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Kingdom of Spain · family · Leads to settlement

Family reunification (Spain)

By · Last reviewed:

Guidance updated 10 September 2026. Full-review date shown above.

Residence authorisation for eligible family members of certain non-EU residents in Spain; EU-family routes follow a separate regime.

No sponsorship requiredLeads to permanent residencyAligned with the sponsor’s permit; long-term residence is a separate eligibility route.
Processing time
Two legal decision stages: up to 2 months for the sponsor’s authorisation, then up to 1 month for the consular visa decision after approval. Appointment and document-preparation time are separate.
Government fees
Variable.
Typical duration
Aligned with the sponsor’s permit; long-term residence is a separate eligibility route.
Sponsorship required
No
Leads to permanent residency
Yes
Reviewed Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations ↗

In short

Residence authorisation for eligible family members of certain non-EU residents in Spain; EU-family routes follow a separate regime. Guidance updated 10 September 2026. Costs, application stages and eligibility conditions are set out with their sources below.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/spain/family-reunification-es#answer

What is the Family reunification (Spain) in Kingdom of Spain?

Family reunification (Spain) is an unsponsored Spain route. Indicative government fees are Variable; indicative processing time is Two legal decision stages: up to 2 months for the sponsor’s authorisation, then up to 1 month for the consular visa decision after approval. Appointment and document-preparation time are separate; typical duration is Aligned with the sponsor’s permit; long-term residence is a separate eligibility route. This route can lead to permanent residence.

Primary guidance checked with Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations on 10 September 2026.

Overview

Spain operates family reunification (reagrupación familiar) for eligible family members of legally resident non-EU nationals. EU-family routes and routes for family members of Spanish nationals can follow different rules and should not be merged into this general-regime record.

Guidance by nationality

Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Sponsor applies for reunification authorisation

    Submit to Oficina de Extranjería.

  2. Family applies for visa at consulate

    With authorisation reference.

  3. Travel and TIE

    Register on arrival.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Family reunification (Spain), use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Check the conditions for your own permission, including work, and keep evidence of the qualifying relationship. The principal applicant’s conditions may differ.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Official Family reunification (Spain) instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to SpainFirst steps after arrivingDestination moving checklist

Plan the practical side of your stay

Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Spain. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant + sponsor
    Check family reunification guidance ↗

    Sponsor and family member use this official guidance to confirm the reunification authorisation and visa evidence requirements.

    Ministerio de Inclusion, Seguridad Social y Migraciones · verified

Fees and processing time

Indicative government fees: Variable.. The issuing authority does not publish a central processing time for this route, so plan against comparable cases. Both change over time, so the dedicated pages below carry the itemised breakdown and the current official figures.

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Frequently asked questions

Is this the same as the EU-family route?+

No. This record covers the general family-reunification regime for eligible family members of certain non-EU residents. EU-family rights and procedures are separate; check the official EU-family guidance before selecting a route.

What does my sponsor need to prove to reunite our family in Spain?+

The sponsor must be legally resident in Spain for the qualifying period and show adequate housing and income. A sponsor whose residence does not meet the time threshold, or an unfavourable housing report, are common blockers. Confirm the requirements with the official Ministerio guidance.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

Find a regulated advisor in Spain

How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations

Last checked: 10 September 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology

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