Visa for family members of foreigners who already have legal resident status in Spain and who wish to exercise the right to family reunification or regrouping.
This category 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 (over 18 years of age), not separated in fact or in law, or the person (over 18 years of age) who maintains a partnership with the applicant that is analogous to a marital relationship (partner entered on a public register, provided that the registration has not been cancelled), or unregistered partner (over 18 years of age) provided that proof can be provided of the continuity of a cohabitation relationship established before the applicant settled in Spain). Reunification cannot be offered to more than one spouse or partner.
- Direct descendants of the foreigner who resides in Spain, provided that they are under the age of 18 or that they have disabilities and are not objectively capable of providing for their own needs due to their health status.
- Direct descendants of the spouse or of the partner, provided that they are under the age of 18 or that they have disabilities and are not objectively capable of providing for their own needs due to their health status.
- For adopted children, adoption must be valid in Spain.
- For descendants of only one of the spouses or members of the couple, it will also be required that this person exercises sole parental authority, has been granted sole custody, the children are effectively in their care, and the relocation of the minor's to Spain has been authorized by any judicial authority or with the consent of the other parent, or in case custody has been granted on a shared basis, provided that the other holder of the right of custody has given their consent for the child to reside in Spain.
- Any person who is represented legally by the foreigner who resides in Spain provided that they are under the age of 18 or have disabilities and are not objectively capable of providing for their own needs due to their health status.
- The mother or father of the foreigner who resides in Spain and of the spouse or partner, provided that they are in the care of any of them, they 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 the age of 65 may be permitted.
- Direct descendants of the foreigner who resides in Spain or of their spouse or registered and unregistered partner (provided that there has been no annulment or divorce or legal termination of the registration) who are over 18 years of age and provides or will provide the care needed by the foreigner who resides in Spain and has been recognized as having some degree of dependency.
Required documents
1. National visa application form. Each applicant must complete and sign a visa application, filling in each of its sections in blue ink. If the applicant is a minor, one of the ir parents or a duly accredited representative must sign the application.
2. Photograph. A recent, passport-size, colour photograph, taken against a light background, facing forward, without dark or reflective glasses, or any garments concealing the oval of the face.
3. Valid, unexpired passport. The passport must have a minimum validity period of 12 months and contain two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.
4. Photocopy of the page or pages of the passport that contain biometric data. The passport must be valid at least for the duration of the planned stay and contain 2 blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.
5. 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.
6. Applicant's residence card. Certified photocopy of the applicant's Foreigner Identification Card, which must be unexpired.
7. Documents proving family relationship with the applicant
- Marriage/birth certificates and any other document that proves that the applicant falls into the specific category (for instance, documents regarding financial dependency, disability, etc.). These documents are valid for a period of 3 months.
- Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
8. Criminal record check certificate. Applicants of legal age must su bmit both the original and a copy of the criminal record check certificate(s) issued by their country or countries of residence for the past 5 years. The document is valid for a period of 6 months. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
Indian Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) must be issued by the Regional Passport Office and apostilled by the Ministry of External Affairs, India and submitted together with submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
9. Medical certificate. Original and a copy of a medical certificate accrediting that the applicant does not suffer from any disease that could cause serious repercussions for public health pursuant to the 2005 International Health Regulations. The medical certificate must be issued by a legal medical practitioner . The document is valid for a period of 6 months. It must be apostilled and submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
10. Proof of residence in the consular district . For instance, recent (no older than 6 months) utility bills that clearly display the applicant's full name and current address; copy of lease or of house deed; etc. Please, be aware that this is not an exhaustive list.
11. Proof of the representative's identity and capacity. If the applicant is a minor, a copy of the identity document or passport of the parent, guardian or representative and of the document constituting proof of kinship or guardianship or power of attorney or the document accrediting representation must be submitted. Original documents must be shown when submitting the application. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be submitted together with an official translation into Spanish.
12. Paym ent of the visa fee. Consult the visa fees here .
For nationals of Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, the United States of America and the United Kingdom different rates apply for reasons of reciprocity. In these cases, the amount of the fee must be consulted with the Consular Office.
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 only at any BLS VAC with prior appointment through the following link.
- Rectifying the application: The Consular Office may ask the applicant to submit any missing documents, or to provide additional documents or data that are necessary for a decision regarding the application. The applicant may also be called in for a personal interview.
- 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.
- Return of passport and other documentation: The Visa Application Centre 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 study stay permit or 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 notification of the visa refusal or of the dismissal of the reconsideration appeal.
- 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 of the province in which the residence permit was processed.