Family Reunification Assistance for Residents
Bring your spouse, children, or dependent relatives to Spain once you hold a valid residence permit — the route for reuniting a household after the primary applicant relocates.
We confirm your sponsoring status and income meet reunification thresholds, prepare and apostille your family's documentation, and manage the filing so your spouse, children, or dependents join you without unnecessary delay.
Overview
Family Reunification (Reagrupación Familiar) allows a resident already legally established in Spain to bring qualifying family members to join them. It's distinct from including a spouse or children directly on an initial visa application — reunification typically applies when the sponsoring resident has already been living in Spain for a period and now wants to bring family who didn't relocate at the same time, or when family circumstances change after arrival (marriage, birth, adoption).
Eligible family members generally include a spouse or registered partner, dependent children under 18 (or older if they have a qualifying disability), and in some cases dependent parents of the sponsor or their spouse. The sponsor must typically hold a residence permit valid for at least one year and demonstrate the ability to support the family financially and with adequate housing.
Eligibility & Requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Sponsor's residence status | Valid Spanish residence permit, generally held for a minimum period before sponsoring family (varies by permit type) |
| Qualifying relationships | Spouse or registered partner, dependent minor children, and in some cases dependent parents or adult children with disabilities |
| Income requirement | Sponsor must show income sufficient to support the family, referenced against Spain's IPREM index and scaled by family size |
| Housing | Proof of adequate accommodation in Spain sized appropriately for the family being reunited |
| Health insurance | Coverage for each family member joining, either through the sponsor's employer scheme or private insurance |
| Relationship evidence | Apostilled marriage or birth certificates, translated into Spanish, proving the family relationship |
Application Process
- Confirm the sponsor's eligibility to reunite family under their current permit type and time held in Spain.
- Gather relationship documents — marriage or birth certificates, apostilled and translated into Spanish.
- Demonstrate income and housing sufficient for the enlarged household.
- File the reunification application, generally submitted in Spain by the sponsor on behalf of the family member.
- Family member applies for the entry visa at the relevant consulate once the reunification authorization is granted.
- Family member travels to Spain and applies for NIE and TIE card upon arrival. See NIE Number and TIE Card.
- Register the new household member on the local padrón and, if relevant, enroll children in school. See Schools & Education.
Costs & Timeline
Processing generally involves two stages — the reunification authorization filed in Spain, followed by the visa application at a consulate abroad for the joining family member — which together can take a few months from start to finish. Costs include document translation and apostille fees, visa fees for each family member, and health insurance premiums. Families should plan the timeline around school terms if children are involved, since mid-year enrollment can be more complex than starting at the beginning of an academic year.
FAQ
How long do I need to hold my own residence permit before sponsoring family?
This varies by permit category — some work-based visas allow immediate family inclusion at the initial application stage, while formal reunification after arrival typically requires the sponsor to have held their permit for a minimum period, often around one year. We confirm the exact threshold based on your specific permit type.
Can unmarried partners qualify for family reunification?
Registered partnerships (pareja de hecho) generally qualify if properly documented and recognized, though requirements for proving the relationship are typically more detailed than for a marriage certificate. Informal, undocumented relationships generally do not qualify.
USIf my spouse and I both become Spanish tax residents, does that change our US filing status?
US citizens and green card holders continue filing US returns regardless of Spanish residence, and a spouse who is also a US citizen faces the same obligations independently. If your spouse is not a US citizen, additional considerations around filing status (married filing jointly vs. separately) and reporting for the non-citizen spouse's foreign accounts may apply — this is worth reviewing with a cross-border tax advisor.
UKDoes reuniting my family in Spain affect our eligibility for UK NHS healthcare on visits home?
Once you and your family are Spanish residents, your access to free NHS care on visits to the UK is generally assessed under ordinary residence rules, which typically require actual UK residency rather than citizenship alone. This is separate from your Spanish immigration status but worth planning for, particularly if family members need ongoing UK medical care.
Can elderly parents be included in family reunification?
Dependent parents of the sponsor or their spouse can sometimes qualify, but the bar is generally higher than for a spouse or minor children — proof of financial dependency and, in some cases, evidence that no viable support exists in the parent's home country may be required.
Does time under family reunification count toward permanent residency?
Yes, family members granted residence through reunification accrue their own qualifying time toward the five-year permanent residency threshold, generally in parallel with the sponsor. See Permanent Residency.
Ready to bring your family to Spain?
We prepare the relationship documentation and income evidence so reunification applications move smoothly.
Book a Free Consultation