If you are planning to bring your family to Spain, you cannot do without a document called Informe de vivienda adecuada.
In this article, we will explain what this certificate is, who should request it, and how the rules and list of documents differ depending on the region of residence.
What is Informe de vivienda adecuada
This is an official administrative report that confirms that your housing meets minimum sanitary standards, is not overcrowded, and is suitable for additional family members to live in.
The main purpose of the Informe de vivienda adecuada report is to prove to the state that a foreign citizen can provide decent living conditions for themselves and their relatives.
Who needs this document and when
Family reunification (Reagrupación familiar) — this is the main document for obtaining initial residence for family members: spouses, children, or parents.
Renewal of residence permit for reunification — if you have changed your address since receiving your previous card.
Legalization of minors: for children who were not born in Spain but are residing here.
Important to remember: the application for obtaining Informe de vivienda adecuada is submitted by the main applicant (Spanish resident), not by the family member being reunified.
General procedure for obtaining
Although each municipality in Spain has its own specifics, the standard process looks like this:
Submitting the application: in person at the town hall or online through Sede Electrónica (digital signature or Cl@ve required).
Confirmation of submission: after sending the application and all necessary documents, you can download a file with the case number from your personal account, confirming the submission of the report request.
Call from the inspector and appointment scheduling.
Actual housing inspection: during the visit, the inspector checks the total area, number of rooms, and compliance with sanitary standards (presence of kitchen, bathroom, lighting, ventilation, and proper functioning of utilities, etc.).
Receiving the informe de vivienda adecuada.
List of documents for Informe de vivienda adecuada
Below we have compiled a maximum list of documents; the exact list is usually provided by your city's town hall after submitting the application.
Copy of the applicant's TIE
Documents confirming property ownership (Nota Simple) or housing rental
Housing certificate (Cédula de habitabilidad) or apartment/house plan
Registration certificate (no older than 3 months)
Marriage/children's birth certificates
Certificate of cohabitation (separate document, requested on the city hall website)
Utility payment receipts
Fee payment receipt (cost varies by region, in some regions it's free)
Regional Specifics and Timeframes
According to legislation, authorities have 1 month to issue the report. However, in practice, processing times vary greatly. While in small towns this takes a couple of weeks, in large cities the process can be prolonged.
📍 Barcelona
Waiting period: from 1 to 5 months.
Online submission: through the Barcelona city hall website, application template can be downloaded here (latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader required)
Barcelona City Hall requests the following documents for issuing the Informe de vivienda adecuada:
Application with explanation of housing conditions and persons residing in it
Copy of TIE card or passport
complete and valid copy of the applicant's passportDocuments confirming property ownership (nota simple) or housing rental agreement
Certificate of cohabitation confirming the number of people living in one house
This document is not actually required by the city hall, as they can verify it themselves.Certificate of occupancy.
This document confirms that the residential premises meet the minimum conditions for habitation
If it is impossible to provide such a certificate, any of the following documents must be provided:
certificate from the property registry
recent water and electricity bills
📍 Valencia
Waiting period: inspector's call within 10 days, overall completion — approximately 20 days.
Submission: in person at the Ayuntamiento or through the city hall website
Cost: the fee is paid through form A205, the exact amount is calculated when submitting the application
What to do if the certificate is not issued on time
If the deadline (1 month) is violated, you can confirm housing compliance through an alternative method — via a special declaration, to which you attach:
Copy of the request to the city hall for the Vivienda Adecuada report (proof that you applied a month ago).
Housing documents (Nota Simple or rental contract).
Housing description: number of rooms, their purpose, number of residents, and confirmation of suitability.
Informe de vivienda adecuada is a technical but critically important step. Main advice: start the process as early as possible, especially in Barcelona.
Would you like to share your experience obtaining this certificate in your region of Spain? Contact us.
