Family Reunification Visa (Regimen General)

The Spanish Family Reunification Visa (Reagrupación Familiar) allows non-European Union citizens who are already legal residents in Spain to bring their immediate family members to live with them. This pathway is designed to maintain the family unit for those who have established their lives in Spain under the "General Regime."

It is important to distinguish this from the "EU Family Member" route (Régimen Comunitario). This specific visa is only for the relatives of non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens. If you are a Spanish citizen or a citizen of another EU country, your family members must apply through a different, more streamlined process.

• The "One Year" Rule: You cannot submit your application until you have completed 12 full months of legal residence. Applications submitted even a few days early are routinely rejected.
• Parental Dependency: As of late 2025, Spanish authorities have tightened the requirements for bringing parents. You must show a consistent history of financial support (usually 12–24 months of bank transfers) to prove they rely solely on your income.
• Adult Children and Siblings: You cannot reunite siblings or children over the age of 18 under this visa unless a severe disability is documented.

Once the visa is granted and the family member arrives in Spain, they receive the following rights:

• Right to Work: Spouses and children of working age (16+) automatically receive the right to work in Spain, either as an employee or as a self-employed person, without needing a separate work permit.
• Residency Duration: The family member’s residency permit will be valid for the same duration as the sponsor’s permit.
• Access to Services: Family members have the right to access public education and healthcare (provided the sponsor is contributing to the Social Security system).
• Path to Citizenship: Time spent in Spain under this visa counts toward the 5-year requirement for Long-Term Residence and the 10-year requirement for Spanish Citizenship. (Note: Citizens of Latin American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, or Portugal only need 2 years of residence to apply for citizenship).
• Independent Residency: In certain cases (such as divorce or the death of the sponsor), the family member may be able to obtain an independent residence permit after a certain period.