SpainFamily

Spain spouse visa: family of Spanish citizens

Residence visa for family members of Spanish nationals

In short

Spouses, partners, children under 26 and certain other relatives of Spanish nationals receive a free residence visa, decided within 15 days. Under the new regulation the family of Spaniards has its own residence regime, and a TIE is requested within one month of arrival.

checked 25 October 2026

Key facts

Validity
Visa valid 365 days.
Fee
€0The visa is free of charge; an external service provider, if used, may charge its own fee.
Processing time
15 days from submission or from receipt of the residence decision.
Work
Yes.
Family
Spouse, registered or stable partner, children under 26 or dependent, dependent ascendants, parent of a Spanish minor and other listed relatives.
Where to apply
Spanish consulate responsible for your place of residence, directly or through its external service provider.

Who qualifies

A spouse over 18 (only one); a registered partner or a partner in a proven stable relationship of at least 12 continuous months (not needed if you have a child together); children under 26, or older if dependent or disabled; dependent first-degree ascendants; the parent or guardian of a Spanish minor; a relative up to the second degree who cares for a dependent Spaniard; children of a Spanish-born parent; and other dependent family members.

Documents

Bring the Spanish citizen's passport or DNI and, for a spouse or partner, their sworn declaration; proof of the relationship; a criminal record certificate for the last five years; a medical certificate; and proof of residence in the consular district. Foreign documents must be apostilled and translated.

Required documents

Identity

  • National visa application form, signed (minors: by a parent or legal representative)
  • Recent colour photo, light background
  • Passport valid at least one year, with two blank pages, issued less than 10 years ago (original and copies)
  • Proof of legal residence in the consular district (for non-nationals, a residence permit of that country)

Family

  • Copy of the Spanish citizen's passport or DNI and sworn declaration (spouse or partner)
  • Proof of relationship (marriage, partnership or birth certificates)

Other

  • Criminal record certificate from the countries of residence (last five years), apostilled and translated into Spanish
  • Medical certificate confirming no disease with serious public-health implications under the 2005 International Health Regulations

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Family

  • Favourable residence authorisation (if the Spaniard applied in Spain) or form EX-24 (if both live abroad)

Two situations

If the Spanish citizen already lives in Spain and has applied there, you present the favourable residence authorisation within one month of its notification. If both of you live abroad, you file form EX-24 with the visa application together with the proof of relationship.

  1. Read the consulate's page for the "residence for family members of Spanish nationals" visa and prepare the documents; foreign documents must be apostilled and translated into Spanish.
  2. Lodge the application in person at the Spanish consulate responsible for your place of residence or, where it uses one, at its external service provider.
  3. Pay nothing for the visa itself: it is free, and only a provider service fee applies if you use one.
  4. Wait for the decision (15 days from submission, or from receipt of the residence decision) and collect the visa in person without an appointment.
  5. Enter Spain while the visa is valid and, where required, apply for the TIE within one month.

After arrival: TIE card

Within one month of entering Spain, apply in person for the foreigner identity card (TIE) at the police station or immigration office of the province where the authorisation was processed. Your foreigner identification number (NIE) appears on it.

Frequently asked questions

Is the visa free?

Yes, it is free of charge; only a provider service fee applies if you lodge it through an external provider.

Can an unmarried partner apply?

Yes, if the partnership is registered in the EU/EEA or Switzerland, or there is a proven stable relationship of at least 12 months or a common child.

How long does it take?

15 days from submission or from receipt of the decision.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for Spain

Visits and short stays

Business and self-employment

Study and training

  • Student visa Processing time: Apply at least two months before studies start; once the stay authorisation is favourable, the visa is decided within one month.
  • Researcher visa Validity: Visa: one year, or the authorisation's validity if shorter; the visa itself proves residence and the TIE is optional. Residence authorisations under Law 14/2013 are renewable for two years at a time.

Work

  • Work visa Validity: Up to 180 days for authorisations of up to six months, otherwise 365 days; seasonal contracts up to 270 days.
  • EU Blue Card Validity: Visa: one year, or the authorisation's validity if shorter; the visa itself proves residence and the TIE is optional. Residence authorisations under Law 14/2013 are renewable for two years at a time.
  • Intra-company transfer visa Validity: Visa: one year, or the authorisation's validity if shorter; the visa itself proves residence and the TIE is optional. Residence authorisations under Law 14/2013 are renewable for two years at a time.
  • Digital nomad visa Validity: Visa up to one year; then a residence authorisation of up to three years, renewable for two.

Family

Residence

  • Retirement visa Validity: Visa valid for 365 days; apply for the TIE within one month of arrival; renewals are filed in the two months before expiry.
  • Permanent residence Validity: The status is indefinite; the TIE card is first renewed after five years, then every five years until age 30 and every ten years after that.

Faster processing

  • Fast-track and priority visa services Validity: Visa: one year or the authorisation's length if shorter. Highly qualified, entrepreneur and teleworker authorisations: up to three years, renewable for two.

Protection

  • Asylum and international protection Processing time: Border: admission decision within four days; inside Spain: within one month; regular procedure: six months, after which silence counts as refusal.

Spain visa guide