Family Reunification in Spain: Who Qualifies and How to Apply
Bringing relatives to Spain takes a year of legal residence, steady income, a housing report and a consulate visa. Here is how the process runs from Barcelona.
A non-EU resident in Spain can apply for reagrupación familiar (family reunification) after living legally in Spain for one year and applying to renew the permit for at least one more year. As of November 2026, the sponsor needs income of 150% of the IPREM for a two-person household, which is €900 a month, plus adequate housing and health insurance.
Who can you bring to Spain?
The rules are in articles 66 to 71 of the immigration regulation, Real Decreto 1155/2024, in force since May 2025. You can apply for these relatives:
- Spouse aged 18 or over, not separated. Only one spouse can be brought, even if your personal law allows more.
- Unmarried partner aged 18 or over, if the partnership is entered in a public register in an EU country, or if you can prove at least 12 months of living together. The 12 months are not required if you have a child together.
- Children of you or your spouse or partner, under 18 on the date of the application, or older if they have a disability that requires support or cannot provide for themselves because of their health. For a child of only one partner, that parent needs sole custody or the other parent’s consent.
- Parents of you or your spouse or partner, if they are over 65, depend on you and there are reasons for them to live in Spain. Parents under 65 qualify only on humanitarian grounds.
- An adult child who will act as carer, if you have an officially recognized degree of dependency.
When can you apply?
The general rule is one year of legal residence in Spain plus a pending or granted renewal for at least one more year. The family member’s permit is not issued until your own renewal has actually been granted.
There are two exceptions. Holders of long-term residence, or applicants who have already filed for it, can apply to bring their parents. People who hold EU long-term resident status from another EU country also follow their own route. If you are approaching five years in Spain, our guide to renewing a TIE and residence permit explains the timing of each renewal.
How much income do you need?
The regulation sets the minimum as a share of the IPREM, the public income index used for benefits and permits. The IPREM is €600 a month as of November 2026, the figure from the 2023 state budget, which has been extended since. The income must be fixed and regular.
| People in the household (you included) | Share of IPREM | Monthly income, as of November 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 150% | €900 |
| 3 | 200% | €1,200 |
| 4 | 250% | €1,500 |
| 5 | 300% | €1,800 |
Each extra person adds 50% of the IPREM. The office counts gross income, including the proportional part of extra salary payments, and net income from self-employment. It can add the income of your spouse or partner and of parents or children who live with you and are residents in Spain. Study grants, housing aid, alimony that is not paid to the relative you want to bring, and social assistance payments do not count.
For children, the office can accept a lower amount when the best interests of the child justify it. In that case the reference is 110% of the guaranteed income of the Ingreso Mínimo Vital (the national minimum income) for a household of two, plus 10% for each extra child.
How do you get the housing report in Barcelona?
You must prove that the flat is adequate for the whole family. In Catalonia the proof is the informe d’adequació de l’habitatge (housing adequacy report), issued by the Generalitat’s migration department. According to the official procedure page, you apply in person, preferably at the Ajuntament where you are registered, and the report is free as of November 2026. It should be issued within 30 working days.
The page lists these documents:
- the signed application, with a statement on the condition of the home and who lives there
- a full copy of your valid passport
- your title to the home, such as the rental contract or deeds
- a volant de convivència (certificate of everyone registered at the address), which you get after registering on the padrón
- the cèdula d’habitabilitat (habitability certificate) or, if there is none, a land registry nota simple or recent water and electricity bills
The report cannot be more than six months old when you file the reunification application. If it is not issued on time, the regulation lets you prove adequate housing by other means, as long as you can show the delay.
What are the steps and how long do they take?
- Get the housing report and gather proof of income and health insurance for you and the relatives.
- Fill in form EX-02 and pay the fee on form 790 code 052. The amount is printed on the form.
- File the application in person at the Oficina de Extranjería (immigration office) in Barcelona, with copies of your passport and theirs and proof of the family relationship.
- Wait for the decision. The office has two months. If it does not answer, the application is treated as refused.
- Once approved, the relative applies for a visa at the Spanish consulate within two months of the notification, bringing the original documents that prove the relationship.
- The consulate has one month to decide. After the visa is issued, the relative must enter Spain within one month.
- After arrival, the relative books a fingerprint appointment for the TIE card, as explained in our TIE appointment guide.
The regulation gives reunification files priority processing, but the legal deadlines are maximums for each office, not a promise of the total time.
Can reunited family members work?
Yes. A spouse, partner or child above working age can work as an employee or self-employed anywhere in Spain without any extra permit. Their residence runs until the expiry date of your permit, with a minimum of one year. After one year, a spouse or partner can apply for an independent permit if they meet one of the conditions in article 69, for example having their own income.
Bottom line
Request the housing report first, since it can take six weeks and must stay under six months old. Keep payslips and bank statements for the months before you apply, because the office looks at regular income, not a single balance. If a parent or a child from a previous relationship is involved, ask an abogado de extranjería to review the file before you book the appointment.
FAQ
Do I need to be married to bring my partner?
No. A partnership registered in an EU country qualifies, and so does an unregistered relationship with at least 12 months of proven cohabitation. The cohabitation period is waived if you have a child together.
Can I bring my parents if they are under 65?
Only on humanitarian grounds. The general rule requires parents to be over 65, financially dependent on you and with reasons that justify living in Spain.
Does my relative need health insurance?
Yes. The regulation requires health insurance for the sponsor and for every family member being brought. Check with the office which policy or proof of public coverage it accepts in your case.
What if the housing report is late?
If the report is not issued within the deadline and you can prove the delay, you may show the condition of the home with other documents. The immigration office then decides whether the evidence is enough.
