Spouse Visa for Spain - Requirements and Processing Time

Obtaining a spouse visa for Spain falls into the category of family reunion visas and can be obtained by the lawful wife or husband of a citizen of this country, but it is not limited to them. Below, our immigration specialists explain the main requirements associated with this type of visa. We can also advise on the Spanish spouse visa processing time so that you can have a clear picture of when to start the application procedure.

Quick Facts
Availability of marriage visa (YES/NO)	Yes, the marriage visa is one of the available types of permits for Spain
Availability for spouse visa for EU citizens (YES/NO)	No, EU citizens are not conditioned to obtain a spouse visa for Spain
Availability for spouse visa for non-EU citizens (YES/NO)	Yes, the marriage visa is designated for non-EU citizens
Availability of spouse visa for unmarried partners (YES/NO)	Yes, unmarried partners are also eligible for spouse visas
Requirement to apply for a Spanish spouse visa from abroad (YES/NO)	No, the Spanish spouse can file to bring his/her partner to Spain
Application requirements for the foreign spouse (if any)	No, the foreign spouse is not subject to any specific requirements
Application conditions for the Spanish spouse (if any)	Yes, in the case of residents, they must have a one-year residence permit available
Sponsorship requirements	No, there are no sponsorship requirements to apply for a Spanish marriage visa
Documents required to obtain a spouse visa	– Passport of the foreign spouse; – proof of legal residence of the Spanish partner; – documents attesting to the validity of the relationship.
Visa application must be filed in person (YES/NO)	Yes, the foreign spouse must apply in person for the visa at the Spanish consulate
Timeframe to obtain a spouse visa (approx.)	Approx. 2 months
Validity of Spanish marriage visa	The same as the residence card of the Spanish resident partner
Possibility to obtain permanent residency for the foreign spouse (YES/NO)	Yes, by following the usual residency route (living in Spain for 5 years)
Citizenship availability for the foreign spouse (YES/NO)	Yes, after 1 year of legal residence if married to a Spanish citizen; otherwise generally after 10 years
Support in obtaining a spouse visa for Spain (YES/NO)	Yes, our immigration lawyers in Spain can assist with the application for a marriage visa.
Entry visa requirement for the foreign spouse (if any)	Depends on the country the foreign spouse comes from.
Visa availability for civil partners according to the Spanish law	Partners who have legalized their union in their home country.
Visa availability for common law partners according to the Spanish law	Partners can submit evidence of their relationship, even when it was not formalized through marriage or civil union.
Supporting evidence for common law partners	– joint bank accounts, – utility bills in their names for the same address, – rental agreements.
Living requirements for common law partners before applying for the Spanish spouse visa (YES/NO)	Yes, they must have lived together for at least 12 months before applying for the visa.
Family reunion visa application required (YES/NO)	Yes, before filing for a spouse visa, the Spanish resident must apply for an initial family reunification permit.
Health insurance requirements for the foreign spouse/partner (YES/NO)	Yes.
Documents to be filed by the Spanish resident	– proof of suitable accommodation for him/her and the incoming partner, – bank statement indicating the income, -valid Spanish residence card.
Spouse visa fee	The fee depends on the country of origin of the foreign partner. For updated information, you can rely on our immigration lawyers in Spain.
NIE application requirements for the foreign spouse/partner (YES/NO)	Yes, after entering Spain.
Validity of the NIE number	The NIE number does not expire; the TIE residence card has its own validity.
Possibility of appeal in case of a spouse visa refusal (YES/NO)	Yes, within one month.
Support in filing for a spouse visa appeal (YES/NO)	Yes, our Spanish immigration lawyers can help you file for an appeal.
Other means of bringing a spouse to Spain (if any)	– the residence permit for family members of Spanish citizens, – the EU family regime (the investor visa was abolished in April 2025).
Support in bringing one’s spouse through the other regimes (YES/NO)	Yes.

Who is eligible for a spouse visa in Spain?

The following categories of immigrants:

spouses of Spanish citizens and residents;
spouses of foreign skilled workers who live in Spain.

NOTE: It is also possible to immigrate to Spain as a partner/fiancé; therefore, marriage is not mandatory.

Is there a special spouse visa for family reunification in Spain?

No, foreign citizens can bring their spouse to Spain under the general family reunification procedure, which depends on the nationality of the applicant living in Spain.

How can I apply for a spouse visa for Spain?

The following pathways are available:

for one of the spouses to relocate and then apply for the spouse visa for Spain for the other spouse;
apply for separate residence permits for every family member.

Here is our infographic on this topic:

What are the documents to file when applying for a Spanish spouse visa?

Here are the documents to prepare when applying for a spouse visa for Spain:

the valid passport of the spouse joining the Spanish resident or citizen;
a recent photograph;
proof of the relationship between the two partners;
the residence card of the spouse living in Spain;
a clean criminal record for a period of 5 years must also be filed;
a medical certificate attesting to the state of health of the incoming spouse;
an application form (it can be found with the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the consulate).

If you want to apply for a spouse visa for Spain, get in touch with our immigration lawyer who can help you file the necessary documents.

Do I need to obtain a Spanish spouse visa if I am an EU citizen?

No, there is no need to apply for a visa when moving to Spain as an EU citizen joining another EU national.

IMPORTANT! The main requirement in this case is for the Spanish citizen/resident to be financially able to support the joining spouse.

What are the conditions to bring a non-EU spouse to Spain?

The Spanish spouse must meet the following conditions:

he or she must live in Spain lawfully based on a residence permit;
the residence permit must have a validity of at least one year with the possibility of being renewed for at least another year;
the Spanish resident must also have proper accommodation for him/her and the joining spouse.
he/she must have sufficient funds to financially support your spouse (150% of the monthly IPREM).

Our Spanish immigration lawyers can check your eligibility to apply for a visa and bring your spouse.

We also have a relevant video on this subject:

What are the conditions to apply for a visa to bring a civil partner in Spain?

A Spanish resident who wants to apply for a partner visa for Spain without being married is required to file the same documents mentioned above.

Considering no marriage certificate is available in such a situation, the main condition is to prove the relationship began BEFORE the Spanish resident moved here. This means that any other document that can be used as proof of the relationship between the two persons can be submitted.
Our immigration specialists can advise on the documents you can use as evidence for this purpose.

How long does it take to obtain a spouse visa for Spain?

Decisions are usually issued in about 2 months.

What is the validity of a Spanish spouse visa?

The foreign spouse may stay for the duration of the residence if the foreign resident applicant holds a valid temporary residence permit in Spain. However, one may stay for as long as their Foreigner’s Identification Card (TIE) is valid if the applicant possesses a long-term residency card or an EU long-term residence permit.

Contact us for details on how to obtain a spouse visa for Spain.