Family reunification (authorisation and TIE after entering Spain)

What you need to have at hand

1. Cl@ve o certificado digital to submit EX-02 online.
2. Contrato de alquiler/escritura and empadronamiento up to date.
3. Stable income: payslips, contract and bank statements.
4. Foreign certificates (marriage/birth) apostilled and translated by a sworn translator.
5. Patience for the Informe de vivienda adecuada and the fingerprint appointment.

Documentation

1. EX-02 completed and signed.
2. Pasaporte completo of the family member and your TIE/NIE and passport.
3. Certificado literal of marriage or birth, apostilla/legalización and traducción jurada (less than 6 months).
4. Informe de vivienda adecuada from the Ayuntamiento/CCAA (contract/deed, plan, cédula if required).
5. Medios económicos: contract, 6 months payslips, IRPF, vida laboral, bank statements.
6. Empadronamiento of the reagrupante (and cohabitants if applicable).
7. Modelo 790 código 052 paid (receipt).
8. Seguro médico if you are not registered/covered by the Seguridad Social.

Step by step

1. Request the Informe de vivienda at your Ayuntamiento/CCAA (Servicios Sociales). It takes time and can expire, so do this first.
2. Fill and sign Modelo EX-02. Scan everything to clear PDFs.
3. Submit online via Mercurio with Cl@ve/certificado: sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es/mercurio/inicioMercurio.html.
4. Pay the fee Modelo 790 código 052 at sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es/tasasExtranjeria/inicio and upload the receipt.
5. Respond to requerimientos if you get them via Carpeta Ciudadana. Deadlines are strict.
6. If granted: download the resolution. Your family member applies for the visa at the consulate (exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/Paginas/index.aspx).
7. Entry to Spain and TIE: book at sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es/icpplus/index.html, pay 790-012 (sede.policia.gob.es/Tasa790_012/), bring EX-17, photos, passport, visa and the resolution.

Tricks that save time

1. Upload clear PDFs and include an index page listing documents.
2. Use recent certificates: don't wait until the last day, but don't get them months early either.
3. Try appointments first thing (07:55–08:10) and mid-month. Switch comisaría within your province.
4. Keep Carpeta Ciudadana active and notifications on. Many notices get lost by email.
5. If your income is tight, add supporting proof (permanent contract, work seniority, bank balance) to reduce risk of denial.

Common mistakes that can derail the process

1. Not having 1 year of legal residence as reagrupante or not being able to renew for at least another year: straight denial.
2. Housing report expired or missing: requerimiento/filing out.
3. Certificates without apostille/sworn translation: inadmissión or denial.
4. Insufficient income without proper proof: likely refusal.
5. Requesting the TIE late (more than 1 month after entry): fine and later complications.
6. Paying the wrong fee (wrong 790 code/epígrafe): file stops until fixed.