When deciding to give birth in Spain, it is important to remember: public health care provided by the National Health System must ALWAYS be provided to all pregnant foreign women, regardless of their administrative situation, circumstances, duration of residence in Spain or their country of origin. That must be made available for them without any additional conditions.
The Spanish laws state that pregnant foreign women, living in Spain temporarily or permanently, have the right to health care during their pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum.
Among the services provided there are those, which are provided in the list of the national health services.
Giving Birth in Spain: Primary Care for Pregnant Women
- Early pregnancy detection and potential risks.
- Monitoring of normal pregnancy in a coordinated and documented manner with specialized care, according to recommendations of the health services.
- Maternal education, including the promotion of breastfeeding, prevention of urinary incontinence and preparation for childbirth.
- During the first month of postpartum, puerperal visit to assess the health status of the woman and the newborn.
Giving Birth in Spain: Child Care Services
- Assessment of the nutritional status, the physical and psychomotor development of the child.
- Prevention of sudden infant death.
- General tips on child development, harmful habits and healthy lifestyles.
- Health education and prevention of child accidents.
- Advance guidance for the prevention and detection of sleep and sphincter problems.
- Detection and monitoring of children with physical and mental disabilities.
- Detection and monitoring of children with chronic pathologies.
Giving Birth in Spain: Specialized Care
- Pregnancy monitoring, in a coordinated and documented manner with primary care, according to recommendations of the health services.
- Obstetric care for normal delivery at the inpatient department (including the epidural in accordance with medical protocols) and other health care required during pregnancy, contractive labour, mid-labour, birth, and the expulsion of the afterbirth.
- Procedures for the diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment of complications of pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum period.
- Prescription and conduct of diagnostic tests and procedures, including newborn screening.
- Attention to congenital anomalies and newborn diseases arising in the perinatal period. Intensive therapy, including neonatal care.
To obtain free health care, a pregnant person who is not a Spanish resident must go to the nearest Health Centre and apply for it. The Health Center will give her all needed documents to control her pregnancy and childbirth at the appropriate doctors.
It should also be remembered that a child born in Spain does not automatically receive citizenship of this country, but if there are certain circumstances, it can be requested.
A list of countries whose residents can apply for Spanish citizenship for their children born in Spain, and get it in a simplified form (not automatically!):
- Argentina
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Chile
- Ecuador
- Guinea (Guinea-Bissau)
- Morocco
- Palestine
- Perú
- Sahara
- Switzerland
- Sao Tome and Principe
But as a whole, according to article 17 of the Civil Code, those children who were born of a Spanish father or mother are Spaniards of origin. Therefore, those children who were born in Spain of foreign parents acquire the nationality of their parents and they are not Spaniards of origin.
