Family Reunification in Spain: Requirements and Process

Family reunification lets a foreign resident bring certain relatives to live in Spain. It is a procedure with two halves: an application filed in Spain by the sponsor, and a visa applied for by the relative at the Spanish consulate in their country.

Who can sponsor

• A foreign national residing legally in Spain, with at least one year of residence, who has applied to renew — or has renewed — their authorisation for at least another year.
• Long-term residents can sponsor without that waiting period.
• Family members of EU citizens do not use this route: they go through the EU-citizen family member card, which is a different and faster procedure.

Which relatives

• Spouse, or registered partner in an analogous relationship, provided the relationship is not simulated and no second marriage exists.
• Children under 18, or adult children unable to provide for themselves for health reasons, when the sponsor has legal custody.
• Relatives in the ascending line over 65 who are dependent on the sponsor, when there are reasons justifying the need to bring them to Spain.
• Under-18s or people with disabilities for whom the sponsor is the legal representative.

The sponsor’s requirements

• Sufficient and stable income, calculated on the IPREM: a percentage for the family unit including the relatives already living with you, with an additional amount for each further person.
• The income can be from employment, self-employment or other sources, and it must be foreseeable for the year ahead.
• Health cover: public healthcare or private insurance.
• Adequate housing, evidenced by a housing report.
• No relevant criminal record and, in practice, an up-to-date registration certificate.

The housing report

The report certifies that the home is suitable for the number of people who will live in it. It is issued by the Autonomous Community or, where they delegate it, by the town hall — so the form, the wait and even the name of the document change from province to province. It is worth requesting it before filing anything else, because it is usually the slowest piece.

The process, step by step

• The sponsor files the application at the Oficina de Extranjería of their province, in person or electronically.
• The office decides. If it is favourable, the relative has a limited window to apply for the visa.
• The relative applies for the reunification visa at the Spanish consulate in their country of residence, with the legalised or apostilled documents proving the relationship.
• With the visa granted, they travel to Spain within its validity.
• Once in Spain, they register at the town hall and book the fingerprint appointment for the TIE, within one month of arrival.

Where the appointment fits in

Two of these steps normally need an appointment: filing at the Oficina de Extranjería, and the fingerprints for the reunited relative’s TIE. Those are the two we handle. The rest — the report, the consulate, the documents — is done by you or your lawyer.

The reunited spouse and adult children may work without applying for a separate permit, which is the single most common question we get about this route.

Frequently asked questions

How much residence do I need before I can sponsor?

One year of legal residence in Spain, with the authorisation renewed — or the renewal applied for — for at least another year. Long-term residents are exempt from that wait.

How much income do I have to prove?

It is calculated as a percentage of the IPREM depending on how many people the family unit will have, with an additional amount for each further member. The IPREM changes yearly, so use the current figure for the year in which you file.

Can I sponsor my unmarried partner?

Yes, a registered partner in a relationship analogous to marriage can be reunified, but the relationship has to be documented — registration as a couple, cohabitation, shared registration at the same address.

Can the reunited relative work?

The spouse and adult children can work, employed or self-employed, without needing a separate authorisation. Minors are subject to the general rules on working age.

How long does the whole process take?

It depends on the province and the consulate. The office decision plus the visa and the trip commonly add up to several months, and the housing report often has to be requested well in advance.

Does Citapre handle the reunification itself?

No. We obtain the appointments — the Oficina de Extranjería filing and the fingerprints for the TIE. The application, the documents and any legal advice are yours or your lawyer’s.