Spain is one of the most welcoming countries in Europe when it comes to the number of foreign citizens relocating here. With great weather and architecture, but also with numerous employment and business opportunities, Spain creates a suitable development environment for everyone interested in moving here and bringing their families.
The family reunion visa for Spain is the most important type of permit that can be obtained by a foreign citizen seeking to join family members who are already established here. Our immigration lawyers in Spain are at the service of those interested in moving here with their families.
Who needs to obtain a family reunion visa in Spain?
The family reunification visa is available for non-EU citizens who want to relocate to Spain provided that they have family members who already live here. When it comes to EU citizens, they need not apply for any type of visa no matter if they have or have no family living here.
The reunification visa has several advantages compared to other types of immigration documents. For example, the Spain family reunion visa processing time is shorter compared to other kinds of visas.
We kindly invite you to discuss all the details related to the family reunion visa with our immigration lawyer in Spain.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Availability of a family reunion visa (YES/NO) | Yes, for non-EU citizens. |
|
Qualifying family members |
– spouse/civil partner, – children, – parents, – parents-in-law |
|
Requirements for the family member living in Spain (if any) |
The person living in Spain must hold a valid residence permit. |
| Requirements for the people moving to Spain (if any) | There are no specific conditions to meet by immigrants. |
| Who applies for the family reunion visa |
The Spanish resident must apply for the visa. |
| Required documents for the Spanish resident |
– visa application form, – Spanish residence permit, – proof of kinship depending on the relation with the incoming relative, – proof of Spanish residential address |
| Required documents for the incoming relative(s) |
– valid passport, – proof of the relation with the Spanish resident, – clean criminal record |
| Timeframe to obtain the visa (approx.) |
Approx. 2 months |
| Authorities |
– the immigration services in Spain, – the Spanish Embassy/Consulate in the country of the applicant |
| Language requirements for the incoming relatives (YES/NO) | No |
| Validity of the visa |
3 months |
| Steps to complete after obtaining the visa |
Once entered Spain, the foreign family member must register with the local police office. |
| Extension possibility (YES/NO) |
No, the visa itself cannot be renewed. |
| Possibility to apply for Spanish residency based on this visa (YES/NO) |
Yes, a foreign citizen can apply for residency based on a family reunification visa. |
| Support in applying for a family reunion visa (YES/NO) | Yes, our immigration lawyers in Spain can assist with the application. |
For people who need to go to Spain for longer lengths of time, including through the new nomad visa, our immigration attorney can offer specialized advice. Our attorneys can finish the paperwork that must be prepared and submitted months in advance. After filing the necessary documentation, you can relocate using your nomad visa in Spain.
Family members a foreigner can bring to Spain
There are several conditions to bringing a family to Spain as a foreigner, conditions that apply for the Spanish residence permit holder, and the relatives that may enter the country under this type of visa.
The following relatives are allowed to come here under a family reunion visa in Spain:
- spouses or civil partners (in the last case, the partnership must be acknowledged by the Spanish law);
- children of the Spanish residence permit holder as well as of his/her partner;
- parents and parents-in-law in the case of married people.
With respect to children, only those with ages below 18 can come to join a foreign citizen in Spain. However, under the EU Community regime, children with ages 18 to 21 can also relocate based on a family reunion visa in Spain provided that they are dependent on their family and if they are enrolled in academic studies.
When it comes to the foreign citizen established in Spain and who can invite family to join him or her, the resident must be living here for at least one year. Considering that temporary residence permits can be issued for periods of less than a year, residency renewal is a mandatory condition for those who want to live with their relatives.
If you want to immigrate to Spain and need assistance, our law firm is at your service. Do not hesitate to inquire with us about the Spain family reunion visa processing time.
Here is also our infographic on this subject:
Bringing a spouse through a family reunion visa in Spain
The Spanish legislation is quite permissive when it comes to reuniting with family members in the case of non-EU nationals who have relocated here and decided to remain. These can bring their spouses or civil partners here by applying for family reunion visas.
The procedure is not complicated and implies filing various documents with the immigration authorities. When applying for a Spanish family reunification visa for bringing the spouse the main applicant must file the marriage certificate with the Civil Registry. Those who registered their marriages abroad must first have the certificate translated into Spanish and apostilled before filing it.
Spain is one of the European countries to recognize civil partnerships which is why it is allowed to reunite with one’s civil partner here. The foreign citizen living in Spain can submit the civil union registration certificate with the Civil Registry, and thus, apply for a family reunion visa on behalf of the foreign partner.
