How to get a family reunification visa for Spain

If you're already living in Spain and want your loved ones to join you, the Spanish family reunification visa offers a legal way to bring close family members into the country.

Whether you're hoping to reunite with your spouse, children or dependent parents, this visa helps make long-term family life in Spain possible.

In this step-by-step guide, we explain exactly how the process works, including what documents you need, who qualifies and how to submit your application successfully.

This guide covers:

• What the Spanish family reunification visa is
• Who qualifies as a sponsor or applicant
• How long the visa is valid for
• What documents are required from both sides
• How and where to apply for the visa

Let's get started.

What is the Spanish family reunification visa?

The family reunification visa allows non-EU residents who have been legally living in Spain for at least one year to bring certain family members to join them. It’s a long-term residency visa designed to keep families united while also making sure that the sponsor can provide housing, healthcare (here's how Spain's healthcare works) and financial support.

This visa is only available to residents who hold a valid residence permit in Spain. That includes work visa holders, students with long-term permits and non-lucrative visa holders. EU citizens don’t need this visa for family reunification.

Who can apply for a family visa for Spain?

To be eligible, both the sponsor (the person living in Spain) and the family member (the applicant) must meet certain criteria.

As the sponsor, you must:

• Have lived in Spain legally for at least one year
• Hold a valid residence permit and have already applied for renewal
• Prove you have adequate income (150% of the IPREM (Spain’s equivalent of the minimum wage - which is set at €600 a month for 2025), plus an additional 50% for each additional family member)
• Demonstrate that you have stable housing and valid health insurance

Eligible family members include:

• Spouses or registered partners
• Children aged under 18, including adopted children
• Dependent parents, if the sponsor can demonstrate that they rely on them financially and do not receive care in their home country

In some cases, dependent adult children or unmarried partners may also qualify. Around €850/month will be needed for each dependent family member.

How long is the family reunification visa valid?

Initially, the family reunification visa grants the same period of residence as the sponsor’s permit. So if your residence permit is valid for two more years, your family member’s visa will match that timeline.

Once in Spain, family members can apply for residency cards and eventually renew or modify their permits, especially if they begin working or studying.

After five years of legal residence, they may also be eligible for permanent residency.

Required documentation for family reunification

Applying for the family reunification visa means submitting documents for both the sponsor (you) and the applicant (your family member). These documents may vary slightly depending on the consulate, so always double-check the exact requirements with the Spanish consulate in your home country.

Documents from the sponsor (in Spain)

• Copy of your valid residence card (TIE)
• Certificate of empadronamiento (address registration)
• Proof of income (such as work contract, pay slips, bank statements)
• Proof of adequate housing (rental contract or property deed, plus a certificate of habitability)
• Private health insurance covering your family member
• Application for family reunification authorisation from your local immigration office

Documents from the applicant (abroad)

• Completed visa application form
• Valid passport
• Birth or marriage certificate (translated and apostilled)
• Proof of relationship with the sponsor
• Police clearance certificate (from country of residence)
• Recent passport-sized photographs (note that Spanish passport photos must be 30mm x 40mm, a different size than typically required by other EU countries)
• Health certificate stating no serious contagious diseases
• Proof of visa-compliant health insurance (if not already covered by the sponsor)

All foreign documents must be translated into Spanish and apostilled or legalised depending on the issuing country.

How to apply for the Spanish family reunification visa

The application begins in Spain: the sponsor must request approval for reunification from their local immigration office. This is called the authorisation of family reunification (autorización de residencia por reagrupación familiar). Supporting documents will need to show that the family member can be supported.

Once approved, the family member will be contacted by the Spanish consulate in their home country. They’ll then have two months to complete the visa process and attend an in-person appointment at the consulate to submit their documents and biometrics.

Processing times vary but generally take 4-8 weeks after the consulate appointment. Once the visa is approved, the family member will receive a national visa allowing entry into Spain. After arriving, they’ll have one month to apply for their residence card (TIE) at the local police station.

After arriving in Spain

Once in Spain, the family member should:

• Register their address (empadronamiento)
• Schedule a TIE appointment at the immigration office to obtain your Spanish residence card (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero)
• Renew their visa when needed (or modify their status if they begin working or studying)

They’ll also need ongoing health insurance, either through their sponsor’s public coverage or via a private policy. Feather offers embassy-approved health insurance options that are ideal for both the visa application process and long-term stays.

The family reunification visa is a vital option for bringing your loved ones to live with you in Spain, but it comes with careful legal and financial requirements. By preparing your documents thoroughly, confirming eligibility and ensuring your family has the right support and health coverage, you can make the process smooth and successful.

Let your new life in Spain be one you can share, together.