Reuniting with your children in Spain — children under 18, children of one parent, adopted children, custody and consent, dependent adult children, schooling and paediatric cover, with a named health-insurance certificate for each child. We help with the insurance part only.
Eligibility
A non-EU resident can reunify children under 18, and dependent adult children where dependency is proven, with birth certificates and custody/consent where relevant. Each child needs their own named health-insurance certificate.
As a non-EU legal resident you can usually reunify your children under 18, and in defined cases dependent adult children. This includes children of the sponsor and, in many cases, children of the sponsor’s spouse. Adopted children can qualify subject to conditions.
If the family member you are joining is an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen rather than a non-EU resident, you usually need the tarjeta comunitaria (EU family member card) instead — a different, often simpler route. See tarjeta comunitaria vs family reunification. For the EU-route equivalent see tarjeta comunitaria for children.
Under 18
Minor children are the most straightforward case. A few situations need extra evidence:
Custody
Where custody is shared, you usually need the other parent’s consent for the child to relocate, or evidence of sole custody. This is one of the most common sticking points, so prepare custody documents and any required consent (legalised and translated) early. Confirm exactly what your office requires.
Adult children
Adult children (18+) are more conditional: they may qualify where they genuinely depend on the sponsor — for example through study, lack of means, or incapacity — and this dependency must be evidenced. Rules and thresholds vary, so take advice on your specific case.
Income & schooling
Your income requirement increases with each child, and your home must be suitable for the whole family — see income requirements. After arrival, reunified children access education in Spain; enrolment is handled separately from the visa. Many expat families also value private cover for faster paediatric appointments.
Consent
Where custody is shared, the other parent’s consent for the child to relocate is usually needed. If consent is refused or unavailable, you may need a court decision, evidence of sole custody, or specialist legal advice — this is one of the most common reasons children’s cases stall. It is an immigration/legal matter, not an insurance one, so take qualified advice; we can prepare the child’s cover in parallel so it is ready once the legal position is resolved.
School age
Reunified children of school age access education in Spain, and enrolment is handled separately from the visa — usually through the local authority or directly with the school once you have an address and padrón. Many families pair this with private health cover for faster paediatric and specialist appointments. We help with the insurance side only.
Medical history
A child with a pre-existing condition or ongoing treatment can usually still be covered, but it should be disclosed and assessed early, as it may affect terms. Continuity of care matters, so tell us about current treatment and any medication when we quote, and we will look for the most suitable Sanitas option for the child.
Policy type
Children can be covered on a single family policy that names each child, or on individual cover. A family policy is usually simpler to manage and present at the consulate; individual cover can suit specific situations. Either way, each child must be named on the certificate. See family health insurance.
Common situations
What we need
Get a children’s quote and we will name each child on the certificate.
Insurance
Each child normally needs to be named on a health-insurance certificate — a family policy that lists every child, or individual cover. We arrange the Sanitas cover and provide the certificate, with paediatric access in mind. See family health insurance, the insurance requirements, or get a family quote.
Important information
Tell us how many children are joining you and their ages, and we will prepare suitable Sanitas cover and certificates. We help with the health-insurance part of your application. Acceptance and exact policy terms depend on the insurer’s rules; visa decisions rest with the Spanish authorities.
English-speaking Sanitas specialists can help with the health-insurance part of your visa or residency application.
FAQs
Common questions about this Spanish visa route and the health-insurance requirement. Always confirm current rules with the official authorities or a qualified immigration specialist.