Can I bring my family on a Spanish student visa?

Checked on 2026-10-25

Only if you study in higher education or specialised health training. Spain's immigration regulation lets your spouse or partner and minor children, and adult children needing support, join you for the rest of your stay, if at least 90 days remain. You need extra funds and they need health insurance. They can't work.

Key facts

What	The source says	Source
Which students	Higher education (art. 52.1.a) or specialised health training (art. 58) only	RD 1155/2024, art. 56.1
Minimum time left	At least 90 calendar days of the student’s stay must remain	RD 1155/2024, art. 56.1
Partner	Spouse, registered partner, or stable partner (one year living together, or stable cohabitation with a child in common)	RD 1155/2024, art. 56.2.a
Children	Unmarried minor children of the student or partner; unmarried adult children needing support due to disability or illness	RD 1155/2024, art. 56.2.b–c
Extra money	75% of the IPREM a month for the first family member, 50% for each further one	RD 1155/2024, art. 35.h.2º
Health insurance	Each family member needs it	RD 1155/2024, art. 56.3.5º
Work	Not allowed	RD 1155/2024, art. 56.6
Baby born in Spain	Gets the family authorisation automatically; apply in person within six months of birth	RD 1155/2024, art. 56.7
When to apply (consulate)	With the student’s visa or later while it’s valid; processed after the student’s authorisation	Washington guidance

Who can come

Spain’s immigration regulation (Real Decreto 1155/2024) only allows family members for students in higher education and for foreigners doing specialised health training. Students on secondary school, mobility, volunteering or training-activity stays are not covered by this article (art. 56.1).

Your family members can get a visa or long-stay authorisation for the time left on your stay, provided at least 90 calendar days remain (art. 56.1). Family means (art. 56.2):

your spouse, registered partner or stable partner. A stable relationship is accepted with at least one continuous year of living together, or proof of stable cohabitation if you have a child together;
unmarried minor children of you or your partner who haven’t formed their own family;
unmarried adult children of you or your partner who need specific support because of disability or illness.

What they must prove

For each family member, the law requires (art. 56.3): that you hold a valid higher-education student authorisation; that they are not in Spain irregularly; proof of the family relationship; enough money for the family unit; health insurance; and, for adults staying more than six months, no criminal record in Spain or in the countries they lived in during the previous five years for offences under Spanish law.

The money requirement is set in art. 35.h: on top of your own amount, 75% of the IPREM a month for the first family member and 50% for each one after that.

The procedure is the same as for the student: a visa at the consulate from abroad, or an application at the immigration office from Spain (art. 56.4).

What they can do in Spain

Family members stay for the same period and in the same situation as you, and their stay depends on yours (art. 56.5). They are not authorised to work (art. 56.6).

A child born in Spain to a student automatically gets the family authorisation, valid as long as the parent’s; a parent must apply for it in person within six months of the birth (art. 56.7).

What the consulates add

The Washington consular section says family visas can be requested together with the student’s visa or at any later point while it is valid, but are processed only after the student’s authorisation is granted. Documents proving the relationship (marriage, partnership or birth certificates) must carry the Hague Apostille and an official Spanish translation.

After graduating and moving to a work or residence permit under art. 190, you can ask for family reunification residence for family members living with you, if you prove enough money and suitable housing (RD 1155/2024, art. 190.5).

Sources

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2026-10-25: Page created

This is general information, not legal advice, and Lumen is not a law firm. Rules change and offices differ: check the official sources above before you act. Found something wrong or out of date? Write to support@lumen.observer.