Family reunification (Spain): how long does it take?

The typical wait is 3 months – 6 months from submitting a complete application. 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. These figures come from Portal de Inmigración — Family reunification and were last verified on 2026-06-01. Always confirm on the primary source before you apply.

The clock starts when Portal de Inmigración — Family reunification receives a complete, valid application — not when you begin collecting documents. Gathering evidence, getting qualifications recognised, and booking consular appointments all happen before the window starts.

The clock effectively starts with the sponsor’s application inside Spain, so the relative abroad can’t speed up the first stage. The most common cause of delay is paperwork: marriage and birth certificates that still need an apostille and an official sworn translation. Getting those legalised before you file avoids being sent back for a correction.

The most common reasons for delays beyond the published window are: missing or incorrect documents, a request for more information (which pauses the clock until you reply), background or medical checks, and consular appointment backlogs in your country. Submitting a complete, well-organised application on day one is the single biggest thing you can do to stay inside the published window.

Wait until you have passed the upper end of the published window (3 months – 6 months) before treating it as delayed. At that point, a single polite status enquiry through the official channel is reasonable. Do not chase repeatedly, as this tends to slow a case rather than speed it up.