Chinese applicants · Kingdom of Spain
Family reunification (Spain) for Chinese citizens
Residence permit for family members of Spanish residents; arreigo (settled-status) routes also available.
This page covers the Family reunification (Spain) specifically for Chinese applicants — including document requirements, consular procedures, and common issues specific to China. The general eligibility criteria apply to everyone.
- Processing time
- 3 months – 6 months
- Government fees
- Variable.
- Typical duration
- Matches sponsor; leads to settlement.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
Bilateral context
- Schengen Area
Consular processing: a Kingdom of Spain consulate or visa application centre in your country of residence
Tourist entry vs. this route
Tourist-entry rules for Chinese nationals are set by Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations and change periodically — check the official entry-requirements page. The Family reunification (Spain) is a separate application from any tourist entry.
Key figures for Chinese applicants
Computed from our continuously re-verified, primary-sourced data. Indicative, not legal advice.
How long it takes
3 months – 6 months
Spanish family reunification runs in two stages that together commonly take 3–6 months: first the Oficina de Extranjería in Spain approves the sponsor’s authorisation (roughly 45 days), then the relative applies for the visa at their local Spanish consulate. Consular appointment availability is often the real bottleneck rather than the decision.
Verified 1 June 2026 · Portal de Inmigración — Family reunification →
Time to permanent residence
Arrival → permanent residence (5 years) → citizenship (10 years for most nationalities; 2 for Latin American).
Leads to Residencia de Larga Duración, then Spanish citizenship.
Visa overview
Spain operates family reunification (reagrupación familiar) for spouses and children of legally resident non-EU nationals, alongside EU-family routes for spouses of EU nationals. Multiple arraigo routes (familiar, laboral, social, formación) allow regularisation after qualifying residence in Spain.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Sponsor legally resident in Spain for the qualifying period.
- ✓Adequate housing and income.
Common blockers
- !Sponsor's residence not meeting time threshold.
- !Housing report unfavourable.
Typical evidence
- ·Marriage/birth certificates.
- ·Sponsor's residence card and income evidence.
Application pathway
Sponsor applies for reunification authorisation
Submit to Oficina de Extranjería.
Family applies for visa at consulate
With authorisation reference.
Travel and TIE
Register on arrival.
Other Kingdom of Spain routes covered for Chinese applicants
Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV)
Residence visa for financially self-sufficient non-EEA nationals not planning to work in Spain.
Highly Qualified Professional (HQP) permit
Residence permit for highly qualified workers with a Spanish employment contract, processed under the Law 14/2013 regime.
Entrepreneur Visa (Ley 14/2013)
Residence permit for founders establishing an innovative business in Spain under the Entrepreneurs' Law.
Not sure Kingdom of Spain is right for you? Compare similar routes
Other countries offer family routes that Chinese nationals also apply to. See how they compare.
Frequently asked questions
Are Chinese citizens eligible for the Family reunification (Spain)?+
Eligibility for the Family reunification (Spain) is set by Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations and is not nationality-restricted beyond the general criteria, though Chinese applicants may also have access to the following bilateral or treaty frameworks: Schengen Area. See the criteria below for the published requirements.
Where do Chinese applicants typically file the Family reunification (Spain)?+
a Kingdom of Spain consulate or visa application centre in your country of residence. Specific intake (online portal, biometrics centre, or in-country lodgement) is determined by Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations — confirm the current intake channel on the primary source linked above before filing.
Do Chinese applicants need a tourist visa for Kingdom of Spain as well?+
Tourist-entry rules for Chinese nationals are set by Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations and change periodically — check the official entry-requirements page. The Family reunification (Spain) is a separate application from any tourist entry.
How long does the Family reunification (Spain) take to process from China?+
The typical published decision window is 3 months – 6 months. Chinese applicants usually file via a Kingdom of Spain consulate or visa application centre in your country of residence, and consular-post backlogs can add to the wait. Source: Portal de Inmigración — Family reunification, verified 1 June 2026.
How long until permanent residence in Kingdom of Spain?+
Arrival → permanent residence (5 years) → citizenship (10 years for most nationalities; 2 for Latin American). The route leads to Residencia de Larga Duración, then Spanish citizenship. See Ministerio de Justicia — Nacionalidad española for the qualifying-residence rules.
What are Spain's arraigo routes?+
Arraigo allows regularisation after continuous residence in Spain, with different sub-routes for family, employment, social integration, and training. The 2022 reform added arraigo por formación for those pursuing vocational training.