Family Reunification in Spain: Who Can Apply and How

One of the most common situations in international relocation is the professional who arrives in Spain first and, once settled with legal residence, wants to bring their family. The legal tool for this is the authorisation of temporary residence for family reunification, a procedure that allows a resident to reunite with a spouse, children, and in some cases parents.

Who can apply as the sponsor

To initiate the family reunification process, the person already in Spain (the sponsor) must meet these requirements:

• Hold a valid residence authorisation and not be in the last year of the first authorisation (as a rule, at least one year of legal residence is required, though some authorisations allow reunification from the outset).
• Have sufficient financial means to support the reunified family. The calculation is based on the IPREM: 150% of the monthly IPREM for the first family member, plus 50% for each additional member.
• Have suitable housing in Spain with sufficient floor area and habitable conditions. Adequacy is verified by the local council through a habitability report.

EU citizens residing in Spain do not need to apply for family reunification: family members of a European citizen (regardless of their nationality) may reside in Spain under EU free movement law.

Which family members can be reunified

Spanish law allows reunification of:

• Spouse (or registered domestic partner, if the union is recorded in an official register)
• Children under 18 or disabled children who are dependent on the sponsor
• Children over 18 who are single with a disability and are financially dependent on the sponsor
• Ascendants (parents and parents-in-law) when financially dependent on the sponsor. Only available to long-term residents.

Siblings are not covered by ordinary family reunification. Adult siblings without financial dependence have no reunification route.

The process step by step

Step 1: Application in Spain

The sponsor submits the application to the Immigration Office (Oficina de Extranjería) for their address in Spain. Documents required at this stage:

• Form EX-02 (application for temporary residence by family reunification)
• Passport and residence authorisation of the sponsor
• Documents evidencing family ties (marriage certificate, family book, birth certificates of children), all apostilled and translated into Spanish if required
• Proof of financial means (pay slips, IRPF tax return, bank statements)
• Municipal habitability report for the property
• Fees: form 790 code 052

Step 2: Resolution of the authorisation

The Immigration Office resolves the application within three months. If the resolution is favourable, the sponsor is notified. If there is no resolution within the deadline, administrative silence is considered negative — though in practice, well-documented applications are often resolved favourably.

Step 3: Visa at the Spanish consulate in the country of origin

Once the reunification authorisation is granted, the family member applies for the visa at the Spanish consulate in their country of residence. With the authorisation in hand, the consulate has two months to issue the visa.

Step 4: Entry into Spain and TIE

The family member enters Spain on the family reunification visa (valid for entry, not for residence). Once in Spain, within one month they must apply for the Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE) at the Immigration Office.

Total timelines

The complete process, from submission of the application to the family member's arrival, typically takes four to eight months under normal conditions. Madrid immigration offices have longer wait times than those in other provinces due to volume. Starting well in advance is essential.

Right to work

The family reunification residence authorisation includes a work permit from the moment it is granted. The reunified family member can work in Spain without any additional procedure once they have their reunification TIE in hand.

Children reunified above the age of 16 can also work under the reunification authorisation, without needing a specific work permit.

Reunification of unmarried partners

The Spanish system recognises domestic partnerships, but with stricter conditions than marriage. To reunify an unmarried partner, the union must be registered in an official register (registered domestic partnership in Spain, or recognised foreign union). A cohabitation relationship without registered status is not sufficient.

If you need guidance on how family reunification applies to your specific situation, Aedara connects you with immigration law specialists who can advise case by case. You can also read our guide on NIE and TIE documentation in Spain.

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References:

• Ley Orgánica 4/2000, of 11 January, on the rights and freedoms of foreigners in Spain (articles on family reunification).
• Real Decreto 557/2011 — Regulations of LO 4/2000 (articles 52–60).