# Family Reunification — Cross-Country Comparison

> Source: https://residencyradar.org/concepts/family-reunification.html | Last checked: 2026-10-12 | Last updated: 2026-09-14

## Definition

Family reunification — residence permits for spouses, children, and sometimes parents of legal residents or citizens. The sponsor must hold a valid residence permit (often with a minimum duration — Spain requires ≥1 year + renewed) and meet income and accommodation thresholds. Spouses typically gain work rights immediately (EU Blue Card holders in most EU states) or after a waiting period. Children are covered up to age 18 (21 in some programs, 25+ for dependents in Greece). Some programs extend to parents (Greece Golden Visa, UAE). Family reunification is the second-largest immigration channel globally after employment.

## Current State

84 countries offer family reunification. The EU has harmonized rules under the Family Reunification Directive, though national variations persist (Germany's A1 language requirement for spouses; income thresholds). Non-EU countries vary widely: GCC countries tie family visas to the sponsor's minimum salary; the US has family-based green cards (immediate relatives of citizens, preference categories for PR holders); Canada, Australia, and NZ operate sponsorship programs with income/assurance of support requirements.

## Cross-Country Comparison

| Country | Official Program | Key Conditions | Duration | Citizenship Path | Community Verdict |
|---------|-----------------|---------------|----------|------------------|-------------------|
| [[germany]] | Family Reunification (§27-36 AufenthG) | Valid sponsor; income + accommodation; A1 German spouse (exemptions for Blue Card) | 1–3 yr | 5 yr; B1 German | Works well — Blue Card exemption is key |
| [[portugal]] | D6 — Family Reunification | Valid sponsor; accommodation; sufficient funds | 2 yr; aligned with sponsor | 10 yr (7 EU/CPLP); A2 Portuguese | Works well — AIMA delays |
| [[spain]] | Reagrupación Familiar | Sponsor ≥1 yr valid + renewed; income ≥150% IPREM (€900/mo) + 50% IPREM/dep | 1–5 yr; aligned with sponsor | 10 yr; DELE A2 + CCSE | Works well |
| [[italy]] | Ricongiungimento Familiare | Valid sponsor; income ≥assegno sociale (€6,542/yr for 1, scaled); accommodation | Aligned with sponsor | 10 yr; B1 Italian | Mixed — questura delays |
| [[france]] | Regroupement Familial / Talent Accompanying Family | Sponsor ≥18 mo residence; income ≥SMIC; Talent Passport: immediate family | 1–4 yr (Talent: immediate) | 5 yr; B1 French | Works well — Talent route is excellent |
| [[united-kingdom]] | Family Visa (Spouse/Partner/Child) | Sponsor is UK citizen/settled; income ≥£29,000/yr; English A1 | 2.5 yr → ILR after 5 yr | 5 yr + 1 yr ILR; B1 + Life in UK | Mixed — high income bar |
| [[canada]] | Family Class Sponsorship | Sponsor is PR/citizen; income threshold for some; processing 12+ mo | PR on approval | 3 yr physical presence / 5 yr | Works well — slow processing |
| [[australia]] | Partner / Parent / Child Visas | Sponsor is PR/citizen; partner: 2-stage (820/801); parent: long queues | 2 yr temp → PR | 4 yr residence (1 yr PR) | Mixed — parent visa backlog |
| [[greece]] | Family Reunification Permit | Valid sponsor; covers spouse + children ≤21 (extendable 24) + parents of both spouses | Aligned with sponsor | 7 yr (183 days/yr) | Works well — broad family coverage |
| [[uae]] | Family Sponsorship Visa | Sponsor must hold valid residence; salary ≥AED 4,000 or 3,000 + accommodation | Tied to sponsor | No citizenship path | Standard |
| [[netherlands]] | Family Reunification (MVV) | Sponsor with valid permit; income ≥100% social min; integration exam abroad | Up to 5 yr; aligned with sponsor | 5 yr; A2 Dutch | Works well |
| [[sweden]] | Family Reunification | Valid sponsor; income + housing; processing can be long (12+ mo) | 2 yr → PR after 4 yr | 5 yr residence | Mixed — processing delays |
| [[austria]] | Family Reunification (Red-White-Red Card Plus) | Valid sponsor; income + accommodation; A1 German (quota-limited) | 1 yr → PR after 5 yr | 10 yr (6 continuous); B1 German | Mixed — quotas |
| [[brazil]] | VITEM XI (Family Reunion) | Sponsor with valid residence; covers spouse, partner, children, dependents | 1 yr → PR after 4 yr | 1 yr PR → citizenship | Works well |
| [[colombia]] | Type M — Cónyuge / Padre de Colombiano | Marriage to Colombian / parent of Colombian child | 1–3 yr | 5 yr (Ibero-American 1 yr) | Works well |
| [[costa-rica]] | Residencia — Vínculo Familiar | Family tie (spouse, child, parent of Costa Rican) | 2 yr → PR | 5–7 yr | Works well |

*Available in 84 countries*. Essentially universal — the table highlights programs with distinctive features (income bars, language requirements, broad family definitions, processing bottlenecks).