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Family reunification

Authorisation for a legal resident in Spain to bring their family: spouse or partner, minor or dependent children and, under conditions, parents. You apply in Spain and your family gets the visa at the consulate.

Minimum income 150% of the IPREM (€900/month) for you and one relative, +50% (€300/month) for each additional relative. Two things almost nobody knows and that can decide your case: if you are reuniting MINORS, the amount can be reduced to 110% of the guaranteed income of the Minimum Living Income (+10% per additional minor), applying the best interests of the child; and it is not only your income that counts: your spouse or partner and first-degree relatives in the direct line who live in Spain with you add up too (art. 67.1 RD 1155/2024).
Initial duration Valid until the same date as the sponsor's permit (minimum 1 year)
Decision time 2 months (legal deadline, art. 68.6; silence means refusal)
Work allowed? ✓ Yes
Family allowed? ✓ Yes
Fee 2026 Form 790, code 052 per family member (check the current amount when you apply)

📋 Reunified family members (spouse and working-age children) are authorised to work, employed or self-employed.

Step by step

✅ How to apply, from Spain

A two-phase process: you (the sponsor) apply for the authorisation in Spain; once granted, your family member applies for the visa at the consulate.

  1. You apply in Spain (EX-02) — At the Immigration Office of your province (or online via Mercurio), proving legal residence, income and the adequate housing report.
  2. Decision: silence here means REFUSED — The immigration office has two months to decide. Careful here, because this is where most people get it wrong: if that deadline passes with no reply, the application is deemed REFUSED, not granted (art. 68.6 RD 1155/2024). Do not wait for an approval letter that will not arrive; start counting your appeal deadline. Renewal of an already reunited relative's permit works the opposite way: it is deemed granted after three months of silence (art. 71). (2 months (legal deadline))
  3. Your family applies for the visa at the consulate — They have 2 months from approval to apply for the visa at the Spanish consulate in their country.
  4. Entry and TIE — The family member enters Spain and applies for their TIE within 1 month.

Condición: To FILE the application it is enough to have lived in Spain for at least a year and to have APPLIED for the renewal of your permit (art. 68.1); you do not need it granted yet. What does require the grant is the end of the process: it will not be issued until your renewal is effective. For ascendants, having applied for long-term residence is enough (art. 68.1.a).

Publicidad

Mistakes that get applications refused

⚠️ Thinking you can reunify your parents as an ordinary resident

Consecuencia: Application refused

Solución: Parents (dependent, over 65) can only be reunified by a LONG-TERM resident (after 5 years). A spouse/partner and children can be reunified by an ordinary resident after renewing their permit.

⚠️ Waiting until your renewal has been GRANTED before filing

Consecuencia: You delay the process by months for no reason

Solución: To FILE, it is enough to have resided one year and to have applied for the renewal (art. 68.1 RD 1155/2024). What the rule conditions is the GRANT — your relative's authorization is not issued until your renewal actually takes effect (art. 68.1 in fine; art. 18.1 LOEX).

⚠️ Not providing the adequate housing report

Consecuencia: Incomplete application

Solución: Request the housing report from your CCAA or town hall in advance (no older than 6 months).

Frequently asked questions

Who can I bring to Spain through reunification?

Your spouse or registered partner, children under 18 or dependent, and dependent parents over 65 (the latter only if you are a long-term resident).

How much income do I need?

150% of IPREM (€900/month) for two people, plus 50% (€300/month) for each additional family member.

Where do I apply?

You apply in Spain (form EX-02); your family then gets their visa at the consulate.

I just got regularised — can I bring my family?

You can start reunifying your spouse and children as soon as you have been legally resident for one year and have APPLIED for the renewal of your permit — you do not need it granted yet in order to file (art. 68.1 RD 1155/2024). Your relative's authorization, however, will not be granted until your renewal actually takes effect. You can reunify your parents once you reach long-term residency (after 5 years).

Can reunified family members work?

Yes, the spouse and working-age children are authorised to work.

How long is the family member's permit valid?

Until the same date as your own permit, with a minimum of one year.

Can I bring an adult child to care for me?

Yes, and it is a route few people know about: art. 66.1.f of RD 1155/2024 allows you to reunite an adult son or daughter who will act as your carer, provided you have a recognised degree of dependency.

Legal basis

LO 4/2000 (LOEX) arts. 16-19; RD 1155/2024 (Immigration Regulation), arts. 65-68; Directive 2003/86/EC.

Checked against the consolidated text on 2026-08-30.

Official sources

🔗 Ministerio de Inclusión — Reagrupación familiar → 🔗 RD 1155/2024 (Reglamento de Extranjería) → 🔗 LO 4/2000 (LOEX) art. 18 →

Última actualización: 2026-07-07

ℹ️ La información de esta web es orientativa y de carácter general. No constituye asesoramiento jurídico. Para tu caso concreto, consulta con un abogado especializado en extranjería o con la oficina oficial correspondiente. Emigra España nunca aconseja actuar fuera de la legalidad.