If one of you moves first, when to cross matters

Terms used

• Reagrupación familiar — Reagrupación familiar is family reunification: the process that lets a legal resident bring a spouse, partner or children to Spain.
• IPREM — The IPREM is a public reference amount, updated yearly, used to set income requirements for some visas.
• Matrícula — The matrícula is the confirmation of your child's school place, usually done in June or July.
• Concertada — A concertada school is a privately run school that receives public funding.

Key rules

• Fast permits: Highly qualified, entrepreneur and digital nomad permits let your family apply with you or follow without a one-year wait.
• Other permits: On other permits, you must have legal residence for a year before your family can apply.
• Non-lucrative visa: Each extra family member raises the money you must show.
• School places: Admission for next year usually runs March to May, so late arrivals get what is left.

The short answer

Whether one of you can go first depends on the permit. Some permits let your family come at the same time or soon after. Others make your family wait at least a year. Pick the permit first, then plan the dates.

Permits where your family can join quickly

If you hold a highly qualified, entrepreneur or digital nomad permit, your spouse or registered partner and dependent children can apply at the same time as you, or follow later without a one-year wait. The family permit is usually decided in about 20 days to 3 months. In many cases your partner can then work under the same permit.

Permits where your family must wait

On other permits, your family joins through family reunification (reagrupación familiar). This is the main trap of moving first.

• You must have held legal residence in Spain for at least one year.
• You must also have authorisation to reside for at least another year.
• You need enough income and adequate housing.
• The foreigner's office decides first, which takes about 45 days to a few months. Your family then gets a visa at the consulate.

Add these steps together. Your family may be apart from you for well over a year.

The non-lucrative visa: applying together

You can apply together on the non-lucrative visa, but the money you must show rises for each family member. In 2025 it was 400% of IPREM for the main applicant and 100% of IPREM per extra person. IPREM is revised every year, so check the current amount before you save or decide. Each person submits their own forms and documents, including proof of relationship and health insurance.

School dates when children follow later

Spanish schools run from early or mid-September to late June. Dates are set by each region.

• Admission for the next school year usually runs from March to May.
• Confirming the place (matrícula) happens in June or July.
• If your child arrives after that, apply outside the normal period through the regional education office. A place is usually assigned within days to weeks.

If children arrive mid-year, expect the place to be whatever is still free. It may not be your first-choice school. Public, concertada and private schools each follow slightly different steps.

How to plan it

1. Choose the permit and check whether your family can apply at the same time.
2. If not, count the one-year wait plus the processing times before setting a family move date.
3. If you can, time the children's arrival to the March to May admission window.
4. Check that each person has their own documents and health insurance.

The decision, timeline, documents and FAQ below cover the choice and the paperwork in more detail.

Choosing between options

Should you apply together or let one partner move first?

• Apply together: Fits most routes: digital nomad, highly qualified or entrepreneur permits let your spouse or partner and dependent children apply at the same time.

• Apply together on the non-lucrative visa: Fits if you can meet a higher money requirement: in 2025 it was 400% of IPREM for the main applicant and 100% of IPREM for each extra family member.

• Move first, family follows: Fits if you need to settle first. With other permits, family reunification generally needs one year of legal residence, enough income and adequate housing.

If your permit lets family apply at the same time, apply together to avoid a gap. If not, plan for the one-year wait.

Timeline and deadlines

• Highly qualified, entrepreneur or digital nomad permit: your family applies at the same time or follows without a wait: at the same time as you, or later

• Family permit decision for those permits: about 20 days to 1-3 months after applying

• Other permits: reach one year of legal residence before applying for family reunification: at least 1 year after you start residing legally

• Apply for school places for the following year: between March and May

• Confirm the school place (matrícula): in June or July

• Late arrival: ask the regional education office for a place: usually within days to weeks of asking

Documents you need

• Proof of your relationship with the main applicant, such as a marriage or partnership record, for each family member applying

• Health insurance for each person applying

• Your own application forms and documents, as each applicant submits their own set

Frequently asked questions

Does my partner have to wait a year before joining me in Spain?

It depends on your permit: with a highly qualified, entrepreneur or digital nomad permit your partner can apply at the same time or follow without a one-year wait. With other permits, family reunification generally needs you to have lived legally in Spain for at least one year.

How long does a family permit take once I apply?

For a family permit linked to a highly qualified, entrepreneur or digital nomad permit, a decision usually takes about 20 days to 1-3 months. Family reunification takes about 45 days to a few months at the foreigner's office, then a visa at the consulate. Times vary by office.

When should my child start school if we arrive in the middle of the year?

Your child can still enrol late, outside the normal period, through the regional education office or school inspection. They assign available places, usually within days to weeks. The school year runs from early to mid-September to late June, and ordinary admission is between March and May.

Does my partner's work right come with the permit?

Yes, in many cases your partner can work under the same permit, if you hold a highly qualified, entrepreneur, digital nomad or similar permit. Spouses and registered partners are covered.