Siblings, adult children and in-laws: what options exist

Key rules

• EU relatives: Relatives of EU citizens outside the core family can apply, but approval is discretionary and depends on proof.
• Non-EU sponsors: There is no category for siblings, and adult children are only reunified if disabled and unable to support themselves.
• Proof: Dependency, shared household or health-care need must be documented, usually with transfers and civil registry certificates.
• Own route: A relative with no family route needs work, study, non-lucrative residence or arraigo.

The short answer

Siblings, adult children and in-laws mostly fall outside the narrow family definition. Your realistic options are three: a dependency category, a discretionary EU-style category, or a route of their own such as work, study or arraigo. The decision below helps you pick one.

Which route is open depends first on who the sponsor is: an EU citizen, a Spaniard, or a non-EU resident.

Relatives of an EU citizen

The EU rules are the most flexible. Spain must "facilitate" entry and residence for relatives outside the core family, after looking at each person's circumstances. The decision is discretionary, so approval is not automatic.

This can cover siblings, nieces, nephews and other relatives if they prove one of these:

• They lived with the EU citizen in their home country.
• They depend on the EU citizen financially.
• They need the EU citizen's personal care for serious health reasons.

An unmarried partner with a durable, proven relationship is also covered. If approved, you get a residence card as a family member of an EU citizen. The local Foreigners' Office (Extranjería) judges the evidence, so build a strong file. The documents list below shows what usually counts.

These rules do not help relatives of non-EU residents. For siblings there is no equivalent category in the general foreigners' rules.

Adult children

• Child of an EU citizen: a child over 21 qualifies if dependent on the EU citizen.
• Child of a Spaniard: the EU-style route applies to a Spaniard's child up to 21 or dependent. A Spaniard's own parents or siblings are generally not covered unless the Spaniard has used free movement.
• Child of a non-EU resident: reunification generally needs the child to be under 18 or, if older, unable to provide for themselves because of a disability.

An adult child who is not dependent or disabled cannot be reunified. They need their own route (see below).

In-laws

• Parents-in-law of an EU citizen: they count as direct ascendants of the spouse. They can be included if they depend on the EU citizen, the spouse, or both. Proof is usually money transfers and evidence of low income at home.
• Parents-in-law of a non-EU resident: a sponsor can reunify their own parents and those of their spouse. The parent must be dependent and over 65, with exceptions for humanitarian reasons. The sponsor must also show reasons that justify authorisation. In practice this is hard to obtain.

Routes of their own

If no family route fits, the relative needs a route in their own right:

• Work: an employee work authorisation needs a job offer from a Spanish employer. It is assessed against the national employment situation, unless the job is on the shortage-occupation list. Highly qualified, digital nomad and entrepreneur visas are alternatives.
• Study: a student visa needs admission to a recognised course, proof of funds and health insurance.
• Non-lucrative residence: no work allowed. It needs passive income of at least 400% of IPREM per year for the main applicant (€28,800 in 2025), plus private full-cover health insurance. IPREM is revised yearly, so check the current figure.
• Arraigo: after 2 to 3 years of irregular residence in Spain, there are social, labour, family and training routes under the 2025 regulation. Training arraigo requires a commitment to study. Social arraigo needs proof of integration and either an employment contract or a social-integration report.

Next step

Before you apply, confirm the exact rules for your case with Extranjería, because details vary with the sponsor's status.

Choosing between options

Which route fits a sibling, adult child or in-law?

• EU family card as a dependent relative: Your relative is an EU citizen, or a Spaniard under the extended EU regime, and you depend on them, lived with them in your home country or need their personal care for health reasons. Spain decides case by case.

• Reunification as a dependent adult child or parent-in-law: Your adult child has a disability, or your spouse's parent is dependent and over 65, and the sponsor is a non-EU resident. Approval is hard to get.

• Work route: You have a job offer, a shortage-occupation role or a highly qualified profile, or you plan a digital nomad or entrepreneur visa.

• Study visa: You have been admitted to a recognised course and can show funds and health insurance.

• Arraigo: You have already lived in Spain irregularly for 2 to 3 years and can show integration, a contract or a commitment to study.

Start with dependency: if you depend on an EU citizen relative, use the EU family card. A sibling of a non-EU resident has no family category and needs a work, study, non-lucrative or arraigo route.

Documents you need

• Documents proving the family link with the EU citizen, such as civil registry certificates showing the relationship.

• Proof of financial dependency on the EU citizen, usually money transfers and evidence of low income in the home country, or proof that you shared a household with them there.

• Proof that you need the EU citizen's personal care for serious health reasons, if that is the basis of your application.

• For the non-lucrative residence route: proof of passive income of at least 400% of IPREM per year (about €28,800 in 2025) and a private full-cover health insurance policy.

• For a student visa: admission to a recognised course, proof of funds and health insurance.

• For employee work authorisation: a job offer from a Spanish employer.

Frequently asked questions

Can my adult child get a residence card as a family member?

Yes, but only if your adult child is dependent on you or has a disability that stops them supporting themselves. Under the EU regime, children over 21 qualify if they depend on the EU citizen. Under general reunification for non-EU residents, a child over 18 must be unable to provide for themselves because of a disability.

What can an adult child do if they are not dependent?

An adult child who is not dependent or disabled cannot be reunified and needs their own route. Work permits, study visas and arraigo (residence based on ties built up in Spain) are the usual options.

Can I bring my spouse's parents to Spain?

Yes, but only if they are dependent on you or your spouse, and in practice it is hard to obtain. Under the EU regime they count as your spouse's direct ascendants and must prove dependency, usually with money transfers and evidence of low income at home. A non-EU resident can also reunify a spouse's parents, who must be dependent and over 65 with reasons that justify authorisation.

Does a Spanish citizen have EU family rights for their own parents or siblings?

No, a Spaniard who has not used free movement does not benefit from the EU regime for their own parents.