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SpainTemporary residence permit for a resident's family members

Family reunification in Spain

The programme grants temporary residence to the family members of a foreign national lawfully resident in Spain. The sponsor must have sufficient regular income, adequate accommodation and medical insurance in force. Family members include a spouse, children, people under guardianship and dependants. The process involves filing documents in Spain, obtaining approval, applying for a visa and entering the country.

Source: Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones — Hoja informativa 8

Categories eligible for reunification

Depending on your place in the family, different reunification routes into Spain are open to you.

Spouse or partner

  • Formally registered spouse
  • Partner aged 18 or over in a documented union
  • Unregistered partner in a genuine stable union (documentary evidence required)

Children and dependants

  • Children under 18, born in or out of wedlock
  • Adult children with a disability or unable to support themselves
  • Stepchildren under legal guardianship

Parents and guardians

  • Dependent parents aged over 65
  • Grandparents aged over 65 where there is a need
  • An adult child caring for a dependent sponsor

When the programme will not suit

You are an EU, EEA or Swiss national

Nationals of these countries have the right to move and reside freely in Spain without a separate permit

The sponsor has lived in Spain for less than a year

You must wait until a full year of lawful residence has passed and hold a permit valid for at least another year

The sponsor does not have sufficient income

The minimum income must be reached; otherwise a sponsor must be found or the financial position improved

You are looking for work in Spain without a sponsor

Consider labour migration programmes for finding work through an employer

Documents to gather

All documents in a foreign language must be translated into Spanish by a certified translator and, where necessary, legalised with a Hague apostille.

  • Passport of the applicant and of every family member (copy and original for checking)
  • Form EX-02 (the official application for authorisation)
  • Income documents for the past 6 months (employment contracts, tax returns, bank statements, income certificates)
  • Documents evidencing the family relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificates, guardianship documents)
  • Housing adequacy report from the competent authority of the autonomous community (no more than 6 months old)
  • Criminal record certificate for the sponsor from Spain and from other countries of residence
  • Criminal record certificates for family members aged 18 and over
  • Certificate of active medical insurance for every applicant
  • Certificate of translation and legalisation of all documents (where the documents are in a foreign language)

How the process runs

Family reunification runs through several stages, from preparing the documents to obtaining the residence permit in Spain.

  1. 1

    Preparing and gathering the documents

    2-4 weeks

    The sponsor gathers all the necessary documents, including proof of income, the housing report and family documents. A translator renders the documents into Spanish, after which they are legalised by apostille where required.

  2. 2

    Lodging the application with the administrative body

    1 day

    The sponsor lodges the complete application on form EX-02 with the Spanish Secretariat for Migration (in person, by post or through the Mercurio electronic portal). The state fee under model 790 (code 052) is paid at this point.

  3. 3

    Examination by the immigration authorities

    2 months

    The immigration authorities check every document, verify the income and confirm that all the requirements are met. They may request additional documents or clarifications. At the end of the period a decision to approve or refuse is issued.

  4. 4

    Approval and notification

    1 day

    The sponsor receives an official letter of approval. That letter is the basis on which family members apply for a visa. It states the deadline within which the visa application must be lodged.

  5. 5

    Applying for the visa at the diplomatic mission

    Up to 2 months from approval

    Family members attend the Spanish embassy or consulate in their country. They lodge the visa application, a copy of the approval and the necessary documents (passport, medical certificate, criminal record certificate).

  6. 6

    Collecting the visa at the embassy

    Up to 1 month

    The embassy examines the visa application, holds an interview where necessary and checks the medical information. Once approved, a long-stay visa is placed in the passport.

  7. 7

    Entering Spain and arranging the residence permit

    Up to 1 month after the visa is issued

    Family members enter Spain on the visa issued. Within a month they approach the National Police for the foreigner card (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero, TIE), which serves as the official residence permit.

  8. 8

    Issue of the plastic foreigner card (TIE)

    1 month

    The individual plastic foreigner card is produced and issued. At that point the family reunification is complete and the family members hold an official residence permit in Spain.

Who you can bring with you

Various categories of family member of a foreign national lawfully resident in Spain may take part in the family reunification programme, provided they meet certain requirements.

Spouse or unmarried partner
Must be married or in a registered civil partnership. A genuine stable union is recognised where there is evidence of living together. Only one spouse or partner is allowed. Both must be over 18.
Children and stepchildren
Children under 18, whatever the sponsor's marital status. Adult children up to 25 where they have no source of income and cannot support themselves. Children with a disability or unable to support themselves may be reunited whatever their age.
People under legal guardianship
Minors under the sponsor's legal guardianship may be included where guardianship documents are produced and the competent child protection authorities consent.
Parents and grandparents
Parents and grandparents over 65 may be included where they are dependent on the sponsor. Younger parents may be included on humanitarian grounds in special circumstances (serious ill health, complete dependence).
Adult child acting as carer
An adult child of the sponsor may be included as a family member where they care for a dependent sponsor who is unable to look after themselves.

Renewal and the grace period

A residence permit obtained through family reunification is valid for the same period as the sponsor's authorisation, but for no less than one year. Renewing or changing the status calls for a fresh application to the immigration authorities with updated documents, should the family or financial position change.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

Family reunificationProtección SubsidiariaHumanitarian protection
Visa termValid for the same period as the sponsor's permit, with a minimum of 1 yearResidence and work permit (TIE) for about 5 years, renewableUsually 1 year; annual renewal
GroundsTemporary residence permit for the family members of a foreign national lawfully resident in SpainThreat to lifeHumanitarian grounds
Money«Recursos fijos y regulares suficientes» are requiredNo state fee; reception and social supportNo threshold as with the NLV; treatment and means are assessed

Frequently asked questions about Family reunification

What minimum monthly income is required for family reunification?
A family of two requires 150% of the IPREM (the public multiple-effect income indicator) per month. A further 50% of the IPREM is added for each additional family member. Reduced thresholds may apply for minors: the minimum wage, or 110% of the guaranteed monthly income (Ingreso Mínimo Vital), is enough. The IPREM is recalculated annually; in 2026 the current figure should be checked.
How long must a spouse or partner have been married or in a partnership before reunification?
The law sets no minimum period of living together in a marriage or registered partnership. To have a genuine stable union (an unregistered partnership) recognised, however, documentary proof of living together for a certain period is required (usually at least 2-3 years). It is advisable to produce evidence of cohabitation, joint financial documents, letters from neighbours or other proof.
What state fees are payable for family reunification?
The state fee is paid under model 790 (Impuesto de derechos y tasas), code 052, section 2.1.2 (autorización inicial de residencia temporal por reagrupación familiar). Payment is made within ten working days of lodging the application. Payment form 790 is available on the general electronic platform for public services. The exact amount should be checked for the current year, as it changes from time to time.
What are the housing requirements for family reunification?
The accommodation must be adequate, safe and healthy for every family member. An official housing adequacy report issued by the competent authority of the autonomous community where the family will live must be produced. That report must be no more than 6 months old. As an alternative, title documents, a tenancy agreement and other proof of suitable accommodation may be produced. The accommodation must have sufficient space and amenities for each family member.
May a sponsor include parents under 65?
As a rule the law allows parents to be reunited only where they are over 65 and dependent on the sponsor. It does, however, allow exceptions on humanitarian grounds. Parents under 65 may be included in special circumstances (serious illness, disability, complete financial and physical dependence, for example). Such cases are examined individually by the administration on production of the relevant evidence and medical certificates.

Other ways to move to Spain

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Spain.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.