​GENERAL INFORMATION

Visa for family members of foreigners who already have legal resident status in Spain and who wish to exercise the right to family reunification. 

This type of visa is not issued to family members of citizens of the European Union or of the Member States of the European Economic Area or of Switzerland (see “Visas for family members of EU citizens").

 Family members who can obtain a family reunification visa:  

​·        The spouse not separated in fact or in law, or the applicant´s partner that is analogous to a marital relationship (partner entered on a public register, if the registration has not been canceled. Or, unregistered partner proving the continuity of a cohabitation relationship established before the applicant settled in Spain).

Reunification cannot be offered to more than one spouse or partner.

·        The applicant´s children, including adopted children (proving that the adoption is valid in Spain), stepchildren and those represented legally by the applicant. In all cases, children must be under 18 or have disabilities and are not objectively capable of providing for their own needs.

·        The applicant's parents (mother or father) and parents in law, if they are in the care of the applicant, are older than 65 and there are reasons substantiating the need to authorize their residence in Spain.

On an exceptional basis, and for humanitarian reasons, the reunification of parents under 65 may be permitted.

 The Consulate of Spain in Chicago will consider applications for residents in this jurisdiction: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

·         Applications are in person by appointment only. To request an appointment please follow these instructions:  

1.     Send an email with the appointment request to  cog.chicago.cit@maec.es (one email per family group)

2.     Attach a PDF copy of the applicant`s ID (State ID, Driver's License, or Student ID)  

3.     Include this mandatory information :

•  Name and last name of the applicant (for a family group, include all the applicant's names in the same email)
• Email address 
• Phone number 
• Type of visa  
• Intended dates of travel 
  

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

​1.     National visa application form.  The applicant must complete and sign an official application form, filling in each of its sections. If the applicant is a minor, one of their parents must sign the application.

2.   Photo glued to the application form. An updated photo-paper picture, passport size, facing forward, without dark or reflective glasses, or any garments concealing the oval of the face. Photographs of toddlers and babies must not show any part of the adult holding them.

3.     Valid, unexpired passport. Original and copy of the page or pages of the passport that contain biometric data. The passport must have a minimum validity of 1 year and contain at least two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.   

4.     Proof of residence in the consular jurisdiction:  State ID, Driver´s License, or Student ID. 

5.     Proof of legal residence in the United States (Non-Americans). Must present one of the following documents:

·         Original and copy of Permanent Resident Card (Green card)

·         Valid US long-term Visa  

Holders of B-1/B-2 visas cannot apply in the United States; they must apply in their country of permanent residence

6.       Initial family reunification permit. Original and a copy of the initial family reunification permit issued by the Delegation or Sub-delegation of the Government in Spain, at the applicant's request. 

7.       Applicant's residence card. Certified photocopy of the applicant's Foreigner Identification Card, which must be unexpired. 

8.       Documents proving family relationship with the applicant. 

·         Spouses: Original and copy of the Marriage certificate issued by the competent civil registry. In the event of a second or successive marriage, proof of divorce from the previous spouse. 

·         Unmarried couples: Certificate of registration as an unmarried couple or, if the couple has not entered their relationship on a register, documents proving the couple's relationship date back to before the applicant established their residence in Spain.

·         Children: Original and copy of Birth certificate issued by the competent civil registry. In the case of the children of just one of the spouses or members of the couple, proof must also be provided that they hold sole parental authority over the child or that they have been awarded custody and that the child is effectively in their care.

·         Parents: Original and copy of Birth certificate of the applicant or of the spouse or partner issued by the competent civil registry and documents substantiating the reasons for which it was necessary to authorize their residence in Spain. Among other documents, proof must be provided that, over the past year, the applicant has transferred funds to or covered expenses incurred by the parent representing, at least, 51% of the per capita GDP of the parent's country of residence. Moreover, proof must be submitted of the annual income and properties owned by the parent as information on other direct family members who are residents in the country. 

