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Tuchati

Family Immigration

Bringing your family to Spain

An overview of the two main routes for joining family already living in Spain, and which one applies to you.

Last reviewed: 2026-06-15

This guide is not yet verified by Tuchati's editorial review — treat it as a helpful starting point, not a final legal answer.

Overview

Which process applies to bringing your family to Spain depends entirely on your own status — whether you're a non-EU resident sponsor, or an EU citizen with non-EU family members. This guide helps you identify the right route; each has its own detailed guide.

Requirements

  • Relevant to anyone in Spain wanting to bring their spouse or partner, children, or dependent parents to join them

Step-by-step process

  • If you're a non-EU citizen legally resident in Spain, your family generally comes through the standard Family Reunification Visa route — see our detailed guide for the specific requirements
  • If you're an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen living in Spain, your non-EU family members generally use a different, often faster route — the residence card for family members of an EU citizen — see our detailed guide
  • If you're a Spanish citizen, your non-EU family members also generally use the EU citizen family member route, since it applies to family of Spanish nationals too
  • Once you've identified the right route, follow its specific requirements for housing, income and documentation

Required documents

  • Varies by route — see our detailed guides for the Family Reunification Visa and residence for family members

Common mistakes

  • Applying under the standard Family Reunification Visa route when the faster EU family member route actually applies to your situation
  • Not realising the two routes have different income, housing and residency prerequisites

Practical tips

  • The EU family member route is generally faster and has fewer prerequisites than standard Family Reunification — confirm which one genuinely applies to your situation before starting either process
  • Start gathering civil documents (marriage or birth certificates) early regardless of route, since apostilles and certified translations take time

How Tuchati can help

Family immigration routes can be genuinely confusing to tell apart — Tuchati can help you identify which one applies to your specific family situation.

Bringing your family to Spain — Help Centre — Tuchati