Kingdom of Spain · Processing time
Family reunification (Spain): how long does it take?
By Sam Parks · Last checked:
Source auto-reconfirmed 23 July 2026 by the daily automated check (figure unchanged since last review).
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.
How long does the Family reunification (Spain) take to process in Spain?
The typical published decision window is 3 months – 6 months from 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.
Verified against Portal de Inmigración — Family reunification on 22 June 2026.
Typical wait
3 months – 6 months
from complete application
Government fees
Variable.
Last checked
22 June 2026
Reality vs official timing
- Official clock
- Official window with caveat
- Delay trigger
- After 6 months
- Source checked
- 22 June 2026
Use 3 months – 6 months as the official headline, then read the route caveat: 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.
What is the Family reunification (Spain)?
Residence permit for family members of Spanish residents; arreigo (settled-status) routes also available.
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.
- Sponsorship: No job offer or employer sponsor is required.
- Settlement: This route can lead to permanent residence.
- Typical permit length: Matches sponsor; leads to settlement.
- Indicative government fees: Variable.
Priority and fast-track options
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.
How to read this estimate
The 3 months – 6 months window is the time Portal de Inmigración — Family reunification typically associates with the Family reunification (Spain) — measured from a complete, correctly-lodged application through to a decision, not from when you start gathering documents.
- Collecting documents, getting qualifications recognised, and booking consular appointments all happen before the clock starts.
- If the authority requests more information, the clock pauses until you reply — so a fast, complete response keeps your place in the queue.
- Processing times shift with application volumes and policy changes. The Portal de Inmigración — Family reunification page linked below is the only figure that is current on the day you apply.
Official source
Portal de Inmigración — Family reunification
https://www.inclusion.gob.es/web/migraciones/w/autorizacion-de-residencia-temporal-por-reagrupacion-familiar
Cite or reuse this dataset
This figure is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0. Cite the Visa Atlas page for the compiled, dated dataset, and cite the official source for the underlying government rule.
Suggested citation
Visa Atlas, "Family reunification (Spain) processing time dataset", https://visaatlas.org/processing-times/spain/family-reunification-es. Last verified 22 June 2026.
- JSON endpoint
- https://visaatlas.org/api/public/processing-times
Primary source (1)
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Family reunification (Spain) take to process?+
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 2026-06-22. Always confirm on the primary source before you apply.
When does the 3 months – 6 months clock start?+
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.
Is there a way to speed up the decision?+
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.
What makes an application take longer than expected?+
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.
When should I treat my Family reunification (Spain) application as delayed?+
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.
Next steps
Reviewed by Sam Parks, Editor and lead researcher.