How do I get a copy of my medical records in Spain?
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera, MD
Licensed Physician No. 484814280 · Official Medical College of Bizkaia (Spain)Last reviewed: 21 October 2026
Your right to a copy of your medical records in Spain: who to ask, what to include, how the digital record works, and what to bring to a new doctor.
You don't have to figure this out alone
Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera is an independent, bilingual GP licensed in Spain. Book a 15-minute video consultation in English or Spanish for €50, with a private electronic prescription issued under Spanish law when clinically appropriate.
Expats often need their medical records: for a new doctor, an insurer, a move home or a second opinion. In Spain you have a legal right to see your record and get copies. This guide explains who to ask, how to ask, and what is most useful to bring.
- Spanish law (Law 41/2002) gives you the right to access your clinical record and get copies of the data in it.
- Ask the health centre, hospital or private clinic that holds the record. Each has its own procedure, often a simple form.
- In the public system, many people can also see key reports online through their region's app or the national digital record, using a digital certificate or Cl@ve.
- Doctors may hold back their own personal notes, and data about other people. Everything else should be shared.
Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera is a GP licensed in Spain (Colegiado No. 484814280).
For a medical emergency, call 112 or go to the nearest local emergency department. Do not wait for a video consultation or an online reply.
What the law says
Law 41/2002 on patient autonomy sets out your rights over your clinical record (historia clínica). Article 18 says:
- You can access your record and get copies of the data in it.
- Each centre sets the procedure for doing this.
- Someone you authorise can also ask on your behalf, with proof that they represent you.
- Access must not harm the privacy of other people named in the record.
- The doctors who wrote it may withhold their own personal, subjective notes.
Centres must keep records safely for at least five years after each episode of care. Many keep them much longer.
Who do I ask?
Ask the place that holds the record. Your records may be spread across several places:
- Your public health centre (centro de salud) for GP and nurse visits.
- The public hospital for emergency visits, admissions, scans and specialist clinics. Ask the patient care office (Servicio de Atención al Paciente) or the medical records department.
- Private clinics and hospitals for care you had there, including care paid by an insurer.
Each region and centre has its own form and process. Some let you apply online with a digital certificate. Others ask you to apply in person with ID.
How to ask: a simple checklist
- Bring your ID (passport or NIE) and, in the public system, your health card.
- Say exactly what you need. For example, "the discharge report from my admission in March" or "all blood test results from 2025". A clear request is faster than "everything".
- Ask for the format you need: PDF, paper, or images on a disc for scans.
- Keep a copy of your request, with the date.
- If someone asks for you, they need your written authorisation and ID.
The law does not set one fixed deadline for every centre. If you have no reply after a reasonable time, contact the patient care office. You can also ask the data protection officer of the centre, as these are personal data.
Seeing your record online
In the public system, Spain has a national digital health record, the Historia Clínica Digital del SNS. It brings together key reports from the different regions. You can view it through your region's health app or website, or through the government's Carpeta Ciudadana. You need a digital certificate or Cl@ve to log in.
It does not hold every note. But it often includes discharge reports, test results and your medicines. It is a good first step before a formal request.
Have reports or results you need help with?
You can book a video visit to go through the records you already have with a GP licensed in Spain, in English or Spanish.
What to bring to a new doctor
You rarely need your whole file. For a new GP in Spain, or one back home, the most useful papers are:
- A list of your diagnoses and past operations.
- A list of your current medicines, with generic names and how you take them.
- Allergies and reactions to medicines.
- Recent blood tests, with dates and units.
- Recent reports from specialists, hospital stays and scans.
- Your vaccination record.
If your records are in another language, a short summary in English or Spanish helps. Our guides on changing GP in Spain and on records for travel insurance claims go into more detail.
Records from this practice
The same right applies to the record of any video visit with Dr. Yelamo. Every visit also comes with an itemised invoice.
When records can wait
Never delay urgent care to collect records. If you have chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of a stroke, heavy bleeding or a severe allergic reaction, call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department. Tell the team your main conditions and medicines. A photo of your medicine boxes on your phone helps.
How a video GP can help
Dr. Yelamo is a GP licensed in Spain. He sees adults by video, for urgent, non-emergency care. Visits run every day, 07:30–20:30 (Spain time). If you already have your records, he can:
- Go through reports and test results from Spain or abroad, in English or Spanish.
- Help you work out what is missing for a new doctor or a specialist.
- Explain what the reports mean and what is usually done next.
Where clinically appropriate, following a genuine evaluation. Treatment and prescriptions are issued solely at the doctor's discretion based on evidence-based clinical guidelines.
See how the Urgent Care video visit works (15 minutes, €50), or read about medical certificates.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have the right to a copy of my medical records in Spain?
Yes. Law 41/2002 gives patients the right to access their clinical record and get copies of the data in it. Each centre sets how you apply.
Who do I ask for my records?
The centre that holds them: your health centre, the hospital's patient care office or medical records department, or the private clinic where you were seen.
Can I see my Spanish medical records online?
In the public system, often yes. Your region's health app or the national digital record, through Carpeta Ciudadana, shows key reports. You need a digital certificate or Cl@ve.
Can a doctor refuse to give me part of my record?
Doctors may withhold their own personal notes and data about other people. The rest of the record, such as reports and test results, should be shared with you.
Can someone else ask for my records?
Yes, if you authorise them. They need your written authorisation and proof of identity. Rules for the records of someone who has died are different.
Sources
- BOE: Law 41/2002 on patient autonomy, articles 14 to 19 (in Spanish)
- Ministry of Health: Access to the SNS digital health record through Carpeta Ciudadana (in Spanish)
- Ministry of Health: SNS digital health record (in Spanish)
Related guides
Medical Citations & Sources
This content is written and reviewed by a licensed physician with reference to the following official health authorities.
