199,000 IMSERSO spa resort places 2027: who can request them and how much the State contributes

Key data

IMSERSO calls for 199,000 places for the Thermal Spa Program 2027, with 10-day shifts in full board regime distributed between February and December. The call is published through the Resolution of 30 October 2026 and enters into force on the same day of its publication in the BOE, 4 November 2026.

The program combines a fixed public contribution from IMSERSO with a direct payment from the user to the thermal establishment. The amount covered by the State varies depending on the month of the shift: 178.43 € in low season and 201.63 € in high season. The beneficiary pays the difference directly to the spa resort.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution regulates all operational aspects of the Thermal Spa Program 2027: number of places, amounts of public subsidy, application deadlines, form of submission and adjudication procedure.

The key elements of the program are:

• Total places: 199,000, distributed in 10-day shifts in full board regime.
• Enjoyment period: from February to December 2027.
• IMSERSO contribution: 178.43 € or 201.63 € per place, depending on the month of the shift.
• Reservation deposit: 40 € per place, paid by the user when formalizing the reservation.
• Payment to the spa resort: the user pays directly to the establishment; IMSERSO transfers its contribution to the spa resort, not to the beneficiary.

There are two application deadlines differentiated according to the shift period:

Applications are submitted preferably electronically through sede.IMSERSO.gob.es. The adjudication is resolved within a maximum period of three months from the submission of the application.

Economic and operational impact

For the beneficiary, the program means accessing a 10-day shift at a spa resort with full board with a public subsidy of between 178.43 and 201.63 euros. The actual cost of the shift will depend on the chosen establishment and the month: the user pays the difference between the price of the spa resort and the IMSERSO contribution, plus a 40 € reservation deposit.

For thermal establishments, the program represents a stable source of guaranteed demand during practically the entire year (February to December), with IMSERSO as partial payer and the user as payer of the rest. The 40 € deposit per place reduces the risk of last-minute cancellations.

From the point of view of public spending, with 199,000 places and an average contribution of approximately 190 € per place, the program implies an estimated public expenditure of around 37.8 million euros, although the exact amount depends on the distribution of places between high and low season.

Who does it affect?

The following people can apply for a place in the Thermal Spa Program 2027:

• Retirement pensioners of Social Security residing in Spain.
• Permanent disability pensioners of Social Security residing in Spain.
• Widowhood pensioners aged 55 or over of Social Security residing in Spain.
• Social Security insured persons aged 65 or over residing in Spain.

The program does not directly affect companies or self-employed workers in their economic activity, except for thermal establishments and spa resorts that participate as program providers, for whom it represents an occupancy channel with economic conditions agreed with IMSERSO.

Practical example

A retirement pensioner residing in Madrid wants to apply for a shift at a spa resort for October 2027 (high season). He can submit his application until 12 May 2027 through IMSERSO's electronic office.

If he is awarded a place, he must pay a reservation deposit of 40 € when formalizing the reservation. IMSERSO will contribute 201.63 € directly to the spa resort. If the total price of the shift at the chosen establishment is, for example, 350 €, the pensioner will pay the spa resort the difference: 350 € − 201.63 € = 148.37 € (plus the 40 € deposit already paid, which is normally deducted from the final price). The adjudication is resolved within a maximum of three months from the submission of the application.

What should interested parties do now?

1. Verify the requirements: Check that one of the access conditions is met (retirement pensioner, permanent disability, widowhood aged 55+, or insured person aged 65+ residing in Spain).
2. Act before the first deadline: For shifts from February to August 2027, the application deadline closes approximately one month after 4 November 2026. Do not wait until the last moment.
3. Prepare the electronic application: Access sede.IMSERSO.gob.es with digital certificate or Cl@ve to submit the application electronically, which is the preferred method.
4. Reserve the 40 € deposit: Have the reservation deposit amount available (40 € per place) for when the adjudication is formalized.
5. For shifts from September to December: The deadline extends until 12 May 2027, which gives more time to plan.
6. Thermal establishments: Verify the conditions for participation as a program provider and confirm the availability of places for the called shifts.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is merely informative in nature and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-23163