What it takes to reunify with your husband, wife or partner in Spain — proving the relationship (married, registered or stable partner), income and housing for two, and your spouse’s named health-insurance certificate. We help with the insurance part only.
Eligibility
A non-EU resident can reunify a spouse or stable partner with proof of the relationship, income for two and suitable housing. Your spouse needs their own named health-insurance certificate. If you are an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen, use the tarjeta comunitaria instead.
If you are a non-EU legal resident in Spain, family reunification lets you bring your spouse or partner to live with you, provided you meet the sponsor conditions (qualifying residence, income, housing) and can prove a genuine relationship.
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 a spouse.
Married vs partner
Marriage is the most straightforward — a marriage certificate, apostilled and sworn-translated. A registered partnership can qualify with the registration certificate. A stable (de facto) partner faces the strictest proof: evidence of a genuine, ongoing relationship such as a shared address, joint finances and time together. Confirm what your office accepts before relying on the partnership route.
Old certificate
An older marriage certificate can still be valid, but some offices ask for a recently-issued copy or extract, and it will still need an apostille and a current sworn translation. If your certificate is many years old or from a country with a different format, request a fresh certified copy and have it legalised close to applying. See the full documents checklist.
Income & housing
Your income requirement rises because you are supporting an additional person, and your accommodation must be suitable for both of you. See income requirements and the housing report on the requirements page.
Insurance
Your spouse will normally need their own health cover for the application, on a certificate that names them. We arrange a Sanitas policy for your spouse — added to a family policy or individual — with wording that meets the route’s requirements. See the insurance requirements, Sanitas Residents, or get a quote.
Timing of marriage
Both can work, but the evidence focus differs. A recent marriage sometimes attracts closer scrutiny of whether the relationship is genuine, so supporting evidence — shared life, communication, time together — helps. A long-standing marriage is rarely questioned on genuineness, but the certificate may need to be a recently-issued copy, freshly apostilled and sworn-translated. Either way, make sure names and dates match across every document.
Unmarried
If you are not married, you may still qualify as a registered or stable (de facto) partner, but the proof bar is higher. Expect to show a registered-partnership certificate where you have one, or a body of evidence that the relationship is genuine and ongoing — a shared address, joint finances and a documented history together. Confirm exactly what your office accepts before relying on this route, and prepare more evidence than you think you need.
Already in Spain
Family reunification is designed for relatives applying from abroad, with the beneficiary completing the visa stage at a consulate. If your spouse is already in Spain on another status, the position is different and may involve a separate procedure or a change of status rather than reunification — take immigration advice on the correct route. Whatever the route, where private health insurance is needed we can arrange a named policy for your spouse.
Certificate
A quote or receipt is not a certificate — it is issued once the policy is in force. See family reunification health insurance.
Common situations
Whatever your situation, we focus only on arranging the right Sanitas cover and certificate for your spouse.
What we need
With those details we can quote suitable cover and prepare the certificate wording. Get a spouse quote.
Avoid these
Process
Qualifying residence, income for two, suitable housing.
Marriage/partnership proof, apostilled and translated.
The sponsor applies to the immigration office.
With the visa documents and insurance certificate.
After arriving in Spain.
Important information
Tell us about your spouse and we will prepare suitable Sanitas cover and a certificate for the application. 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.