The spouse visa for Spain enters 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. In Spain, the spouse visa requirements to be met are not very stringent, which is why it is also possible for those who are not legally married to bring their partners.
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.
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The marriage visa for Spain
Like other countries, moving or reuniting with the family in Spain is possible through several options. These imply:
- applying for separate residence permits for every family member;
- for one of the spouses to relocate and then apply for the spouse visa for Spain for the other spouse;
- immigration by investment that quite advantageous for those interested in moving their families from several points of view.
| 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 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 Spanish partner must apply in person for the visa |
| 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, citizenship can be obtained 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 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 |
1 year, initially. |
| Possibility of appeal in case of a spouse visa refusal (YES/NO) |
Yes, within one month. |
| Support in filing for a spouse via 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 investor visa, – the EU family reunification regime. |
| Support in bringing one’s spouse through the other regimes (YES/NO) | Yes. |
It is also possible to obtain an unmarried partner visa for Spain under the same conditions.
It should be noted that the spouse visa for Spain must be obtained only by citizens of non-EU/EEA citizens.
No matter the way you decide to bring your partner to Spain, the spouse visa requirements can be explained by our consultants for every particular situation. We are also at your service if you are interested in emigrating to Spain for other reasons.
Depending on the cause of the migration, our immigration attorney can offer completely personalized services and counseling. One of our most popular services is helping people apply for a residence permit in Spain based on their reasons for moving. Many people who relocate to Spain must first apply in order to work.
The Spanish nomad visa is one of your best possibilities if you want to relocate and work remotely for businesses from Spain. If you decide to stay, you can submit a standard application for a residence permit. One of our local immigration consultants can explain the prerequisites and application process particular to each type of visa, including the remote work visa.
How to apply for a spouse visa for Spain
The procedure for applying for a partner visa for Spain is covered by two situations:
- the first one refers to the case in which both partners immigrate to Spain together (this is often the case of the Golden Visa Scheme);
- the second one, one of the most employed is when one of the spouses has already moved to Spain.
No matter the way you decide to apply for a marriage visa for Spain, feel free to address our immigration law firm.
In Spain, the spouse visa processing time also depends on how soon you can draft the required documents, which is why you can rely on our local specialists for assistance in preparing and filing them.
Spanish spouse visa requirements in terms of documents
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 Ministry of External Affairs in Spain).
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.
Here is our infographic on this topic:
Requirements for the Spanish partner when applying for the spouse visa
The applicant must be a legal resident of Spain and must apply in person for a marriage visa for Spain. The following requirements must be met is by the partner living in Spain:
- he or she must have the Spanish residence permit renewed for an additional year;
- then, the initial application process with the Foreigners’ Office can be started.
After completing this phase, one must await word from the Foreigners’ Office regarding the approval or rejection of the application.
The foreign spouse can begin the procedure for a resident visa at the Spanish embassy or consulate in the nation of origin after your application is successful.
Family members of an EU long-term resident who is residing in another member state may also apply for a residence permit in Spain at the same time as the EU long-term resident.
If you are interested in applying for a Spanish spouse visa and need support, do not hesitate to reach out to our immigration law firm.
How to obtain an unmarried partner visa for 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. However, since a marriage certificate cannot be substantiated, any other document that can be used as proof of the relationship between the two persons can be submitted.
According to statistics, here is from where most foreign citizens moved to Spain in 2021:
- 59,181 people came to Spain from Morocco;
- 39,880 migrants relocated to Spain from Columbia;
- 29,446 people came from Italy;
- 25,253 British citizens immigrated from UK as a consequence of Brexit.
Validity and renewal of the spouse visa for Spain
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.
One must stay in Spain legally for 5 consecutive years in order to be considered a permanent resident. The incoming spouse can become a permanent resident of Spain once he/she has lived there legally for the predetermined amount of time.
Our immigration lawyers are at the service of foreign citizens who live in Spain and want to bring their spouses or other family members to this country.
What happens in case of visa refusal?
If a Spanish spouse visa request is denied, the applicant has one month from the day after receiving notice of the denial to lodge an appeal for reconsideration to this consular office. Within the 2-month window commencing the day after the applicant receives notice of the visa refusal or of the rejection of the reconsideration appeal, they may also submit a judicial review application to the High Court of Justice of Madrid.
We also have a relevant video on this subject:
How to obtain citizenship by marriage in Spain through a marriage visa
Considering that a spouse visa can be used to gain residency, it is also possible to secure citizenship by marriage in Spain.
In this sense, one must have lived in Spain with his/her spouse for at least a year after receiving a residence permit and getting married to a Spanish national. As a family member of an EU citizen, the applicant must hold a residence permit.
Other requirements for Spanish citizenship by marriage include passing the DELE (Diploma of Spanish) and CCSE (Constitutional and Sociocultural Aspects of Spain) exams. These demonstrate that the foreign spouse has a fair understanding of Spain’s legal and cultural aspects as well as an intermediate command of the language.
A valid passport and a birth certificate are required for both spouses when applying for Spanish citizenship through marriage. They will also require a copy of the marriage certificate or civil registration card, as well as evidence that the couple registered at the town hall and were counted in the population there. Additionally, the foreign spouse must demonstrate that he or she has accustomed to Spanish society and that they have the financial resources to maintain himself/herself.
Please note that you will lose your citizenship to your place of origin once you gain Spanish citizenship because this country does not permit dual citizenship outside of those from Spanish-American nations, the Philippines, Portugal, Andorra, or Equatorial Guinea.
We are also at your service if you are interested in other types of residence permits, including if you want to relocate to Spain from the USA. We can also advise on citizenship matters. Obtaining citizenship in Spain has many advantages, including the ability to live and work in any other European country besides Spain, the right to vote, and, most importantly, the ability to permanently relocate here. Additional information on the rights you can have as a citizen is available from our immigration lawyers in Spain.
Contact us for details on how to obtain a spouse visa for Spain.