✈️ Just Arrived in Spain on a Family Visa? What’s Next?
After your family reunification or EU family visa has been approved and your loved one arrives in Spain, your legal obligations don’t end there.
To activate their legal residency and gain access to work, health care, and education, several post-arrival steps are required — and skipping them can invalidate their stay.
🗂️ Step-by-Step After Arrival
🔹 1. Register Empadronamiento (Padron)
Within the first 30 days, your family member must register at the local Ayuntamiento (City Hall) to confirm your shared address.
✅ Needed for:
-
Healthcare
-
TIE appointment
-
School enrollment
-
Proving cohabitation (especially for pareja de hecho cases)
🔹 2. Apply for the TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero)
The TIE is the physical residence card your family member must carry. Without it, their visa is not fully activated.
| Where | Extranjería / Policía Nacional |
|---|---|
| When | Within 30 days of arrival |
| Appointment | Via Sede Electrónica portal |
| Needed for | Residency, work, travel in Schengen |
📌 Bring:
-
Passport + visa stamp
-
Resolution favorable
-
Padron
-
790-012 tax form (paid)
-
Photographs
-
Completed EX-17 form
🔹 3. Collect the TIE Card
You’ll receive a resguardo (receipt) at the fingerprinting appointment, and then return in ~4 weeks to pick up the plastic card.
🎫 The card is usually valid for 5 years if issued under:
-
EU family member route
-
Non-EU family reunification with long-stay sponsor
💼 Can Your Family Member Work in Spain?
Yes — but only after receiving their TIE.
| Path | Work Rights |
|---|---|
| EU family member card | ✅ Full access to job market |
| Family reunification card | ✅ Yes, same as sponsor |
| Student visa family reunification | ❌ No work unless separate permit is obtained |
🏥 Health Insurance & Medical Access
| Path | Coverage |
|---|---|
| If sponsor works in Spain | ✅ Public healthcare covered for entire family |
| NLV or self-employed sponsor | 🏥 Private insurance required (check terms) |
| Once padron is done | Some regions offer limited public access via Convenio Especial |
➡️ Ensure continuous coverage — gaps can lead to fines or visa renewal issues.
🏫 School Enrollment for Children
After receiving the padron certificate, you can enroll children in:
-
Public schools (free)
-
Charter or semi-private schools
-
Private/international schools
📌 You’ll need:
-
Padron
-
Passport or ID
-
Vaccination records
-
Parent’s residency proof (TIE)
📅 Renewals & Obligations
| Obligation | Timeline |
|---|---|
| TIE renewal | Before card expires (usually after 5 years) |
| Change of address | Update padron within 30 days |
| Work status changes | Update Extranjería if dependent on sponsor’s job |
| School enrollment | Required for minors |
⚠️ Post-Arrival Mistakes to Avoid
-
Not registering padron within 30 days
-
Delaying the TIE application — leads to fines or status loss
-
Letting health insurance lapse
-
Assuming you can work before getting the TIE
-
Not updating address after moving
➡️ See Article 9: Common Family Visa Mistakes
👩⚖️ Borderless Lawyers Helps You Stay Compliant
We don’t stop at the visa approval — we assist with every step after arrival:
✅ Padron registration
✅ TIE appointment & paperwork
✅ School enrollment
✅ Healthcare access
✅ Ongoing support for renewals, appeals & upgrades