Arraigo Familiar in Spain: Translation Guide for Ukrainians

You google “family reunification in Spain” and drown in dozens of articles. Half are about reagrupación familiar, half about arraigo familiar, and there’s a whole other batch about tarjeta de familiar comunitario. Three different procedures, three different document packages, and nobody clearly explains which one applies to you. Let’s sort out arraigo familiar once and for all - who can apply, which documents to translate, and how much it’ll cost in 2026.

What is arraigo familiar and why it’s not “family reunification”¶

Arraigo familiar (literally - “family roots”) is a temporary residence permit in Spain granted through a direct family connection to an EU citizen. The key word is “roots”: you’re already in Spain, you have family here, and the state recognizes your right to stay.

It’s NOT the same as reagrupación familiar (family reunification in the traditional sense). Here’s the difference:

So arraigo familiar is when you’re already here and you prove your right to stay through family ties. Reagrupación familiar is when you’re here legally and want to bring family from Ukraine. Different procedures, different documents, even different application forms.

Who can apply for arraigo familiar in 2026¶

After the immigration reform (Royal Decree 1155/2024, in effect since May 20, 2025), the rules for arraigo familiar changed significantly.

Parent of a minor EU citizen¶

The most common scenario for Ukrainians. If you have a child who’s a citizen of any EU country (Italy, France, Germany, Romania - doesn’t matter which), and that child is under 18 - you can apply for arraigo familiar.

A typical situation: a Ukrainian woman married an Italian man in Spain, their child was born with Italian citizenship. The mother can apply for arraigo familiar and get a residence and work permit for 5 years - with no minimum stay requirement in the country.

Legal guardian of a dependent adult EU citizen¶

If you’re the official guardian of an adult EU/EEA/Swiss citizen who depends on you financially - you also qualify. This scenario is less common, but it exists.

What if your relative is a Spanish citizen?¶

Here’s an important change from May 2025. If your family member is specifically a Spanish citizen (not another EU country), there’s now a separate procedure - “Residencia para Familiares de Españoles” (residence for relatives of Spaniards). It has its own document package and rules. Arraigo familiar now formally applies only to relatives of citizens from other EU countries.

In practice, the difference for you is small - documents need translation in both cases, and sworn translation is mandatory for all.

Ukrainians with temporary protection¶

If you’re under temporary protection (extended until March 2027) and you fit one of the scenarios above - you can apply for arraigo familiar. Temporary protection doesn’t prevent you from applying. In fact, you can switch to a more stable 5-year permit without waiting for temporary protection to expire.

Full document list and what needs translation¶

Documents requiring sworn translation¶

All these documents require a traducción jurada - sworn translation by a translator registered with MAEC (Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs). A regular translation, even a perfect one, has no legal force. And a notarized translation from Ukraine won’t be accepted either - even with an apostille.

The process is always the same: first get the apostille in Ukraine (through the issuing authority or the Ministry of Justice), then get the traducción jurada in Spain. Not the other way around. Both countries are members of the Hague Convention, so consular legalization isn’t needed.

Documents that don’t need translation¶

Empadronamiento (municipal registration) is a separate procedure at the Ayuntamiento (city hall) that you need to complete beforehand. Without empadronamiento, you can’t submit an arraigo familiar application.

How much does sworn translation cost and where to find a translator¶

Translation from Ukrainian to Spanish is one of the most expensive language pairs. There are only 4 registered sworn translators from Ukrainian in all of Spain. Four people. For over 200,000 Ukrainians in the country.

A typical package for arraigo familiar (your birth certificate + criminal record + child’s birth certificate) runs 180-220 euros before IVA, or 218-266 euros with IVA. Add a marriage certificate and that’s another 60-75 euros.

On a forum for Ukrainians in Spain, one woman shared her experience: “Had 4 documents translated for arraigo, found a translator from Madrid through the MAEC registry. The whole package cost 280 euros with IVA, originals arrived via Correos in 5 days. Everything was accepted on the first try at Extranjería.”

Pro tip: some Ukrainian documents are bilingual (Ukrainian + Russian). There are significantly more translators from Russian to Spanish, and prices are lower - starting at 40-50 euros per document. Check with the translator if they’ll accept a translation from the Russian portion.

