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Family Sponsorship

Family Reunification (Reagrupacion Familiar)

For legal residents in Spain who want to sponsor their spouse, children, or dependent parents to join them.

All Visa Types
Work permittedSame duration as sponsor's permitFamily not eligible

Who is this visa for?

Ideal for

  • Legal residents wanting to bring their spouse or partner
  • Parents sponsoring minor children
  • Sponsors bringing dependent elderly parents
  • Families separated during initial move to Spain

Not suitable for

  • People who haven't yet obtained their own residence permit
  • Sponsors who have lived in Spain less than 1 year (for most categories)
  • People without adequate housing or income to support dependents
  • EU/EEA citizens (a different, simpler process applies)

Key requirements

Sponsor status

1 year legal residency with permit renewed (or about to be renewed)

Minimum income

150% IPREM for first family member (~€900/month), +50% IPREM per additional dependent (~€300/month)

Adequate housing

Report from local authority (informe de vivienda) confirming suitable accommodation

Family relationship

Marriage certificate, birth certificates, or proof of partnership (all apostilled)

Timeline

Estimated total: 3-6 months

  1. Gather sponsor's documents in Spain

    2-3 weeks

    Collect your valid TIE, employment contract, tax declarations (IRPF), social security record (vida laboral), and proof of income.

  2. Request housing adequacy report (informe de vivienda)

    2-4 weeks

    Apply to your local council (ayuntamiento) for an informe de vivienda. An inspector will verify your home meets minimum size and habitability standards for the number of people.

  3. Submit authorization at immigration office

    1 day

    File the authorization request (autorizacion de reagrupacion) at the Oficina de Extranjeria. This is done by the sponsor in Spain, not by the family member abroad.

  4. Wait for approval of authorization

    Up to 45 business days

    The immigration office reviews the sponsor's eligibility, income, and housing. Approval is sent to both the sponsor and the relevant Spanish consulate.

  5. Family member applies for visa at consulate

    2-4 weeks

    Once authorization is approved, the family member abroad applies for a reunification visa at their local Spanish consulate with their own set of documents.

  6. Family travels to Spain, applies for TIE

    Within 30 days of arrival

    The family member enters Spain, registers at the town hall (empadronamiento), and applies for their own TIE residence card at the immigration office.

Document checklist

Sponsor's Documents

  • Valid residence permit (TIE)
  • Employment contract or proof of income
  • Recent tax declarations (IRPF)
  • Social security registration (vida laboral)
  • Housing adequacy report (informe de vivienda)

Family Member's Documents

  • Valid passport
  • Completed visa application form
  • 2 recent passport photos (white background, 32x26mm)
  • Criminal background check (if over 16, apostilled/translated)
  • Medical certificate
  • Marriage or birth certificate (apostilled, translated)

Financial

  • Payslips (3-6 months)
  • Bank statements
  • Employment contract or autonomo registration

Official resources

Ministry of Inclusion — Family ReunificationImmigration Office ProceduresConsulate Visa Information

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