What should be noted in the case of reuniting with the spouse is that the Spanish authorities will require proof that the marriage is not a convenient one. However, this is simpler compared to other countries, as a rental agreement or property title where both spouses are registered can be used.
If you want to apply for family reunification to live with your life partner here, you can rely on our immigration lawyers in Spain who can assist you during the procedure.
Our immigration lawyers are also at your service if you want to apply for Spanish citizenship. There are several ways through which you can achieve this, and the main application pathway depends on each particular situation. Get in touch with us and find out if you are eligible and how you can obtain a passport for Spain.
How to bring minor children to Spain through family reunification
There are many situations in which one of the spouses moves to Spain for employment while leaving their families behind and once the immigrant has a stable source of income, he or she will try to regroup with the family here.
When it comes to applying for Spanish family reunion visas for children, it should be noted that these must be minor, meaning they need to be below 18 years old. However, it is also possible to bring children over 18 and up to 21, as well as those with an age above 21 by meeting different sets of requirements.
In the case of minor children, their birth certificates are the most important documents to prove family ties.
The main advantage is that in Spain the family reunion visa processing time is shorter when bringing close relatives, such as minor children and the spouse.
Family reunification for parents
Foreign citizens who legally live in Spain can apply for family reunion visas to bring their parents here. However, there are specific requirements to meet on both ends.
First of all, the immigrant applying for the family reunion visa in Spain must:
- have been living here for at least 5 years based on a long-term/permanent residence permit;
- prove that one or both parents need to live in Spain, as they can no longer care for themselves;
- prove that the parents depend on them from a financial point of view.
In the case of the parents, these must be over 65 years old in order to relocate to Spain.
As proof that parents are economically dependent on the main applicant, one can submit money transfer receipts and other documents that show the Spanish resident has been taken care of them in the past few months.
Similar requirements apply to bringing parents-in-law. In this case, the marriage certificate must be filed as proof of family relations.
It is not difficult to reunite with the parents in Spain, however, we recommend you use our immigration services in order to benefit from a stress-free procedure.
Reunification in Spain with the extended family
Spain enables foreign citizens who have established themselves here to bring extended family members to live with them. However, this option is possible for non-EU citizens who have obtained Spanish citizenship and for citizens of EU countries.
The following family members can be brought here based on family reunification in Spain:
- children over the age 21;
- siblings;
- nephews and nieces;
- uncles and aunts;
- other relatives with disabilities.
There are various requirements to meet in order to reunite with such family members, among which one of the most important is that these are financially dependent on the applicant. For this purpose, proof that the Spanish citizen has supported his/her family in the past 12 to 24 months must be submitted. Also, once arrived in Spain, the family reunion visa applicant must be responsible for the foreign family members.
It is possible in this case for the Spain family reunion visa processing time to take longer. However, you can rely on our law firm who has experience in handling such cases and help you.
Documents to prepare for family reunification in Spain
Foreign citizens living in Spain and who want to bring their families here must complete a few steps. Among these, they must file an application with the immigration services in Spain. During this step, they need to present a few documents based on which the family reunion visa for Spain will be issued. Among these, we mention the following:
- the passport and the Spanish residence permit of the applicant;
- the passports of the family members joining him/her;
- proof of residential address of the Spanish resident, well as his/her health insurance;
- proof of stable income through which the Spanish resident can financially support his/her family;
- proof of kinship based on the relation with the family member moving to Spain.
Foreign citizens interested in Spain immigration can apply for various types of visas that enable them to live here and the family reunification visa is often employed by those who have family members already established here.
Spain family reunion visa processing time
It takes about 4 to 6 months to have a family reunion visa in Spain issued. The procedure depends mainly on how soon the documents of the main applicant and his/her foreign families are ready, as well as the requests the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has to process. We also invite you to watch our video below:
Foreign citizens living in Spain
According to statistics, most of the foreign citizens living in Spain are EU citizens, however, the number of those who have relocated here from non-EU countries is also large, as the following data shows:
- the largest number of non-EU citizens living here is that of Moroccans, 775,936 citizens at the level of 2021;
- 313,948 British citizens also live in Spain (the UK is no longer an EU country);
- the number is completed by Columbians with 297,934 inhabitants.
If you want to bring your family members and need information on the Spain family reunion visa processing time, do not hesitate to contact our immigration law firm.