Foreign marriage/birth certificates must be apostilled and, where applicable, must be translated into Spanish by a certified translator

9.         Criminal record certificate. (Validity for 6 months from da date of its issued) applicants over 18 must present original and copy of the criminal record certificate issued by FBI and legalized with the Federal Apostille of the Hague Convention requested to the Department of State in Washington DC.  Local State apostille is not valid.

• The applicant must present criminal record certificates from the countries of residence of the last 5 years.
• The certificates must be translated into Spanish by a certified translator : American Translators Association   https://www.atanet.org/
  

10.       Bilingual Medical certificate, accrediting student´s good health pursuant to the 2005 International Health Regulations. It must have the Doctor's Stamp, or can be printed on medical center´s letterhead; it must not be older than 3 months. It is recommended to use our template. 

11.     Visa fee. For nationals of Australia, Ethiopia, Canada, the United Kingdom and others, different rates are applied based on reciprocity. Please check the complete most recent visa fees 2024  

Present the payment the day of your appointment. Only money orders are accepted, payable to the Consulate of Spain. No cash, personal checks, nor credit cards. The processing fee will not be returned even if the visa is not granted or canceled.

       APPLICANT                         FEE 2024 

       Americans                               $ 140

       Other Nationalities                $   88

12.     Pre-Paid Priority/Express mail envelope from the United States Postal Services along with a tracking number. Once the visa is approved, the Consulate will return the applicant's passport inside that envelope.

13.      Shipping Disclaimer form must be downloaded here. 

When necessary to assess the application, the Consular Office may request additional documents or data and may also ask the applicant to come in for a personal interview.

For representative (Attorney):  Copy of the identity document or passport of the representative and notarized power or document accrediting representation must be submitted. The originals must be shown when submitting the application. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, if necessary, submitted together with an official translation into Spanish. 

Procedure  

This Consular Office is competent to accept visa applications from individuals residing in the consular district 

• Who can apply for a visa: The visa application must be submitted in person by the applicant. If the applicant is a minor, the application may be submitted by one of the parents or guardians or by a duly accredited representative. 
• Visa application period: The visa application must be submitted within a period of 2 months, counted as of the day after the date on which the applicant is notified of the decision to authorize the family reunification. 
• Place of submission: Applications must be submitted in person at the Consular Office. An appointment is necessary.         Address:​

​Consulate of Spain in Chicago

180 N. Michigan Ave, Suite 1500

Chicago, IL 60601

• Proof of receipt: The Consular Office will provide the applicant with proof of receipt of the application with a code that enables them to check the status of the dossier through the following link: https://sutramiteconsular.maec.es/Home.aspx   
• Rectifying the application: The Consular Office may ask the applicant to submit any missing documents or to provide additional documents or data. 
• Decision period: The legal period for reaching a decision is of 2 months as of the day after the application submission date, but this period may be extended if an interview or additional documents are requested. 
• Collecting the visa: The visa must be collected in person by the applicant or by their representative (if the applicant is a minor) within a maximum period of 1 month, counted as of the day after the date on which the favorable decision is notified. The Consular Office will inform the applicant regarding the procedure for the return of the passport and any other original documentation. 
• Visa refusal: Visa refusals will always be notified in writing, setting forth the grounds on which the decision adopted was based. 
• Appeals: If a visa is refused, the applicant may submit an appeal for reconsideration to this Consular Office within 1 month of the day following the date on which notification of the refusal is received. An application for judicial review may also be filed with the High Court of Justice of Madrid within the 2-month period beginning the day after the date on which the applicant receives the notification of the visa refusal or of the dismissal of the reconsideration appeal. 
• The validity period of the visa: The visa will be valid for 90 days. Once in Spain, a Foreigner Identification Card must be applied for within a period of 1 month from the applicant's entry into Spain, at the Foreign Nationals' Office or the Police Station

​