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Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands and home to one of Spain's most significant expat populations. Year-round sunshine, dramatically varied landscapes — from the black sand beaches of the south to the pine forests and volcanic highlands around Mount Teide — and a well-developed expat infrastructure make it one of the most popular destinations in Europe for long-term international residents. The south of the island, from Playa de las Américas to Los Cristianos and the Costa Adeje, is particularly popular with British and Scandinavian expats.
Tenerife has a large British expat community — one of the largest in Spain outside the mainland coastal areas — concentrated in the south of the island. Scandinavians, Germans, and Irish residents are also numerous. The island has well-developed English-language services including estate agents, solicitors, medical practices, and financial advisers catering specifically to the international community. At Insurance Spain, we serve Tenerife's expat community in English, Norwegian, and German.
An important difference between Tenerife and mainland Spain: the Canary Islands operate under a different tax regime. Instead of IVA (VAT), the islands have IGIC (Impuesto General Indirecto Canario) at a lower rate. Insurance premiums are subject to IGIC rather than IVA, which affects pricing compared to equivalent mainland policies. All the insurers we work with in Tenerife are fully authorised to operate under Canary Islands regulations.
Tenerife has good private healthcare infrastructure. Hospital Quironsalud Tenerife (Santa Cruz) and Clínica Rincón (Playa de las Américas) are the leading private facilities in the south, with English-speaking staff. Hospital Universitario de Canarias is the main public hospital. Private health insurance is essential for expats not entitled to the public system and mandatory for Non-Lucrative Visa holders. Canary Islands policies need to confirm island-wide coverage — not just mainland Spain.
Tenerife's property market ranges from affordable apartments in the south resort areas to luxury villas in the Adeje hills and traditional Canarian houses in the interior villages. Home insurance needs on the island include volcanic and seismic risk (Tenerife has active volcanic geology), high humidity in northern areas causing damp and mould risk, and holiday home vacancy cover for the many properties used part-time. We ensure your policy covers the specific risks of your property's location and use.
Public transport on Tenerife is reasonable between major towns via the Titsa bus network, but most expats — particularly those in the south — rely on a car for daily life. Road conditions are generally good, and the TF-1 motorway connects the south and north of the island efficiently. We compare car insurance from all major Spanish providers and arrange cover for both Spanish-registered vehicles and UK-registered cars during the re-registration process.
The lower IGIC tax rate (versus mainland IVA) can make some insurance products slightly cheaper in the Canary Islands, though this varies by product and insurer. The more significant factor is your personal profile and the specific cover required. We compare across all available options to find the best value for you.
Most comprehensive private health insurance policies issued in mainland Spain do cover the Canary Islands, but you should confirm this in the policy terms. Some plans explicitly state "peninsular Spain only." We ensure your policy provides island-wide coverage.
Fill in the quote form or contact us. We understand the Canary Islands market and respond in English, usually within one working day.
