Alternatives to the Invitation Letter
If you are a foreigner living in Spain, one of your biggest challenges is surely managing the necessary procedures so that family and friends can enter Spain without complications. The invitation letter is the best-known document for these cases, but it is not always the only or the best option. There are alternatives to the invitation letter that are also legal and can make the process easier so that the arrival of your loved ones is simple and without setbacks.
In this article, we will explain what other options you have besides the invitation letter, how they work and which might be the best solution according to your situation. If you want to meet with your family in Spain without complications, keep reading and find out how to do it in the most effective and safe way.
1. First alternative to the Invitation letter: Family reunification with the Statement of Declarations
If you have legal residence in Spain, you can apply for family reunification for certain direct relatives. The requirements depend on whether you are a non-EU citizen or a European Union citizen, the latter being more accessible. If you are a non-EU citizen, you can apply for family reunification with your:
- Spouse or civil partner.
- Children under 18 years old or older with disabilities.
- Parents if you are a long-term resident and can support them financially.
This process is one of the alternatives to the invitation letter that allows your relatives to obtain a residence permit and live with you in Spain. You can learn more about this service of statements before a Notary on our website, where we explain the requirements in more detail.
2. Marriage
If a foreign person marries or forms a civil partnership before a Notary with their partner — who is a Spanish citizen, from another European Union country, or a long-term legal resident in Spain — they may apply for a residence card as a family member of a Union citizen, which facilitates their legal stay in the country.
This is a legally recognised route to regularise the residence status of those who have a proven and stable emotional bond with a person legally residing in Spain. Both the marriage contracted before a Notary and the registration of the civil partnership are valid documents that allow the initiation of this procedure.
3. Family ties
Family ties is a temporary residence permit for foreign citizens who are currently in Spain. It is one of the alternatives to the invitation letter as it can be granted to parents of minors with EU or Spanish nationality. It is also granted to children of Spanish parents.
4. Residence Visas
This fourth option consists of applying for a short-stay visa (Schengen) or a non-lucrative residence permit. It will be necessary to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to support yourself without the need to work.
5. Community Family Card
In this case, we are talking about a certification for the residence of family members of European Union citizens to join their family member residing in Spain for a period longer than 3 months.
6. Authorisation of stay for studies
If your non-EU relative wishes to come to Spain to study at a university, undertake a master's degree, doctorate, or a higher education course, they can apply for a study visa. This type of visa also allows working up to 30 hours per week and is a pathway to subsequently obtaining legal residence if a work contract is secured. This visa permits staying in Spain for the duration of the course.
If your relative wants to come with this option, they must apply for the visa from their country of origin and demonstrate that they have financial means to support themselves, health insurance, and enrolment in an educational institution recognised in Spain.
As it is likely that some of the documents you need to submit must be apostilled, we provide a link with this information.
JLA Notaries, your Notary for immigration procedures in Barcelona
Meeting with your loved ones in Spain is possible without relying solely on the invitation letter. There are various legal alternatives, such as family reunification, arraigo, study authorisation, and the community family member card, which can facilitate the arrival and stay of your family in the country.
However, each case is unique and requires appropriate advice to avoid delays or inconveniences in the procedures. At our notary office in Barcelona, as specialists in notarial deeds, we help you manage the necessary documents quickly and securely so that your relatives can enter and stay legally in Spain. You can check our reviews and services such as the nationality oath before a Notary.
However, if you need more information about the invitation letter, here is a related article:
Contact us and make the reunion with your family possible! You can do so via our email bcn@jlanotarios.com, the contact form on our website or by clicking the WhatsApp button. We hope this article about alternatives to the invitation letter has been helpful to you.
