Spain EU Family Reunification Visa: Guide and Requirements

Who is the EU Family Reunification Visa for?

This visa is suitable for spouses, registered partners, and children of EU citizens who want to legally live, work, and have access to social benefits in Spanish territory. The EU Free Movement Directive route also applies if your sponsor is a Spanish citizen who lived in another EU country and is now returning to Spain.

Main Conditions for Obtaining an EU Family Reunification Visa

Unlike the standard Spanish route, this is a faster procedure requiring significantly fewer documents. Through this route, you apply directly through the consulate. It is highly recommended to consult with an immigration lawyer to accurately confirm your route and avoid mistakes.

Required Documents and Their Preparation

Foreign relationship documents obligatorily require apostilling in the country of origin and a sworn translation into Spanish after the apostille is affixed.

• Proof of relationship: For spouses/partners: a marriage certificate or a registered partnership certificate. For children: birth certificates of each child (obligatory with an apostille and a translation).
• Sponsor documents (EU): A copy of the sponsor's passport or DNI, as well as a certificate of their registration in Spain (Empadronamiento).
• Confirmation of status: An application and documents confirming your status as an EU family member for direct submission to the Spanish consulate.
• Check for fictitiousness and dependency: Proof of a real shared life to exclude a fictitious marriage, and in the case of reunification with parents — strict proof of their financial dependence on the sponsor (according to immigration law requirements).

Step-by-Step Timeline: How to Get the Visa

1. Direct submission: Under the EU route (EU Free Movement), you submit your application along with documents confirming the status of an EU family member directly to the Spanish consulate.
2. Waiting (Consulate processing): This route is processed much faster, as it does not require prior permission from within Spain. By law, applications for EU family member visas are processed on an expedited basis. The standard processing time at the consulate is 15 calendar days. In exceptional cases (if additional documents or an interview are required), it can take up to 45 days.
3. Entry to Spain and Residence Card processing: Once you enter Spain, you have 90 days to register. Processing the actual 5-year Residence Card (Tarjeta de Familiar de Ciudadano de la Unión) inside Spain legally takes up to 3 months for the immigration office to approve, after which you will get your physical card in 4-8 weeks.

What to Do Immediately After Entering Spain

• Registration (Empadronamiento): In the very first weeks, register your residence at the local city hall (ayuntamiento). For this, you will need your passports, your visas, and a rental agreement/permission from the owner (your sponsor).
• Obtaining a resident card (TIE): This is a crucial step that must be done strictly within 30 days after entry. Book an appointment (Cita Previa) for fingerprinting, bring the completed Form EX-17, the paid fee receipt (Form 790-012), and 2 passport photos.
• Public Healthcare (Sanidad Pública): If your sponsor contributes to the Seguridad Social system, you are entitled to free public healthcare. To get a medical card (TSI), visit the local clinic (centro de salud) with your TIE card, registration, and the sponsor's social security number.
• Tax registration: Register your tax address by submitting Form 030 (Modelo 030) to the tax agency (AEAT).
• Basic processes: Open an account in a Spanish bank as a resident, buy a local SIM card, download the Cl@ve app, and obtain a digital certificate (FNMT) for online interaction with government agencies. For school-age children, it is necessary to start the enrollment process in school through the regional Consejería de Educación.

Other Related Guides

• Standard Family Reunification Visa Guide
• Non-Lucrative Visa Guide

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)