Partners, dependents, and family routes
Helps you secure status for partners, children and relatives.
Bring or regularise partners, children and relatives through the right family regime: reunification, family of EU citizens, family of Spaniards, and what happens to status when the family changes.
- topics
- 8
- articles
- 55
- of reading
- 4.2 hours
Begin with
Choosing your family route
You will know which regime applies to each family member, whether to bring them now or later, and roughly what it will cost.
Which Spanish family route applies to each relative · Reunification versus EU-style family rules: what changes for you · Can your family come with you on your Spanish visa
More in partners, dependents, and family routes
7 more topics in this section, about 4.2 hours of reading in all.
Family reunification for residents
You will know whether you can sponsor your family, what you must prove, the order of steps, and how to cope with the wait.
What family reunification (reagrupación familiar) actually requires · Can you sponsor your family: residence time and permit validity · The income test for reunification: how much and what counts
Family of EU and Spanish citizens
You will know whether your relationship to an EU or Spanish citizen qualifies and how to enter and apply.
Who counts as family of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen · What your EU citizen relative must show first in Spain · Entering Spain as family of an EU citizen: visa or visa-free
Partners and registered partnerships (pareja de hecho)
You will know which formal step gives your partner status, how to take it, and how to prepare for relationship scrutiny.
Marry or register a partnership (pareja de hecho): which gives status · Registering a partnership (pareja de hecho) and what it unlocks · How partnership (pareja de hecho) rules differ by region
Children and their residence status
You will know how each child is covered, what to register for a newborn, what custody evidence is needed and what changes as the child grows.
Your child's residence status in Spain under each family regime · What to register when a baby is born in Spain · Whose consent does immigration need for a child of separated parents
Parents and other relatives
You will know which route a parent can realistically use, what dependency must be shown, and what to do if no route fits.
Can you bring a parent or grandparent to live in Spain · Joining your Spanish or EU citizen child as a dependent parent · When a parent does not qualify: other routes to check
Proving your family relationship
You will know what proof each relationship needs and what to do when documents are missing or doubted.
What proof of relationship you need for each family member · Proving you are a child's legal parent · When you cannot get documents from your home country
When your family situation changes
You will know what happens to your status when the relationship or sponsor changes, and what to do and by when.
When your residence depends on your sponsor: what puts it at risk · Divorce or separation when you hold an EU-style family card · Divorce or separation after family reunification
Other sections in Immigration and residency
Eligibility and route selection
Helps you find the Spanish residence route you qualify for.
Applications and evidence
Helps you assemble and file a complete residence application.
Status, cards, and renewals
Helps you get the residence card and keep status valid after approval.
Permanent residence and citizenship
Helps you progress to long-term residence and Spanish citizenship.
Mistakes, gaps, and dead ends
Helps you avoid or recover from immigration status failures.
Need certainty before you act?
For important relocation decisions, speak with a qualified human specialist.
Always verify important information with the relevant official authority or a qualified adviser before acting. This website uses large language models together with various public data sources, official government documents and other established sources. Due to the amount of data on this website, some information might be wrong. Information may also be incomplete or outdated.