Bring your whole family to Spain on the Digital Nomad Visa. Your spouse, children, and eligible dependants can join you with a single application. Learn income requirements, documents needed, and the two routes for family reunification.
Not all family members qualify automatically. Here's who can join you on your Digital Nomad Visa application.
Your legal spouse or registered domestic partner can join. Unmarried partners do not qualify, even if you've been together for many years. You must have a marriage certificate or official partnership registration recognized by Spanish authorities. Both must be included in a single joint application.
Your biological or legally adopted children under 18 years old can be dependants. They must be proven dependants through birth or adoption certificates (apostilled and translated into Spanish). Each child adds 25% to your required income threshold.
Children over 18 may qualify if they are financially dependent on you—meaning they don't have sufficient income to support themselves. You'll need proof of dependency, such as financial records showing you provide their main support. This is evaluated case-by-case.
Your parents can join if they are financially dependent on you and you can prove it. This requires documentation showing you provide their primary financial support. Elderly parents living with you and receiving no other income are typically approved. Each parent adds 75% to your income requirement.
Key point: Unmarried partners (including de facto spouses) do not qualify as dependants on the Digital Nomad Visa. Marriage or formal registered partnership is mandatory. If you're in an unmarried relationship, your partner cannot be included in your family application.
Your required monthly income increases with each family member. Here's the complete breakdown based on 2026 SMI (€1,431 monthly).
| Family Composition | Required Monthly Income | Percentage of SMI |
|---|---|---|
| Single applicant | €2,862 | 200% |
| Single + 1 spouse | €3,931 | 275% (200% + 75%) |
| Single + 1 child | €3,218 | 225% (200% + 25%) |
| Single + 2 children | €3,573 | 250% (200% + 25% + 25%) |
| Couple + 2 children | €4,642 | 325% (200% + 75% + 25% + 25%) |
| Couple + 3 children | €4,997 | 350% |
| Single + 2 parents | €4,287 | 300% (200% + 75% + 75%) |
You (main applicant) + spouse + 2 children = 275% + 50% = 325% of SMI
Required monthly income: €4,642
This can be shown through employment, self-employment, passive income, rental income, or investment returns. It must be stable and verifiable (typically last 3–6 months of bank statements).
Each dependant requires their own set of documents. Here's what you'll need to submit for your spouse, children, and parents.
Required: Valid passport; marriage certificate or registered partnership document (both apostilled and officially translated into Spanish); proof of financial dependency (if applicable, though typically not needed for spouses); health insurance policy in their name.
Required: Valid passport; birth certificate (apostilled and translated); proof of dependency (school enrollment, vaccination records); health insurance in their name; consent from both parents (if applicable) for the visa application.
Required: Valid passport; documents proving financial dependency (bank statements, proof you cover housing/living costs, employment letters showing insufficient income); proof of relationship (birth certificate for children, family registry documents for parents); health insurance; criminal record certificate (adults only, from their country of residence).
Health Insurance: Each family member (including children) must have private health insurance valid in Spain. You cannot rely on your own policy covering them. Family health insurance plans cost €80–200/month per child.
Translation note: All foreign documents must be officially translated into Spanish by a certified translator (traductor jurado). Apostilles are required for government-issued documents. This process typically costs €100–300 per document set.
You have two options for bringing your family to Spain on the Digital Nomad Visa. Choose the route that works best for your timeline and circumstances.
Timeline: 30–45 days total
Include your spouse and children in a single, joint application to the Spanish consulate. Everyone receives visa approval at the same time. Your family arrives in Spain with you on the same date.
Pros: Faster process, consistent timelines, one set of procedures, lower stress.
Cons: Everyone's documents must be ready simultaneously, any delays affect the whole family.
Cost: €1,899 (main applicant) + €633 per dependant.
Timeline: You apply now; family applies 1–3 months later via family reunification.
Get your DNV approval first, then sponsor your family through the "family reunification" (agrupación familiar) process. They apply separately, typically from your home country, once you're established in Spain.
Pros: Flexible timing, family can gather documents gradually, you're in Spain to help support the application.
Cons: Longer total timeline (2–3 months), separate processes, family reunification has additional requirements.
Cost: €1,899 (main applicant) + €1,200–1,500 per family member (family reunification).
Choose Route 1 (Apply Together) if: Your family can gather documents quickly, you want everyone to arrive simultaneously, you prefer a streamlined single process.
Choose Route 2 (Family Joins Later) if: Your family needs time to prepare, children are finishing school, you want to test Spain first before moving the whole family, your partner has work commitments to wrap up.
Each family member must have their own private health insurance valid in Spain. You cannot add dependants to a single policy.
If your spouse is pregnant or planning to conceive in Spain, confirm maternity coverage is included. Most private insurers cover pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal care. Children born in Spain are automatically covered under Spain's public healthcare system (once registered); private coverage is optional but recommended for faster access.
We partner with insurers specializing in expat families:
Compare plans before purchasing. Some insurers offer discounts if you insure multiple family members with them.
Spain has high-quality education options for expat families, ranging from free public schools to premium international institutions.
Cost: €0 (fully state-funded)
Language: Spanish-medium; Catalan in Catalonia
Best for: Families planning to stay long-term, children learning Spanish, budget-conscious families
Enrollment begins in spring (April–May) for the following academic year. You'll need a residence certificate (empadronamiento) and proof of guardianship. Spanish children start preschool (infantil) at age 3.
