Bringing an adult child or dependant with a disability

Key rules

• Reunification: For non-EU sponsors, an adult child qualifies only with a disability that prevents self-sufficiency, plus financial dependence on you.
• EU or Spanish sponsor: An adult child aged 21 or over qualifies by proving you actually support them financially.
• Foreign documents: Foreign certificates and records normally need an apostille or legalisation and a sworn translation into Spanish.
• Legal capacity: A court ruling on legal incapacity is accepted as proof, and a legal representative may be needed.

Which route applies to you

An adult child does not qualify just because they are your child. There are two routes, and each asks for different proof.

• You are a non-EU resident (family reunification). Your adult child qualifies only if a disability means they cannot provide for their own needs, and they depend on you financially.
• You are an EU or Spanish citizen (EU-style route). Your adult child (21 or over) qualifies if they depend on you economically. A disability is not required, but it can help show the need.

Family reunification: disability and non-self-sufficiency

You must hold a long-term residence permit, or a renewed one. You must also meet the usual conditions: adequate housing and sufficient income. The income and housing thresholds change every year, so check the current figures before you apply.

Your child must show two things: the disability, and that it leaves them unable to manage on their own. In many cases they also need a legal representative, or a court ruling declaring legal incapacity. A court ruling on incapacity is accepted as proof of non-self-sufficiency.

Proof of disability

• An official disability certificate (certificado de discapacidad), or a medical or social-services report, from the public authority in the country of origin. It should show the degree of disability and that the person cannot live independently or work.
• A foreign document normally needs an apostille or legalisation, plus a sworn translation into Spanish.
• If your child has already been assessed in Spain, the regional social-services body (Centro de Valoración y Orientación de Discapacidad) can issue a Spanish certificate.

Ask the office handling your file exactly which document it wants before you spend money on translations.

EU or Spanish citizen: economic dependence

You must show that you actually support your adult child. Typical proof:

• Bank transfers or money-transfer receipts from you to your child over a reasonable earlier period. Often this means at least 6 to 12 months.
• A document from your child's home authority showing they have no or low income or property. A certificate of no income is often requested.
• Proof that you live in the same household, if you do.
• Proof of your own income.

Your child's need does not have to have started in their home country. What counts is that you really support them. Offices differ on how much past support they expect, so gather more evidence than the minimum.

Applying from abroad or from Spain

The EU-style route works both for applicants outside Spain (a visa) and for those already in Spain (a residence card). The documents and FAQ below list what to bring and answer common questions.

Documents you need

• Disability certificate (certificado de discapacidad), or a medical or social-services report, from the public health or social-security authority of the country of origin. It must show the degree of disability and that the person cannot live independently or work.

• Sworn translation into Spanish of any foreign disability certificate or report.

• Spanish disability certificate from the regional social-services body (Centro de Valoración y Orientación de Discapacidad), if your family member has already been assessed in Spain. Use it instead of a foreign certificate.

• Court ruling on legal incapacity, accepted as proof of non-self-sufficiency.

• For an adult child of an EU or Spanish citizen: bank transfers or money-transfer receipts from the sponsor to the applicant over a prior period, often at least 6 to 12 months.

• For an adult child of an EU or Spanish citizen: a document from the home authority showing the applicant has no or low income or property, such as a certificate of no income. It needs an apostille and a sworn translation.

• Proof that the applicant lives in the same household as the sponsor, and proof of the sponsor's income.

Check with the office processing the application exactly which documents and proof of past support it wants.

Frequently asked questions

Does an adult child with a disability need a legal representative?

Often yes, under reunification by a non-EU resident. The office may ask for a legal representative or a court ruling on legal incapacity for the adult child. A court ruling on legal incapacity is also accepted as proof of disability.

How long must I have been supporting my adult child to show dependence?

For an EU or Spanish sponsor, offices often expect support over at least 6 to 12 months before the application. Bank transfers or money-transfer receipts from you to your child are the usual proof. Offices differ on how much past support they want, so gather more rather than less.

Does my adult child's need have to have started in their home country?

No, under the EU-style regime your child does not have to prove the need arose in the home country. What counts is that you actually support them. Show it with transfers, proof of low income or property, and shared household papers.

Can the Spanish authorities issue a disability certificate if my child is already in Spain?

Yes, if your child is in Spain, the regional social-services body (Centro de Valoración y Orientación de Discapacidad) can issue a disability certificate after assessing them. Ask the office handling your file whether it accepts that certificate.