Where to find a sworn translator¶

1. MAEC registry - official search on the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, filter by language “ucraniano” and province
2. Translation agencies - CBLingua, Translinguo Global, 1Global Translators have contracts with Ukrainian-language translators
3. Remotely - the translator doesn’t need to be in your city. You send scans, receive originals by mail or courier

Tip: if you have 3+ documents - ask about a package price. A 10-15% discount for a bundle is standard practice.

Step-by-step guide: from gathering documents to getting your TIE¶

Step 1. Collect documents from Ukraine¶

Before applying, you’ll need fresh documents from Ukraine:

• Criminal record certificate (valid for 3-6 months, don’t delay)
• Birth certificate (if you don’t have the original - order a duplicate)
• Get an apostille on all documents

The apostille is issued by the authority that issued the document, or through the Ministry of Justice. You can do it through a power of attorney - you don’t need to go to Ukraine in person.

Step 2. Order the traducción jurada in Spain¶

Once you have your apostilled documents, send the scans to the translator. The originals with the translator’s stamp and signature will arrive by mail in 3-7 days.

Step 3. Get your empadronamiento¶

If you don’t have your municipal registration yet - go to the Ayuntamiento (city hall) with your passport and rental contract or a letter from your landlord.

Step 4. Submit your application at Oficina de Extranjería¶

Fill out form EX-10, pay tasa 790 (code 012, roughly 16-20 euros) and submit the full package at the Oficina de Extranjería where you live. Some provinces let you submit online through the sede electrónica, others require in-person appointments with cita previa.

Step 5. Wait for a decision¶

The official processing time is 3 months. In practice, Madrid and Barcelona take 4-6 months. Smaller cities are faster - sometimes 6-8 weeks.

If you don’t hear back after 3 months - legally this counts as a denial (silencio administrativo negativo). But don’t panic: usually the decision is just delayed, and the permit still comes through.

Step 6. Get your TIE¶

After a positive decision, you have 30 days to apply for your TIE (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero - your physical residency card). You’ll need another cita previa at the police station, photos, and another tasa.

The TIE from arraigo familiar is issued for 5 years - right away. Not 1 year with renewals like arraigo social, but five. And it includes the right to work - as an employee or self-employed.

When a regular translation is enough¶

Not everything in life requires a traducción jurada. Here’s when a regular translation works:

• For your employer - most private companies are fine with a regular translation of education documents
• For your landlord - nobody asks for sworn translation to rent an apartment
• For your bank - opening an account just requires your passport and NIE
• For personal use - any unofficial needs

For these situations, ChatsControl works great - AI-powered document translation that preserves formatting in just a few minutes. But if you need a certified translation for government agencies - then it’s traductor jurado only.

FAQ¶

How much does it cost to translate documents for arraigo familiar from Ukrainian?¶

A single document (certificate, record) from Ukrainian to Spanish costs 60-75 euros before IVA. With IVA (21%), that’s 73-91 euros per document. A full package for arraigo familiar (3-4 documents) runs 220-300 euros with IVA. There are only 4 sworn translators from Ukrainian in all of Spain, so prices are higher than for English or Russian.

Do I need an apostille on documents for arraigo familiar?¶

Yes. All Ukrainian documents (certificates, records, court orders) need an apostille BEFORE translation. First apostille in Ukraine, then traducción jurada in Spain. Spain and Ukraine are both parties to the Hague Convention, so consular legalization isn’t necessary.

What’s the difference between arraigo familiar and reagrupación familiar?¶

Arraigo familiar is when you’re already in Spain and have a family connection to an EU citizen (for example, a minor child with an EU passport). You don’t need legal status. Reagrupación familiar is when you’re a legal resident of Spain for at least a year and want to bring relatives from abroad. Different procedures, different documents, different application forms.

How long does it take to get a decision on arraigo familiar?¶

The official deadline is 3 months from the submission date. In practice, Madrid and Barcelona take 4-6 months. Smaller cities (Alicante, Malaga, Valencia) sometimes process in 6-8 weeks. Since the 2025 reform, the administration has been overloaded, so delays have become the norm.

Can I apply for arraigo familiar while on temporary protection?¶

Yes. Temporary protection (protección temporal, extended until March 2027) doesn’t prevent you from applying for arraigo familiar. If you have the grounds - for example, a child with EU citizenship - you can apply and switch to a stable 5-year permit without waiting for temporary protection to expire.