Joint accounts, spouses and family: who must own the money

Key rules

• Dependants: Spouse, registered partner, minor children and financially dependent adult children each add to the amount you must show.
• Partner's money: It counts toward the household total when your partner applies with you and documents it in their own name.
• Not included: An unregistered partner, parents and other relatives do not add to the amount on these visas; once you are a resident, they can be reunified.

Each family member raises the amount you must show

This applies to non-EU applicants. EU citizens and UK citizens with Withdrawal Agreement rights follow their own rules.

The main applicant's amount (400% of IPREM per year, which is 28,800 euros on the non-lucrative visa) is set on How much money you must show for Spanish residence. On the non-lucrative visa each dependant adds 100% of IPREM per year, which is 7,200 euros at the 2025 figure, the same for a spouse and a child. On the student visa each family member who comes with you adds 75% of IPREM per month. On the remote-work visa the first dependant adds 75% of the SMI per month and each further dependant adds 25%, on top of the main applicant's 200%.

Who counts as a dependant

The increase applies to family members who come to live in Spain with you:

• your married spouse, who proves the marriage with a marriage certificate
• your registered partner, who proves the partnership with the registration certificate
• minor children, who prove the link with a birth certificate
• adult children who depend on you financially, including an adult child who cannot provide for themselves because of health; they prove the dependence with records of the money you send them and a certificate from their home authority showing they have no income of their own

Three groups are not dependants on these visas:

• An unmarried, unregistered partner is not included in your application. Until you are a resident, they can apply on their own visa with their own funds, or you can register the partnership. Once you are a resident, a partner who proves a stable relationship, with at least 1 year living together or a child in common, can be reunified.
• A dependent parent is not included either. Once you are a resident, a parent who depends on you can be reunified; parents over 65 are covered by the same route.
• Any other relative who depends on you follows the same route as a parent.

The conditions for reunification are in What family reunification (reagrupación familiar) actually requires and the sponsor's income test in the income test for reunification.

When a joint account counts

Joint accounts with a spouse or partner are accepted. The statements must show you as a holder. Funds in a joint account are counted once for the household: do not add them twice, once for each of you.

When your partner's money counts

The non-lucrative total is the sum of what each of you holds. Two things are needed:

• proof of the relationship
• proof of each person's funds, with the partner's money documented in their own name

If your partner's money sits only in an account you do not hold, it does not count. Move it into a joint account, or document it in their name.

On the remote-work visa the main applicant's own income must reach the 200% amount. Your partner's income from remote work, documented in their name, can cover the increases for dependants.

Before you apply

Work out the total first: the main amount plus one increase per family member travelling. Then check that the statements, joint or separate, cover it. Each family member files their own national visa application form at the consulate with jurisdiction over your residence, and pays the consular fee of 80 EUR for their own application.

Documents you need

• Marriage certificate, or the partnership registration certificate, when your partner applies or holds the account with you
• Birth certificates for minor children, and documents proving the dependence of an adult child
• Bank statements for the joint account showing you as a holder
• Proof of your partner's own funds or income, in their name, if you want it to count toward the household total