General information
The following family members of Spanish citizens are entitled to apply for a preferential free-of-charge residence permit and visa, provided that they are relocating to Spain with the Spanish citizens:
- The spouse (over 18 years of age), provided that there has been no annulment or divorce.
- The partner (over 18 years of age) registered in a Member State of the European Union or EEA or Switzerland, provided that such registered partnership has not been legally terminated.
- The unregistered partner (over 18 years of age), provided that stable cohabitation for a minimum period of 12 months can be duly attested. When there are children in common, it will be sufficient to ascertain stable cohabitation.
- Direct descendants of the Spanish citizen 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 under the age of 26 and above that age if they are dependent or disabled. In all the preceding cases, provided that they live together or intend to live together with them and are not married or have established their own family unit.
- Direct relatives in the first ascending line of the Spanish citizen or of their spouse or registered or unregistered partner (provided that there has been no annulment or divorce or legal termination of their registration) provided that they accredit that they live at their expense and lack family support in their country of origin, or when humanitarian reasons exist.
- The father, mother or legal guardian of a Spanish minor, provided that the minor lives at his/her expense.
- A family member, up to the second degree, who provides or will provide the care needed by a Spanish citizen who has been recognized as having some degree of dependency.
- Those whose father or mother was a Spanish citizen.
- Family members other than the above who, presently, live at the expense of the Spanish citizen.
This provision applies to relatives who are not citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.
Family members of Spanish citizens, once in Spain, will have to apply for a residence card as Spanish citizen family member at the Foreigners Office of their place of residence.
Under this category, there are two options:
1. When the Spanish citizen lives in Spain.
2. When the Spanish citizen lives abroad and is relocating to Spain with his/her relative/s.
Required documents (option 1)
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 white 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 1 year 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. Photocopy of the passport or DNI of the Spanish citizen.
7. Documents proving family relationship with the Spanish citizen: Civil registry certificates (birth or marriage, accordingly); certificate of registration as an unmarried couple or any other document proving that the partnership is analogous to a marital relationship; financial documents to accredit dependency; etc. Certificates are valid for a period of 3 months. Foreign documents must be, where applicable legalized or apostilled.
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.
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 legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be 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. Payment of the visa fee. This kind of visa is free of charge, but if it is voluntarily applied for at a BLS Visa Application Centre, a charge shall apply for services rendered.
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.
Required documents (option 2)
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. EX-24 form. Click here to download. Each applicant must complete and sign a EX-24 form, filling in each of its sections. If the applicant is a minor, one of their parents must sign the application.
3. 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.
4. Valid, unexpired passport. The passport must have a minimum validity period of 1 year and contain two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted.
5. 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.
6. Photocopy of the passport or DNI of the Spanish citizen.
7. Documents proving family relationship with the Spanish citizen: Civil registry certificates (birth or marriage, accordingly); certificate of registration as an unmarried couple or any other document proving that the partnership is analogous to a marital relationship; financial documents to accredit dependency; etc. Certificates are valid for a period of 3 months. Foreign documents must be, where applicable legalized or apostilled.
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.
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 legalized or apostilled and, where applicable, must be 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. Payment of the visa fee. This kind of visa is free of charge, but if it is voluntarily applied for at a BLS Visa Application Centre, a charge shall apply for services rendered.
Procedure
- Who can apply for a visa: Visa applications must be submitted in person by the applicant or by one of their parents if the applicant is a minor. They may also be submitted through a duly accredited representative.
- Legalization or Apostille of documents: Click here for more information.
- Visa application period: Visa applications must be submitted, at least, 2 months, before the beginning of the program, as the procedure entails consultations with other authorities. Visas for family members must be requested once the student has obtained the visa.
- Place of submission: This is to inform all applicants to carefully read below possibilities of submitting their visa application under this category:
- Applicants can submit their visa application directly at the Consulate General of Spain with prior appointment through cog.mumbai.vis@maec.es
- Applications can also be submitted at any BLS VAC with prior appointment through their website. However, please make a note that BLS service charge will be applicable. - 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 1 month from 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.
- Refusal of the visa or study stay permit: Refusals of the visa or study stay permit 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.
Complaints or suggestions about the service received or about the visa application procedure can be submitted online through this website. They may also be submitted in writing at this Consular Office.
Data protection
The processing of personal data of visa applicants is done in accordance with the General Data Pr otection Regulation.
Persons wishing to exercise their rights of access, rectification and erasure of their personal data in the Visa Information System (VIS) may do so by addressing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation
Inspección General de Servicios
Postal address: Plaza de la Provincia, 1, Madrid, España
Email: dpd@maec.es
The following forms may be used to do so:
Persons whose visa application has been refused because they are banned from entering the Schengen area may exercise their rights of access, rectification and erasure of their personal data in the Schengen Information System (SIS) by addressing the Ministry of the Interior.
To obtain more information on your rights and duties and on how to exercise your rights of access, rectification and erasure of data included in the SIS, please refer to the website of the Spanish Data Protection Agency.