Residence Visa to Reunite a Family

I.- Family members of citizens of the European Economic Area and Switzerland, whose nationality does not require a tourist visa to Spain.

II.- Family members of citizens of the European Economic Area and Switzerland, whose nationality does require a tourist visa to Spain.

VISA APPLICATIONS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED BY MAIL, NOR RETURNED BY MAIL

RESIDENCE VISAS must be applied for in person by the applicant or by a legal representative who presents his/her identification and a written notarized authorization from the applicant. The authorization must indicate the name and passport number of the applicant and the name and document number (e.g. driver’s license number or passport number) of the person dropping off the application. If the visa is granted, all applicants, 14 years or older, must come in person to the Consulate to pick up the visa.

I.- Family members of citizens of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, who are nationals of countries that do NOT need a tourist visa to enter Spain, do NOT need a visa to reside permanently together in Spain.

They may travel just with their valid passports, but will have to request –within a month upon arrival in Spain– the pertinent residency ID card from the Spanish Police.

II.- Family members of citizens of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, who are nationals of countries that DO NEED a tourist visa to enter Spain, must present the following documentation to the Consulate:

1. Schengen Visa application form, filled out in print and signed, and three photocopies.

2. 4 recent standard passport photographs, one stapled to each application form.

3. Regular passport or travel document, still valid for at least 6 more months with at least one blank page to affix the visa.

4. Alien Registration Card or notarized copy of it, U.S. visa or other document issued by the BCIS (Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services) showing current residency in the U.S.

5. Proof of residence in this Consulate’s jurisdiction (e.g. driver’s license, phone bill, etc.)

6. Proof of family relationship to a European citizen. (For example: family book, marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.). If the document was not issued by the United States or Spain, it must be legalized either by the “Apostille” (The Hague Convention) or in the Consulate of Spain in the country where the document was issued.

7. Proof of European citizenship of the relative to be reunited with and proof of that person’s residency in Spain (e.g. notarized copy of European passport and documentation of residence in or of transfer to Spain).

8. Notarized petition from European family member, requesting Family Reunification Visa and indicating address in Spain.

9. For children over 21 or for parents, documental proof of their economic dependence on the European citizen entitled to request family reunification.

v PLEASE NOTE: It is strongly recommended to apply as soon as possible to allow enough processing time. THERE IS NO “RUSH” OR EXPEDITED SERVICE.

v Reunited family members will have to request –within a month upon arrival in Spain–the pertinent residency ID card from the Spanish Police.

*The Consular Administration has authority to evaluate and request additional documents—the submission of which does not guarantee the issuance of a visa—, as well as to request a personal interview.

III.- Family members of other legal residents in Spain must present to the Consulate the following:

1. Schengen Visa application form, filled out in print and signed, and three photocopies.

2. 4 recent standard passport photographs, one stapled to each application form.

3. Regular passport or travel document, still valid for at least 6 more months with at least one blank page to affix the visa.

4. Alien Registration Card or notarized copy of it, U.S. visa or other document issued by the BCIS (Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services) showing current residency in the U.S.

5. Proof of residence in this Consulate’s jurisdiction (e.g. driver’s license, phone bill, etc.)

6. Proof of family relationship to a legal resident in Spain. (For example: family book, marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.) . If the document was not issued by the United States or Spain, it must be legalized either by the "Apostille" (The Hague Convention) or in the Consulate of Spain in the country where the document was issued.

7. Proof of residency in Spain of the relative to be reunited with. (Notarized copy of Residence Card and of passport).

8. Notarized petition from legal resident in Spain, requesting Family Reunification Visa and indicating address in Spain.

9. For children over 18 or for parents, documental proof of their economic dependence on the legal resident in Spain entitled to request family reunification.

10. Official report by Spanish Authorities as to the status of the legal resident in Spain requesting family reunification (“Informe gubernativo”).

11. FBI Background Check notarized and legalized by the "Apostille of the Hague" (Local police background checks are no longer accepted as of June 15, 2010). If the applicant resided in a country other than the U.S., then you must present Certificate (s) by Police authorities of ALL PLACES where applicant resided during the more than six months during the last five years, as to absence of police record. If the country is not the U.S., the certificate must be legalized by the Spanish Consulate in that country. See example

12. Medical Certificate: a doctor’s recent statement, on doctor's or medical center's letterhead, indicating that: "the applicant has been found to be free of any of the illnesses that may have serious public consequences, as described and established in the Intenational Health Regulations of 2005". Download example here

v PLEASE NOTE: Residency visas require special authorization from Spain; therefore, they take an unspecified period of time to be processed.

v For applicants that do not have an official work authorization, all documents (except for the visa application) must be translated into Spanish.

v Make sure marriage and birth certificates have the Hague Convention Apostille that can be obtained from the Secretary of State of your State.

v Reunited family members will have to request –within a month upon arrival in Spain–the pertinent residency ID card from the Spanish Police.

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