Family reunification in Spain: a travel document for spouses, children and parents

Family reunification in Spain: 10-step scheme

1. Identify the status of the inviteer

   The regime depends on who already lives in Spain: a non-EU resident, a Spanish citizen, a foreign EU citizen or a DNV applicant.

   • Recorded citizenship and status of the person to whom the family is going
   • Found his mode in the table above
   • If the inviteer is on the DNV, he's open DNV sheet and DNV article on the family

   Where: Reglamento (arts. 65-71 and 93-99), Real Decreto 240/2007, Ley 14/2013Duration: before documents are collectedCost: free of charge

   When assistance is needed: the inviteer of dual nationality, the extension permit or the grounds change: the regime and the time frame are counted on the documents.

2. Check mode conditions

   The general regime is most demanding: for the Spanish family, there are no income and housing requirements in articles 94 to 96, and there is a need for communication and living together.

   • General regime: I live in Spain for over a year, permit is in effect for at least another year
   • General regime: income not less than 150 per cent of IPREM for me and one family member and 50 per cent for each of the following (with IPREM 600 I for SEPE on 3 October 2026 is 900 y and 300 y per month; for children, article 67.1 may give another amount)
   • EU citizen ’s family: EU citizen working, having funds or studying

   Where: Reglamento, SEPE (IPREM)Duration: pending submissionCost: free of charge

   When you need help, it's mixed or foreign income, and the regulations don't say, count a month or a year, and the approach checks with your Oficina de Extranjería.

3. Confirm family ties

   The bond is proven with the apostille and the jury's translation into Spanish, and a partner without a marriage will fit a record in a public register or 12 months of a life together in a row, with no time limit for common children.

   • Marriage or birth certificate with apostille and a jury
   • Partner: register release or 12 months of proof of life together
   • Child from one parent: second parent ’s consent or custody decision
   • Parents: proof of a condition (over 65 years of age)

   Where: authorities of the country of extradition, Registre de parelles estables Catalunya, jurorDuration: Apostille and translation are ordered in advance, dates are country-drivenCost: Apostille and translation are paid separately

   When you need help, a couple has a record in a Catalan register, and if the agency will accept it as a public register, check each case, the backup route is 12 months of life together.

4. Prepare housing, income and insurance (general regime)

   These documents are most often delayed, the housing report is issued not instantly, but is limited in its duration.

   • Ordered a housing report, at the date of submission, for a maximum of 6 months.
   • Collected evidence of income: income from activities is considered as net profit, pensions and benefits are counted, and no assistance is provided for studies and housing, maintenance and social assistance (art. 67.1)
   • Set up a seguro de enfermedad for all family members
   • Other school-age children already living in Spain are enrolled in school

   Where: social services or community AjuntamentDuration: Monthly report by regulation, other evidence will be available if delayedCost: See the office page

   When you need help, you can find a sublet or a room, a non-regular income, children from different marriages.

5. Pay the fee and sign up.

   The general regime is paid, the Spanish family is paid without a duty, only the TIE card.

   • Found a model 790 and a code of procedure on the agency's page.
   • Payed the fee and kept the receipt.
   • He's on a hit prévia on the Officina de Extranjeria if you need a tape.

   Where: sede.administraciónspublicas.gob.es, Policya Nacional (tasas)Duration: before delivery, see reference sheetValue: 10.94 I was primary and 16.40 I extended by order PJC/617/2025; Spaniard ’s family without duty

   When you need help, you don't know whether the code is a duty or the type of record: error is worth time and money.

6. Make a statement.

   The Spanish's family is served by a Spaniard, and if both are in Spain, by either of the two, the EU citizen's relative is on the map.

   • I've identified who's feeding and what's the Oficina de Extranjería.
   • Applyed, saved resguardo and a copy of the entire package
   • If submitted by representative, have a notary power of attorney or apud acta

   Where: Ofcina de Extranjería in Barcelona; for the EU family OFICINA de Extranjeros or cosariíaDuration: For the EU family map, three months after entryCost: step 5 duty

   When you need help, the couple don't have a marriage, no register, only one parent or a status of inviteee.

7. Follow the notifications and answer the requerimiento

   The decision on the general regime and the Spanish family was taken within two months, and silence meant rejection; when both in Spain and the application were made, the Spanish family was allowed to live and work for the duration of the examination.

   • Open electronic notices: unread after 10 calendar days is considered rejected
   • Requerimiento answered on time from the notice and collected the whole package
   • If refused, write down the date of notification and the time limit for appeal

   Where: sede, Carpeta CiudadanaDuration: up to 2 months, silence means refusalCost: free of charge

   When you need help, requerimiento is essentially and any refusal is short.

8. Get a visa and move in.

   If the family is abroad, after a positive decision, she will be granted a visa at the consulate at her place of residence, and must enter within a month.

   • Applyed for a visa to the consulate in the family home
   • I bought tickets after getting a visa and I moved in within a month.
   • Saved the entry confirmation.

   Where: Spanish Consulate at the place of residence, where to submit documents from CIS countriesDuration: Entry within monthCost: Consular fee on consulate tariff

   When you need help, you're either late or you're almost out for a month.

9. Request TIE and close the first 30 days

   TIE is requested personally within a month: after entry, and if the family has filed from Spain, after notification of the decision, then registration of the address, school and health centre.

   • He signed up for Huellas and filed an EX-17 with a receipt of 790-012 (in the case of the "Huellas").How it works in Barcelona)
   • Registered address to padrón: Empadronamiento in Barcelona
   • He has processed the Tarjeta Sanitaria and enrolled the children in school: Tarjeta Sanitaria in Catalonia

   Where: Policy National, AuntationDuration: monthCost: TIE 16.08 I, for the Spanish family 12

   When you need help, a month on TIE is almost out or a mistake is made on the card.

10. Set extension and status

    The extension is granted within two months of the end or three months after the end of the extension, and the general permit is granted for four years and is attached to the status of the invitee, the family of a Spanish citizen, for five years.

    • Put an extension window on the calendar
    • Checked the right to a free permit: spouse or partner after one year of reunification at his or her means or work, children at majority or after 5 years in Spain
    • I'm reporting changes to the department: divorce, change of address and family composition

    Where: Ofcina de ExtranjeríaDuration: 2 months before or 3 months after the end; silence 3 months means consentValue: 16.40 I ordered PJC/617/2025 and TIE to extend 19.30

    When assistance is needed: divorce, death of the invitee or domestic violence: the permission itself has special rules.