoma? Clearing up the terms

Some languages talk about “grey” and “green” cataracts, which causes confusion. A cataract (catarata) is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens, treated by replacing the lens with an artificial one. Glaucoma (sometimes called “green cataract” in Northern European languages) is a different disease that damages the optic nerve, usually linked to eye pressure. It is treated with eye drops, laser or surgery, but not by replacing the lens. Make sure you and your doctor are talking about the same condition.

Cataract surgery in the public system

If you are covered by the public health system (see our guide to healthcare for foreign residents), cataract surgery is included when your ophthalmologist decides it is needed. The route is:

1. See your family doctor at the health centre about blurred vision, glare or trouble driving at night.
2. Get referred to the hospital eye department (oftalmología) for a full examination.
3. If surgery is recommended, you are added to the surgical waiting list and given pre-operative tests and lens measurements.
4. The operation is normally done as day surgery under local anaesthetic, one eye at a time, with check-ups afterwards.

Waiting times vary by region and hospital. According to the Ministry of Health’s waiting list data, the average wait for cataract surgery across Spain was about 68 days at the end of 2025, shorter than the average for surgery overall. The wait for the first specialist appointment comes on top of that.

The public system generally implants a standard monofocal lens, which gives sharp vision at one distance, so most people still need reading glasses afterwards. Premium lenses that correct several distances or astigmatism are mostly offered privately.

Going private

Private eye clinics and hospitals are common in Spanish cities and along the Costa del Sol. You can book an ophthalmologist directly, without a GP referral, and surgery is usually scheduled within weeks. Many clinics have English-speaking staff.

• Costs: prices are set freely and depend on the clinic, technique and type of lens, so always ask for a written quote per eye that includes tests, lens, surgery and follow-up visits.
• Insurance: many private health policies cover cataract surgery with a standard lens, but premium lenses or laser-assisted techniques often cost extra. Ask for authorisation in writing before booking.
• Technique: standard surgery uses ultrasound (facoemulsificación). Some clinics offer femtosecond laser-assisted surgery. Ask your surgeon whether it brings a real benefit in your case.
• Who operates: check that the surgeon is a specialist in ophthalmology and how many of these operations they perform.

Laser eye surgery for glasses and contact lenses

Refractive surgery to correct short-sightedness, long-sightedness or astigmatism (such as LASIK, PRK or SMILE) is considered elective, so it is generally not covered by the public system and rarely by standard private health policies. It is done in private clinics, often with special financing offers.

• Not everyone is suitable: a thorough pre-surgery assessment checks corneal thickness, prescription stability and eye health. A good clinic will tell you if you are not a candidate.
• Compare offers carefully: low advertised prices may only apply to certain prescriptions or exclude follow-up visits and enhancements.
• Over 45 or so: age-related reading problems (presbyopia) are not solved by standard laser correction; ask about alternatives.

Before and after surgery

• Medical history: bring a list of your medicines, especially blood thinners and prostate medication, which can affect eye surgery.
• Diabetes: good blood sugar control matters before eye surgery; see our guide to diabetes care in Spain.
• Getting home: you cannot drive after the operation, so arrange a lift.
• Eye drops: you will be prescribed drops for several weeks. Follow the schedule carefully and keep the follow-up appointments.
• Sun, sea and pools: wear sunglasses, and avoid swimming and dusty environments until your surgeon says it is safe.
• Warning signs: sudden pain, worsening vision or increasing redness need urgent attention. Contact the clinic or go to hospital urgencias.

Your driving licence can also be affected: Spanish licence renewals include an eyesight check, and you must meet the minimum vision standard. See our driving licence guide.

Useful links

• Ministry of Health: waiting list summary, December 2025 (PDF, Spanish)
• Salud Andalucía app for health centre appointments
• European Commission: what the EHIC covers
• Healthcare in Spain for foreign residents
• Hospitals in Spain

FAQ: eye surgery in Spain

Disclaimer: This article is general information only and is not medical advice. Treatment options, waiting times and prices change – always discuss your case with an ophthalmologist before you decide.