In short: a foreigner with legal residence in Spain can bring their family through family reunification; you must show sufficient income (≈150% of IPREM for 2 members, +50% per extra member) and adequate housing (RD 1155/2024).
In person or by representative? Mixed procedure, in two stages (RD 1155/2024; information sheet 8). You, as the sponsor, apply for the authorisation at the immigration office (oficina de extranjería) of the province where you live, on the official form (art. 68.3): form EX-02. You can file it in person, electronically on the Mercurio portal, or through a representative with a notarial power of attorney or an apud acta authorisation (arts. 68.2, 197.1 and 197.4; sheet 60). Once it is granted, your relative applies for the visa at the Spanish consulate for their place of residence within two months of being notified that it was granted (art. 40.1.a). Art. 40.1 allows this in person or through a representative, but sheet 8 says they apply for it and collect it in person (for a minor, their representative). Since the official sources do not match, they should plan to go in person. Once in Spain, your relative applies for the TIE card in person within one month of entry (art. 37.3); a minor goes with their representative (sheet 8).
Who can reunify: a foreign national with legal residence in Spain. You can apply once you have lived in Spain for at least one year and have applied for the authorisation to reside for at least another year (art. 68.1). Your relative's authorisation is not granted until yours has been renewed. To bring your parents (or your spouse's or partner's parents) under the general regime you need long-term residence (LO 4/2000, art. 18.1). You can apply as soon as you have applied for it (art. 68.1.a).
Reunifiable family members:
- Spouse or partner (over 18; not available in polygamy situations). The partnership can be registered in a public register of an EU country, or be a stable unregistered relationship with at least 12 months of continuous cohabitation in or outside Spain (art. 66.1.b). That period is not required if you have children together.
- Children under 18 when the authorisation is requested, or adult children with a disability that requires support or who, because of their health, cannot support themselves (art. 66.1.c).
- Parents over 65 (yours or your spouse's or partner's) who depend on you, when there are reasons that justify them living in Spain; under 65, only on humanitarian grounds (art. 66.1.e). Economic dependency can be proven even if they are already in Spain: the Supreme Court annulled the requirement that it arise in the country of origin (STS 868/2026, art. 196.2.b).
Sponsor's requirements: stable, regular, sufficient income (≈150% of IPREM for a 2-member unit and +50% of IPREM per additional member) and adequate housing. Housing is proven with a report from the social services of the autonomous community (or of the town council, if the community has decided so), which must issue it within one month (art. 67.2). If it does not arrive in time and you can show this, any other evidence accepted in law will do. The report or that evidence cannot be more than six months old when you apply. You also need health insurance for yourself as the sponsor and for the relatives you want to bring (art. 67.3); the rule does not specify the coverage period. What consulates usually ask for: health insurance for a residence visa.
Important: for family members of Spanish nationals there is a separate figure (residence of relatives of Spaniards, Instruction SEM 2/2025), distinct from this general-regime reunification.
Official source: Immigration Regulation (RD 1155/2024); detail at inclusion.gob.es.
Informational only; exact amounts and documents vary — check the official source and a professional for your case.
