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Can I Bring My Parents To Live In Spain With Me?

Expat Tips Published: 11 August 2023 10:53 CET Updated: 21 April 2025 21:09 CET

How To Bring Your Parents To Spain In 2025

Spain’s inclusive residency laws continue to offer opportunities for families to reunite in 2025. If you're living in Spain and wondering whether you can bring your parents to join you, the good news is: yes, there are multiple legal pathways depending on your nationality and residence status. These procedures form part of Spain’s broader family reunification system, which has been strengthened between 2022 and 2025 to provide clearer routes for dependent parents.

Whether you're a Spanish citizen, an EU national, or a non-EU resident with legal status in Spain, there are structured routes for family reunification. Each pathway has its own requirements relating to age, dependency, income, and insurance. Choosing the correct route is key to a successful application — and this article walks you through all four options.

Option 1: Bringing Non-EU Parents as a Non-EU Resident

Requirements for Reunification

For non-EU residents living in Spain, the family reunification visa is the standard method. The child (descendant) must hold a long-term residence permit valid for 5 years — shorter-term cards (1–2 years) do not qualify.

Requirements in 2025 include:

Parents must be aged 65 or over (with rare exceptions for dependency).
Proof of suitable housing in Spain.
Private health insurance valid in Spain.
Proof of financial dependency (e.g. regular remittances).
Stable employment or sufficient income from the applicant (child).

Dependency must usually be demonstrated through consistent, documented financial support sent over the last 12 months. Spain assesses whether the parent relies economically on the applicant and cannot meet their own basic needs in their home country.

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Option 2: Bringing Parents as a Spanish Citizen (Family Arraigo)

How Arraigo Familiar Works

Spanish citizens benefit from a simplified process known as arraigo familiar, introduced in 2022 and applicable in 2025.

This option has the most lenient requirements:

No need to prove income or insurance.
If over 65, there is no need to prove dependency. If under 65, dependency must be documented.
The parent initiates the application directly from Spain.
Applies also to parents of non-Spaniards married to or partnered with a Spanish citizen.

Because this route grants a residence permit tied to family links with a Spanish national, it is one of the fastest and most flexible reunification options currently available.

Option 3: Bringing Parents as an EU Citizen

Understanding EU Dependency Rules

EU citizens legally residing in Spain may bring their non-EU parents under the EU family regime. This route leads to an EU family member card, valid for 5 years.

2025 requirements include:

Proof of dependency — economic or health-related — regardless of age.
Private health insurance covering the parent in Spain.
Proof of financial solvency of the EU citizen child.

Dependency can be shown via medical reports, financial remittances, or proof that the parent’s situation in their home country prevents them from living independently.

Option 4: Bringing Parents Under the Entrepreneurs Law

Who Qualifies Under Law 14/2013

Non-EU foreigners in Spain who hold a residence permit under Law 14/2013 (Entrepreneur’s Law) can apply to bring their parents through a different legal framework.

This includes:

Key points in 2025:

Applications are processed by the Large Business Unit (UGE).
If the parent is outside Spain, the child applies on their behalf. If inside Spain, the parent may apply directly.
The parent must be tied to the holder of the valid Law 14/2013 residence permit.

The UGE is known for faster processing times compared to standard immigration offices, making this route attractive for highly skilled professionals and entrepreneurs.

Conclusion

Bringing your parents to Spain in 2025 is entirely possible — but the correct legal route depends on your nationality and residency status. Each path has distinct benefits and documentation requirements. Whether through family reunification, EU family residency, or the arraigo process, Spain offers multiple avenues to reunite with loved ones — if you prepare properly. With clear 2025 rules and stronger dependency criteria, applicants can now navigate the system more confidently.