Hey everyone, I’ve noticed more and more threads on the forum lately about applying for the Golden Visa as a family. One of the most common questions is about bringing children along, especially regarding the age requirements, and there’s a lot of conflicting information out there. I recently did a deep dive into the policies and real-world cases, so I thought I’d start a new post to share what I’ve learned. Hope this helps those of you who are in the planning stages.
The Core of the Dependent Children Policy
First, it’s important to clarify that Spain’s real estate immigration policy is generally quite friendly when it comes to including children. It mainly breaks down into two scenarios:
Minor Children
This is the simplest case. Any child under the age of 18 can be included as a dependent applicant and gain residency along with the main applicant. All you generally need is proof of the parent-child relationship, so it’s not complicated.
Adult Children
This is where things get more confusing and are of the most concern to people. For adult children over 18, the core requirements are that they must be unmarried and financially dependent on the main applicant. Many people mistakenly believe there is a strict age limit, like 21 or 25, but this isn’t entirely accurate. The law itself doesn’t specify an absolute age; the key factor is proving “financial dependency.”
How is “Financial Dependency” Defined?
The term “financial dependency” can seem a bit vague, but in practice, the immigration authorities primarily look at the following points. I’ve created a simple table for reference:
| Child’s Situation | Does it Qualify? | Key Supporting Documents |
|---|
| Under 18 years old | Yes | Birth certificate, etc., to prove parent-child relationship |
| Over 18, full-time student | Usually Yes | Proof of enrollment from the school, tuition receipts, bank transfer records from parents |
| Over 18, employed | Almost Never | Has an independent income, cannot prove financial dependency |
| Over 18, unable to be self-sufficient due to health reasons | Usually Yes | Relevant medical certificates, proof of parental support |
To put it simply, if your child is over 18, you need to prove to the immigration authorities that he or she is still a student or otherwise lacks financial independence, with living expenses primarily covered by you. Therefore, regular bank transfer records are a crucial piece of evidence.
What If Your Child is Genuinely “Overage”?
If your child has graduated from university and started working, thus having their own income, they will almost certainly not meet the “financial dependency” criteria. Including them as a dependent applicant will be very difficult. In this situation, you can consider other pathways:
- Apply for a different visa independently: For example, your child could apply for a student visa, work visa, or a non-lucrative visa on their own.
- Become a co-investor: If financial resources allow for aspects like education for children in Spain, you could also consider making your child a co-owner of the property, similar to how some parents helping children buy property in Spain operate. By co-investing, they can apply for their own Golden Visa as a main applicant. However, this will increase the total investment amount and should be decided based on your family’s financial situation.
- Family reunification: Once the parents obtain permanent residency or citizenship, you can explore if the child meets the conditions for family reunification. However, this process involves a much longer waiting period.
In summary, Spain’s policy for dependent children is not overly strict. The key is to focus on the core concept of “financial dependency” and prepare thorough supporting documents. Of course, every family’s situation is unique, so the safest approach is to consult with a professional immigration lawyer before you begin to develop a strategy tailored to your specific circumstances. I hope the information shared today is helpful, and I welcome anyone with experience to add their insights and join the discussion!
