Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi
Question
Can I bring my cousin to Spain so he can live with me? He wants to move to Spain, doesn’t work but he has money. I have residency.
Answers
These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
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Start the Moving to Spain Hub →“You can’t bring him, but if he has enough savings, he can apply for a non-lucrative visa in his/your home country.”
“I was wondering if he has the required amount of money he can come here? Because I am worried since he is young and doesn’t have a long work history and didn’t go to university yet. I wonder if Spanish Consulate checks for other criteria or is it all about money at this point?”
“If he’s an adult and has sufficient savings, he can apply. They will ask a LOT of questions — and because it’s a nonlucrative visa, he could get turned down if they suspect he’s planning to work.
A safer path is probably for him to apply to a Spanish university (maybe for an MBA?) and if accepted, he could apply for a student visa, as they would have no basis to question his reason for being there. After a degree is completed successfully, he’d have the right to apply for a job-seeking visa.”
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See Vetted Lawyers →“Spain’s non lucrative visa requires €30k for the first year, €60k for the second year.”
“Student visa seems the only way for him.”
“It can be any language school. Doesn’t have to be a university. He needs a minimum of 20 hours of classes per week.”
“Just having money doesn’t work.”
“You say he’s young and ‘didn’t go to university yet.’ Maybe he should apply for a student visa and learn Spanish intensively for a year, then go to uni here. At uni, he will be able to work part-time if he wants. After, he can get a job-seekers visa and hopefully get a job here.”
“No, but your cousin can apply for a residential visa on his own. But he could live with you once he has the right. You yourself are not directly related, i.e., immediate family, and he’s not dependent on you, and you haven’t legal guardianship.”
“You can’t sponsor him as a cousin, but if he has money, then he can apply for the Spanish Non lucrative visa.”
“Yes, he needs to get in, lay low, and after 3 years he can get residency…easy peasy….most do not know…”
Conclusion
While you cannot directly sponsor your cousin to move to Spain since he is not an immediate family member or dependent, he has several options depending on his circumstances.
If he possesses sufficient savings, he could apply for a non-lucrative visa. Alternatively, enrolling in a Spanish university or language school could allow him to obtain a student visa, which includes some work privileges and could lead to further residency options after graduation.
Consulting with an immigration specialist is advisable to navigate the specifics and ensure compliance with Spanish immigration laws.
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