What is the minimum income required to bring a spouse over on a Spanish residence permit?

For a family of two (sponsor + spouse), the minimum threshold is €900/month (150% of IPREM). Add €300/month for each additional family member.

Do family members need health insurance for reunification?

Until they are registered in the seguridad social system, a private health insurance policy is required. After empadronamiento and receiving the TIE card, family members are entitled to apply for enrollment in public healthcare.

How long is a criminal record certificate valid for reagrupación?

Exactly 90 days from the date of issue — a strict limit for all residence permit categories. Request the document no earlier than two to three months before filing.

eurogarant

Spain Residence Permits · updated 07/26/2026

Family Reunification in Spain: who you can bring and how much you need to earn in 2026

Q: Can I bring my parents to Spain on a residence permit if they are under 65?

Yes, but only with documented proof of financial dependence on the sponsor or a health condition requiring ongoing care. Being under retirement age is not, in itself, a qualifying ground.

Q: What happens to family members' residence permits if the sponsor loses their job?

The card remains valid until its expiration date. Difficulties arise at renewal: at the time the renewal package is filed, income thresholds must once again meet the requirements.

Updated: July 26, 2026 · Verified by the EuroGarant team against official sources

In short: a resident holding a valid residence permit may apply for family reunification (reagrupación familiar) for a spouse, minor children and — subject to additional conditions — parents. The minimum income for a family of two is 900 €/month. The application form is EX-02.

Who is entitled to apply

The application is always initiated by the resident sponsor — the person already living in Spain with a valid residence permit. The law distinguishes between the family "core" and the extended circle of relatives.

Core circle (no additional restrictions)

Spouse / registered partner (pareja de hecho): the shared life together must be documented.
Minor children under 18 — both children of the couple and children of only one spouse, provided there is sole or joint custody.
Adult children with a disability who are objectively unable to support themselves.

Extended circle (subject to additional conditions)

Parents of the sponsor or their spouse: they can be brought over only if they are financially dependent, have reached retirement age, or have a documented health condition requiring care.
Other relatives who permanently lived in the same household — only in exceptional cases, at the discretion of Extranjería.

📋 Not sure which of your family members qualify for reagrupación under your specific type of residence permit? Generate a personalized document list with the Checklist Generator — it accounts for your family composition and residence permit category.

Income thresholds: table by family size

The sponsor's income must be stable and sufficient to support everyone coming over. Thresholds are calculated as multiples of IPREM (600 €/month).

Family composition	Minimum income	% IPREM
Sponsor + 1 family member	900 €/month	150%
Sponsor + 2 family members	1,200 €/month	200%
Sponsor + 3 family members	1,500 €/month	Base 150% + 300 €/month for each

The supplement for each additional relative beyond the first is 300 €/month. Income is verified with employer statements, tax returns, or bank account statements covering at least the last three months.

If you are applying for a non-lucrative residence permit (NLV), the minimum threshold for the sponsor alone is 2,400 €/month, and each additional family member adds 600 €/month to that base. Learn more on the NLV — Non-Lucrative Residence Permit page.

Step-by-step filing procedure

Assemble the document package for the sponsor and each incoming family member (passports, apostilled criminal record certificates, birth certificates, marriage certificate).
Obtain an apostille for foreign documents and order a sworn translation into Spanish. The finer points are covered in the article Criminal Record Certificate, Apostille and Sworn Translation for a Spanish Residence Permit.
Submit form EX-02 via cita previa at the Oficina de Extranjería in the sponsor's place of registration.
Wait for approval — once the decision is favorable, each incoming family member applies for a national D visa at the Spanish consulate in their country of residence.
Entry and the TIE card: after arriving in Spain, apply for the resident card. The TIE filing window is 1 month from the date of entry.

Keep in mind: a criminal record certificate is valid for no more than 90 days as of the filing date — request it closer to your appointment booking.

Document checklist for reunification

The minimum package for filing form EX-02:

✅ Sponsor's valid passport — with at least 1 year of validity remaining
✅ Sponsor's TIE card with a valid residence permit
✅ Proof of income (employer statement, IRPF tax return, bank statements)
✅ Rental agreement or ownership documents for housing (empadronamiento)
✅ Passports of all incoming family members
✅ Apostilled criminal record certificates for adults (valid for 90 days)
✅ Marriage certificate / children's birth certificates with apostille and sworn translation
✅ Form EX-02 (completed and signed by the sponsor)
✅ Insurance policy for incoming family members (until they obtain seguridad social)

If school-age children are among those coming over, study the enrollment procedure in advance — the article Schools and Children's Education in Spain will help you choose between public, private, and international schools.

Common mistakes when applying for reagrupación

An expired criminal record certificate. The document loses validity after 90 days — many applicants request it too early, and by the cita previa date it is no longer valid.
No apostille behind the translation. The apostille goes on the original, not on the translation. The sworn translation is a separate document attached to the apostilled original.
Housing that does not meet requirements. Extranjería checks whether the space is sufficient for the declared family size. The rental agreement must be current and cover all members.
Income not fully documented. Verbal arrangements or cash-in-hand payments are not accepted — only official documents with an IBAN and stamps.
Application filed after the sponsor's residence permit has expired. Reagrupación can only be filed with a valid residence authorization; if the permit has expired, a renewal must come first.
The wrong form. Reunification uses EX-02, not EX-10 (arraigo) and not EX-15 (NIE) — mixing up forms is one of the most common reasons a package gets returned.

🧮 Want to calculate precisely whether your income is sufficient for your family size and residence permit type? Use the 2026 Income Calculator — it covers the DNV, NLV, and reunification thresholds.

The path to permanent residency and citizenship for the reunified family

Family members who arrive via reagrupación receive a temporary residence permit tied to the sponsor's status. After accumulating 5 years of lawful residence, they become eligible to apply independently for long-term residency (permanent residency), and after 10 years — for citizenship by naturalization. The detailed route is laid out in the article From Residence Permit to Permanent Residency and Spanish Citizenship.

A typical family relocation scenario — from choosing the residence route to enrolling children in school — is described in the article Moving to Spain as a Family: A Typical Scenario.

FAQ: common questions about family reunification

Can I bring my parents if they are under 65?

Yes, but only with documented proof of dependence (financial reliance on the sponsor) or a health condition requiring ongoing care. Being under retirement age is not, in itself, a qualifying ground.

What is the minimum income required to bring a spouse?

For a family of two (sponsor + spouse) — 900 €/month (150% of IPREM). Each additional member adds 300 €/month to the threshold.

Do incoming family members need health insurance?

Until family members are registered in the social security system (seguridad social), a private health insurance policy is required. After registering in the padrón and receiving the TIE, they are entitled to apply for enrollment in public healthcare.

How long is a criminal record certificate valid?

Exactly 90 days from the date of issue — a strict limit that applies to all residence permit categories. Request the certificate no earlier than two to three months before your planned filing.

Can children who arrived via reagrupación attend Spanish schools?

Yes, resident children have the same right to education as Spanish citizens. Enrollment in a public school is handled through the municipality of empadronamiento — usually between April and June for the following school year.

What happens to family members' residence permits if the sponsor loses their job?

A reagrupación residence permit remains valid until the card's expiration date, even if the sponsor's income temporarily drops. Problems can arise at renewal: at the time the renewal is filed, income thresholds must once again meet the requirements.

Discover your residence route in 60 seconds Free assessment: we'll tell you honestly which residence permit category fits you and whether your income qualifies.

Free consultation

Official sources: BOE — Spanish legislation · Ministry of Inclusion and Migration · Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (consulates)