Parastoo Legal Group
Spanish Residency for Children: How MENA Families Bring Their Kids to Spain
Everything Middle Eastern families need to know about including children in Spanish residency applications.
For most MENA families relocating to Spain, bringing their children is just as important as securing their own residency. Spanish immigration law makes provision for minor children to be included in residency applications — either as dependants from the outset or through family reunification at a later stage. This guide explains the key steps.
Including Children in the Initial Application
When applying for a Non-Lucrative Visa, Digital Nomad Visa, or Golden Visa, dependent children under 18 can be included in the same application as the main applicant (or as dependants of the main applicant). Additional financial means must be demonstrated for each child (approximately EUR 7,200/year per child for Non-Lucrative Visa applications).
Documents for Children
Each child requires: a valid passport, birth certificate (apostilled and translated into Spanish), criminal record certificate (for children over 14), proof of health insurance, and evidence of their relationship to the main applicant. All documents from MENA countries must be properly apostilled and translated.
School Enrolment in Spain
Children who are legal residents of Spain have the right to attend Spanish public schools at no cost. Many MENA families opt for private international schools — particularly in Madrid, Marbella, and Barcelona — where English-language instruction is available. We provide school recommendations as part of our settlement support service.
Family Reunification for Children Not Included Initially
If children are not included in the initial application, they can be brought to Spain through family reunification once the main applicant has held a valid residency permit for at least one year and meets the financial and housing requirements. We manage family reunification applications for all MENA nationalities.
Unaccompanied Minors
For children studying in Spain without their parents (for example, attending a Spanish boarding school), a specific student visa or guardianship arrangement must be established. We advise families on the legal and practical aspects of having minor children study in Spain independently.