Family reunification in Spain: requirements

For Spanish residents bringing family over: who qualifies for family reunification, 2026 IPREM income, housing, documents, deadlines and renewal.

You live in Spain on a residence permit, and your spouse or children are still in another country. Expat forums call several different procedures “reunification”, even though they have different applicants, a different filing order and different income thresholds. Pick the route by its informal name and it is easy to build the wrong file and lose months.

This article covers the general family reunification regime (reagrupación familiar) for foreigners who already live in Spain. It is governed by articles 16–19 of Organic Law 4/2000 and articles 65–71 of the regulation approved by RD 1155/2024, in force since 20 May 2025. Families of digital nomads, highly qualified professionals and EU Blue Card holders usually follow a different, faster route, explained below.

Key points

You can apply once you have lived in Spain for at least one year and have applied to renew your permit for at least one more year (art. 68 RD 1155/2024). The permit is only granted after your renewal actually goes through.
Minimum income in 2026: €900 a month for a household of two (150% of IPREM), plus €300 for each additional member (50% of IPREM), under art. 67.
You need a suitable-housing report from the regional government or town hall, health insurance for the whole family and proof of kinship.
The resident files in person at the Oficina de Extranjería. The office decides within 2 months, and no answer means refusal. The relative then has 2 months to apply for a visa at the consulate.
A reunited spouse, partner or working-age child may work without any further procedure (art. 65).

First, pick the right route

General family reunification

This route is for residents with an ordinary permit: employee or self-employed, non-lucrative residence, reunited family members with their own independent permit, and so on. Your relative does not travel with you. You first obtain the permit for them in Spain, then they apply for a visa at the Spanish consulate in their country.

Family members under Law 14/2013

For digital nomads, highly qualified professionals, investors, intra-company transferees and other groups, art. 62.4 of Law 14/2013 lets the spouse or partner, children and dependent parents apply “jointly and simultaneously, or subsequently” with the main holder. There is no one-year wait, files go to the UGE, and the decision deadline for that section is 20 days (art. 76.1).

EU Blue Card and long-term residents

Under art. 18.1 of Organic Law 4/2000, family members of long-term residents, EU Blue Card holders and researchers can be processed at the same time as the main holder. See our guide to the EU Blue Card in Spain.

With the non-lucrative visa, the family is usually included from the start. The general regime in this article applies when relatives join later.

Who can be reunited

The list is closed and set out in art. 66 of the regulation:

A spouse aged 18 or over who is not separated in fact or in law, in a marriage that is not fraudulent. Only one spouse. For a second or later marriage, you must show that the earlier one was dissolved through a procedure that settled housing, maintenance and child support.
An unmarried partner aged 18 or over: either registered in a public register of an EU state, or in an unregistered stable relationship proven by cohabitation, in or outside Spain, of at least 12 consecutive months. That period is waived if the couple has a child together. Marriage, registered partnership and stable relationship are mutually exclusive.
Children of the resident, the spouse or the partner who are under 18 on the filing date, or adults with a disability who need support or cannot provide for themselves due to their health.
A child of only one spouse: that parent must hold sole parental authority or exclusive custody, the child must actually be dependent on them, and there must be a court authorisation or the other parent’s consent. With shared custody, the other parent’s consent is required.
People under the resident’s legal guardianship, under the same age rules.
First-degree ascendants (your parents or your spouse’s or partner’s) over 65 who depend on you and have reasons justifying residence in Spain. Under 65, only exceptionally on humanitarian grounds.
An adult child who will act as carer for a resident with a recognised degree of dependency under Law 39/2006.

An important limit: under art. 18.1 of Organic Law 4/2000, parents can only be reunited once you are a long-term resident. The regulation lets you file at the same time as your application for that status.

How much income you need in 2026

Art. 67 requires “fixed and regular” means:

150% of IPREM for a household of two (you and one relative);
plus 50% of IPREM for each additional member.

The monthly IPREM for 2026 is €600 (SEPE):

Household	% of IPREM	Per month	Per year
Resident + 1 relative	150%	€900	€10,800
Resident + 2 relatives	200%	€1,200	€14,400
Resident + 3 relatives	250%	€1,500	€18,000

This is the minimum. The office also looks at the type of income and how regular it is, so a margin helps if you are close to the line.

What counts and what does not:

Salaries and pensions count gross, including the pro-rata share of extra payments (pagas extra). Business income counts as net profit.
Income of your spouse or partner and of first-degree relatives counts if they are Spanish residents living with you.
Stable savings count as the average balance over the last six months.
Excluded: study and housing grants, compensatory and maintenance payments (unless paid to the person being reunited), and social assistance benefits.

For minor children the amount can be reduced in the child’s best interest. The benchmark is then 110% of the annual guaranteed income of the Ingreso Mínimo Vital for a two-person household with one minor, plus 10% per additional minor. This is not automatic; it is assessed case by case.

Housing and insurance

The home must be suitable under art. 3© of Law 12/2023. This is proven with a suitable-housing report (informe de vivienda adecuada) from the regional government or town hall, which should be issued within one month of the request. If it is late, you may prove suitability by other means.

The report or substitute evidence must be no more than six months old on the filing date and cover:

your right to occupy the home;
the number of rooms and their use;
who lives there;
habitability and equipment.

The lease or deed can be in your name or in that of any household member listed in art. 66 who lives with you.

Health insurance is needed for you and for every relative (art. 67). School-age children already in Spain must be enrolled in school.

Documents

Under art. 68, the official application form is filed together with the following.

