How a non-EU resident in Spain can bring their spouse, children or dependent parents to live with them — requirements, income, housing, documents, timeline, and health cover for each member. We help with the Sanitas insurance part only.
What it is
Family reunification (reagrupación familiar) lets a non-EU legal resident in Spain bring close family — spouse or partner, children, or dependent parents — to live with them, subject to income, housing and other conditions. Each joining member usually needs private health insurance. We arrange the Sanitas cover and certificate; we do not handle the application.
Family reunification (reagrupación familiar) is the legal route that lets a non-EU citizen who already holds legal residence in Spain bring close family members to live with them. The resident already in Spain is the sponsor; the relatives abroad are the beneficiaries. It is governed by Spanish immigration law and exists so settled residents can build a family life in Spain — subject to showing they can genuinely support the people they bring.
To use it, the sponsor generally needs a qualifying period of legal residence, stable income that rises with family size, and adequate accommodation. Each beneficiary must meet the conditions for their relationship type and — the part we help with — usually needs private health insurance. We arrange the Sanitas cover and the certificate; we do not handle the application or give immigration advice.
Which route?
Who it's for
This route is for non-EU residents of Spain — for example someone on a Non-Lucrative Visa, a work permit, a Digital Nomad Visa, or a longer-term/permanent residence permit — who want to bring close family from outside the EU to live with them. It is typically used once the sponsor is settled, because the sponsor must demonstrate stable means and suitable housing. If the family member is already an EU citizen, or is the non-EU relative of an EU citizen, this is not the right route.
Sponsor
To sponsor, you usually need to be a legal resident who has lived in Spain for a qualifying period — commonly at least one year — and has renewed, or is eligible to renew, your residence. Reunifying parents often requires longer-term or permanent residence. You must show you can support the incoming family without recourse to public funds, with accommodation suitable for the larger household.
Full detail on the requirements page.
Who can join
Spanish family reunification covers close family, each with its own conditions and evidence:
A husband or wife, evidenced by a marriage certificate (apostilled and sworn-translated). The most straightforward relationship to prove. See bringing your spouse.
An unmarried partner can qualify, but expect stricter proof — registration and/or evidence of a genuine, ongoing relationship.
Minor children of the sponsor or spouse, with birth certificates and, where relevant, custody/parental-responsibility evidence and the other parent’s consent. See bringing your children.
Adult children may qualify where genuine dependency (study, lack of means or incapacity) is shown and evidenced.
Parents or ascendants, usually aged 65+ and financially dependent, often requiring the sponsor to hold longer-term or permanent residence. The most conditional route. See bringing your parents.
Vs tarjeta comunitaria
The two routes are constantly confused. The deciding factor is who you are joining:
| Feature | Family reunification | Tarjeta comunitaria |
|---|---|---|
| You are joining | A non-EU legal resident | An EU/EEA/Swiss citizen |
| Legal basis | Spanish immigration law | EU free-movement rules |
| Income test | IPREM-based, by family size | Lighter / different |
| Housing report | Commonly required | Not in the same way |
| Typical speed | Slower, multi-stage | Often faster |
See the EU family member card and the full comparison.
Income
The sponsor must show stable, sufficient income to support the household without relying on public funds. Spain calculates the threshold as a multiple of the IPREM index, which rises as the household grows — broadly, a base level for the sponsor plus first family member, with an additional share for each further person. Because IPREM is updated periodically, confirm the current amount with the authorities. Full detail on the income requirements page.
Housing
Most applications require an official report confirming your accommodation is suitable for the number of people who will live there (the informe de vivienda adecuada), often issued by the local authority or police. It can take several weeks, so request it early.
Documents
Two sets of documents are needed — the sponsor’s (residence, income, housing) and the beneficiary’s (identity, relationship, admissibility). Foreign public documents generally need a Hague apostille and a sworn (jurada) translation into Spanish. Each family member needs a named health-insurance certificate. Full checklist on the documents page.
Health insurance
For family reunification, each family member joining you in Spain normally needs their own health cover, on a policy that names every person with the right certificate wording. We arrange Sanitas family cover and get the certificate right — we do not handle the visa application itself.
The certificate must name each person, show comprehensive cover valid in Spain, no co-payments where the route expects it, an insurer authorised in Spain, and validity dates. A quote or receipt is not a certificate. See family reunification health insurance, compare Sanitas Residents, Residents Platinum and family health insurance, or get a family quote.
The process
Qualifying residence, income and housing.
Accommodation-suitability report, where required.
The sponsor applies to the immigration office (Extranjería).
Once approved, with the insurance certificate.
The family member arrives, then applies for the TIE.
See typical processing times.
By sponsor route
Your own residence route shapes when and how you can reunify family, and the income evidence you bring:
Often retirees or the financially independent, evidencing income through savings and passive income. The reunification income test applies on top of your visa-stage requirement, and each family member still needs cover. See NLV health insurance.
Remote workers and freelancers; income is evidenced through employment or self-employment depending on your structure. See DNV health insurance.
Employees evidence income through contract and payslips; once in the Spanish system, your own healthcare position may differ from your family’s, who still need private cover where required. See work visa health insurance.
Whatever your route, reunified family members generally need their own named private cover unless they will be in Spanish social security. We arrange that part.
Who it doesn't suit
It is worth being clear about when this is the wrong route, to avoid wasted time:
If any of these apply, take immigration advice before applying; we can still help with the health-insurance part whenever a private policy is needed.
Common situations
In each case our role is the same and narrow: arrange the right Sanitas cover and certificate for every member joining you.
What we need
With those details we prepare a quote and a certificate naming each member with the right wording. Get a family quote.
How we help
Where family reunification requires private health insurance, we arrange suitable Sanitas cover for each family member, provide a certificate that names everyone with the right wording, and time the start date to the move — all in plain English. We do not handle the application, give immigration advice, or guarantee any outcome — those decisions rest with the Spanish authorities. Start with family reunification health insurance or get a family quote.
Important information
Tell us who you are bringing to Spain and we will prepare suitable Sanitas cover for each family member with the right certificate. 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.