Cost: €5,000–15,000/year
Language: English; Spanish taught as a subject
Best for: Families returning to English-speaking countries, expats wanting familiar curriculum (IB, British, American)
Major cities (Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia) have 20+ international school options. Apply early; popular schools fill up by January. Costs vary significantly by city and school prestige.
Homeschooling note: Homeschooling is a legal gray area in Spain. While not technically illegal, regional education authorities (consejerias) may require periodic assessments or enrollment in a registered distance-learning program. If considering homeschooling, consult local education officials in your autonomous community.
Find a guide to Spanish schools and expat education options for detailed school reviews by city.
Avoid these pitfalls to ensure your family application is approved on the first submission.
Many families forget apostilles on birth certificates or submit only one parent's copy. Spanish authorities require BOTH apostilled original documents and certified Spanish translations. Missing even one document can delay approval by 4–6 weeks. Order apostilles and translations at least 8 weeks before applying.
Many couples assume unmarried partners can be included. Spanish law is strict: marriage or formal registered partnership only. If your partner isn't legally married or registered, they cannot be a dependant. You'd need to pursue a separate visa route for them (such as self-employed or investor visas).
Underestimating required income is common. Remember: each spouse adds 75% SMI, each child adds 25%. A family of 5 (2 adults + 3 children) needs €5,352/month. Self-employed applicants must show net profit after tax, not gross revenue. Use recent tax returns and accountant letters as proof.
Many submit one insurance policy covering "you and dependants." Spanish authorities require individual policies for each family member with their name explicitly listed. Generic family plans often don't meet DNV requirements. Purchase separate policies for your spouse and each child, even if bundled discounts apply.
We handle the entire family application process. From document preparation to consulate submission, we ensure nothing is missed.
We specialize in family Digital Nomad Visa applications. Here's what's included in our comprehensive package.
Our price is per application, not per person. Whether you're applying as a couple or a family of 5, you pay one fee. (Renewals are €999 for the entire family.)
We create a personalized checklist for each family member's documents. Apostilles, translations, criminal records—we tell you exactly what's needed and when.
Confused about your required income with dependants? We calculate it exactly, review your income documentation, and prepare letters for self-employed applicants.
We guide you through selecting family health insurance that meets DNV requirements. We work directly with 247 Expat Insurance and Spanish Health Insurance to streamline enrollment.
We submit your complete family application to the Spanish consulate and track its progress. You'll receive regular status updates every 2 weeks.
Our service is powered by Platinum Legal Spain, immigration lawyers with 15+ years of family visa experience. They're on your team if your application needs specialized support.
Everything families ask about the Digital Nomad Visa for Spain.
No. Spanish law requires marriage or registered domestic partnership for dependant visas. Unmarried partners, regardless of relationship length, do not qualify. If your partner is not married/registered to you, they cannot be included in your DNV family application. Your partner would need to apply for a separate visa category (self-employed, investor, etc.) or obtain a long-term residence visa independently.
Yes. Children receive their own DNV visas issued alongside the parents' applications. They're listed as dependants on a single family application, but each receives individual visa documentation. Children born to DNV holders in Spain automatically acquire Spanish residency rights.
A family of 4 (2 adults + 2 children) needs 325% of the current SMI (€1,431). That's €4,642 per month. This is verified through bank statements, tax returns, employment letters, or investment income. Income must be stable and documented for the past 3–6 months.
Yes. Your spouse (and you) can work in Spain while holding the DNV. The visa itself places no restrictions on employment. Both can work as employees, self-employed, or freelancers. However, if your spouse becomes the primary earner and you're no longer meeting the income requirements, the visa could be revoked on renewal. Maintain at least the required threshold as the primary income holder.
Adult children (18+) can be included only if they are financially dependent on you. You'll need proof such as bank statements showing you cover their living expenses, employment records showing insufficient income, or college enrollment letters. Each adult dependant adds 75% to your income requirement. Independent or self-sufficient adult children cannot be included.
Yes. Each child must have their own health insurance valid in Spain. You cannot cover them under your policy. Children's policies typically cost €50–100/month. Spain's public healthcare is excellent, but private insurance is a visa requirement and provides faster access to specialists and private hospitals.
Yes, if they are financially dependent on you. You'll need to prove you provide their primary financial support through bank statements, housing documents, or affidavits. Each parent adds 75% to your income requirement. Elderly parents who live with you and have no other income are typically approved. Adult children cannot sponsor elderly parents unless the primary applicant (the DNV holder) is the child's dependent themselves.
Your children can attend free public schools (Spanish-medium education), private schools, or international schools (English-medium, €5,000–15,000/year). Enrollment in public school is free and begins in spring. You'll need a residence certificate (empadronamiento) and proof of guardianship. International schools offer familiar curriculums (IB, British, American) and are popular among expat families. See our guide to schools in Spain for city-by-city options.
Not automatically. If you approved and your family wasn't included, new family members (spouse, children born after your approval) must go through family reunification (agrupación familiar). This is a separate process taking 2–3 months. It's faster and easier to include everyone in your initial application if possible. If circumstances change after approval, contact us for family reunification options.
Your family members' visas are dependent on yours. If your DNV is not renewed, your spouse's and children's dependent visas also expire. You'd have a grace period to resolve the issue (typically 90 days). If unresolved, your family must leave Spain or transition to alternative visa categories independently. Maintain your DNV renewal on time to avoid this. We handle DNV renewals and proactively notify you of renewal deadlines.
Deepen your knowledge of the Digital Nomad Visa and related topics.
Our family specialists will guide you through every step. From eligibility to visa approval, we're here for your family.