From you:*
a full copy of your valid passport;
proof of employment and/or income under art. 67;
the suitable-housing report;
when reuniting a spouse or partner, a signed declaration that no other spouse or partner lives with you in Spain;
health insurance;
proof of payment of the fee.
From the relative:*
a full copy of their valid passport;
proof of kinship or of the relationship and, where relevant, of legal and financial dependency.

The office checks Spanish criminal records itself with the central register and the police. Foreign criminal record certificates and the medical certificate are provided at the visa stage (see below). Foreign civil documents usually need an apostille or legalisation and a sworn translation. The details depend on the issuing country, so check the consulate’s instructions before ordering translations.

Procedure and deadlines

Application in Spain. You file in person at the Oficina de Extranjería of your province. The office requests criminal record and police reports, which are issued within 7 days.
Decision. Within two months. If there is no answer, the application is deemed refused (art. 68). These files are processed with priority.
Visa. Within two months of being notified, the relative applies at the Spanish consulate with the original kinship documents (art. 40). The consulate also checks the art. 38 requirements: a passport valid for at least a year, criminal record certificates for the last 5 years for adults, a medical certificate and the fee. It decides within one month at most.
Entry. The permit only takes effect once the visa is issued and the relative enters Spain, within one month at most (art. 68).
TIE. Within one month of entry, apply in person for the foreigner identity card (art. 209).

The relative’s first permit expires on the same date as yours, with a minimum of one year (art. 68).

Example: a family of four

Anna has worked in Spain as an employee for two years and has already renewed her permit. She wants to bring her husband and their two children, aged 6 and 10. That is four people, so the threshold is 250% of IPREM: €1,500 a month. Her salary is €1,900 gross a month including the pro-rata extra payments, so she qualifies. The two-bedroom flat is rented in her name, and the town hall’s social services issue the housing report. Anna applies for her husband and both children at once, with apostilled marriage and birth certificates and sworn translations. After the decision, the family has two months to apply for the visas.

If the older child were only the husband’s, from an earlier marriage, they would also need proof of custody and the mother’s consent or a court authorisation.

Renewal and independent residence

Renewal is filed in the two months before expiry or within three months after it (filing late may lead to a penalty procedure). The family tie and the resident’s permit must still be in place, and school-age children must be in school. If there is no answer within three months, the renewal is deemed granted. The renewed permit lasts four years and allows unrestricted work (art. 71).

A spouse or partner can obtain independent residence (art. 69):

with their own means or a job;
after a break-up, if the relationship lasted at least three years and cohabitation in Spain at least one;
at any time, if they are a victim of violence or if the resident dies.

Children obtain it on reaching adulthood if they meet those conditions, or after five years of residence in Spain.

What people who went through it say

Expat chats often mix up the general regime with the family route under Law 14/2013. The quotes below, translated from Russian, show real questions but do not replace the law.

“I already got the nomad permit; I applied alone. Now I want to apply for my wife.” — member of an expat chat, December 2024

“What if it’s my wife’s child from her first marriage (I’m not the father) — what then?” — member of an expat chat, March 2024

In the first case the general regime is not needed: art. 62.4 of Law 14/2013 allows a subsequent application through the UGE. In the second, the mother’s custody and the father’s consent or a court authorisation are required, as art. 66 of the regulation provides.

Checklist before you apply

Check which kind of permit you hold: general regime or Law 14/2013.
Count the time: one year of residence and renewal applied for.
Fit each relative into an art. 66 category.
Work out the threshold: €900 plus €300 a month per additional member.
Gather proof of income and the 6-month average balance.
Request the housing report early; it must be under 6 months old.
Buy insurance for everyone.
Get apostilles and translations in the right order for each country.
For a child from another relationship: custody and the other parent’s consent.
Plan the visa stage: 2 months to apply, 1 month to enter.

Common mistakes

Applying before renewal.* The general regime requires one year of residence and a renewal application. Nothing is granted until your permit is actually renewed.
Using the digital nomad threshold.* The nomad permit is calculated on the minimum wage (SMI); the general regime on IPREM. The figures are not comparable.
Bringing parents on a temporary permit.* Parents only with long-term residence.
An out-of-date housing report.* If it is more than six months old on the filing date, it will not be accepted.
Missing the visa deadline.* The relative has two months from notification. Miss it and you start over.
Counting welfare benefits.* Social assistance payments do not count as income.

FAQ

When can I apply for family reunification in Spain?

Under the general regime, after one year of residence and with a renewal application for at least another year. For parents, only as a long-term resident. Under Law 14/2013 and with an EU Blue Card there is no waiting period.

How much income do I need in 2026?

At least 150% of IPREM (€900 a month) for you and one relative, plus 50% (€300) for each additional member. For four people, €1,500 a month.

Can I bring an unregistered partner?

Yes, if you can prove at least 12 consecutive months of cohabitation or you have a child together.

Will my spouse be able to work?

Yes. A reunification permit for a spouse, partner or working-age child allows employment and self-employment with no further procedure.

How long does the decision take?

The immigration office decides within two months, and silence means refusal. The consulate decides on the visa within one month.

Can I bring my parents?

Yes, if they are over 65, depend on you, have reasons justifying the move and you are a long-term resident. Under 65, only on humanitarian grounds.

Sources

RD 1155/2024, arts. 65–71: family reunification, requirements, procedure and renewal.
RD 1155/2024, arts. 38 and 40: visa stage.
Organic Law 4/2000, arts. 16–19.
Law 14/2013, arts. 62 and 76: family members under the special regime.
Law 12/2023, art. 3: suitable housing.
SEPE: IPREM 2026.
Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: consulates and visa instructions.

This article is for information only and is not legal or tax advice. Rules change. For your specific situation, consult a qualified professional.

Information checked: 27 October 2026

Photo: Jose Manuel Esp, Unsplash