Managing body: Government of Catalonia.
This certificate entitles the holder to the status of large family and allows him/her to enjoy advantages with various institutions, entities and commercial establishments. Each family member is issued with a card.
The status of large family is granted to families with one or two parents with three or more children, whether or not they have children in common. Other family compositions are also recognised as large families, which can be consulted in the “Requirements” section.
Table 1:Families eligible for the large family certificate
| Type of family | Conditions |
|---|---|
|
One or two parents with three or more children |
Children may or may not be common |
|
Separated or divorced individuals with three or more children |
Children may or may not be common, they may belong to different family units but remain financially dependent; legal proof may be required. |
|
Separated or divorced individuals with shared custody of their children |
Requires written agreement between the parents on who is listed on the certificate. |
|
A parent with two children, in the event that the other parent is deceased |
|
| One or two grandparents with two children, at least one of whom has a disability of 33% or greater, or incapacity | |
| Two grandparents with two children, at least one of whom has a recognised disability (33% or greater), or one parent with a disability of 65% or higher |
Includes cases of single-parent families with a parent with a recognised disability of 65% or greater. |
|
Two or more siblings who have lost both parents and live with their guardian or foster carer |
They are not financially dependent on the guardian or foster carer |
|
Three or more siblings who are fully orphaned, over 18 years of age, or two if one has a disability |
They must live together and be financially dependent on each other |
Table 2: Requirements for counting children
| Requirements | Conditions |
|---|---|
| Under 21 years of age | They are always considered large family members. |
| Over 21 years and under 26 years of age | They must be enrolled in recognised academic or professional studies. |
| Disability greater than 33% | Regardless of age |
|
Living with the parent or parents |
Except in cases of separation or divorce, or temporary separation |
| Financial dependence on the parent or parents | In all cases, the annual income of the children may not exceed the Public Income Indicator for Multiple Effects (IPREM) |
Table 3: Categories of large families
| Category | Criteria |
|---|---|
| General |
All large families, except those in the special category |
| Special | - Each child with a disability equal to or greater than 33% or unable to work counts as two. The following may be classified as special: two children with disabilities, three children, one of whom has a disability. - Five children or more, or four children, at least three of whom are from birth, adoption, permanent foster care or multiple pre-adoption, or twins.- The annual income of the family unit, divided by the number of members, must not exceed 75% of the IPREM in force, including extra payments. |
– Registration in the municipal register: Must be registered as a resident in Catalonia.
– Legal residence: Yes. Must have legal residence in Spain, demonstrated with a valid residence permit.
– Required documentation:
| Types of documentation | Detail |
|---|---|
| General | - National ID card (DNI)/tax identification number (NIF/NIE) of family members, if the applicant objects to the Department of Social Rights' consultation. - Proof of parentage: - Children in common: Copy of the family record book (if available) or birth certificates. - Children not in common: Copy of the first page of the family record book and the page showing the children’s details, or birth certificates. - Adoption: Court ruling, notarial deed or administrative resolution, if it is not registered in the family record book. - Guardianship/Foster care: Judicial or administrative resolution. |
| Specific | - Cohabitation document stating where a registered individual lives and with whom from the municipal register: Of the family unit on the date of the application, if consultation has not been authorised. - Record of cohabitation: Certificate for the last two years or notarial deed for stable unions with non-common children. - Studies/Enrolment: Certificate of studies, payment receipt (indicating name, amount, recipient and academic year) or copy of enrolment for children between 21 and 26 years of age. - Guardianship, custody, maintenance payments: Judicial resolution, regulatory agreement and the last 6 bank receipts of payment. - Disability: Certificate of degree of disability if recognised outside Catalonia or if consultation has not been authorised. |
Income:
| Category | Income thresholds |
|---|---|
| General |
All large families, except those in the special category, have no income limit. |
| Special |
The annual income of the family unit, divided by the number of members, must not exceed 75% of the IPREM in force. For 2025, 75% of the IPREM is €6,300/year per person: Families with 3 members: €18,900 Each child must not have annual income exceeding the current IPREM (€8,400/year for 2025). |
– Recognised disability: Each son or daughter with a disability equal to or greater than 33% or incapacity to work will count as two for determining the category (i.e. if there are two sons or daughters with disabilities, or three sons or daughters and one of them has a disability, both families can be special category if they do not exceed the income threshold).
Amount and frequency:
● Charges: There are no fees associated with this procedure.
● Deadlines: It can be applied for at any time.
● Validity of the certificate: The certificate is valid until the date on which the eldest child reaches the age of 21. Thereafter, if the conditions for continued eligibility are maintained, renewals shall, as a general rule, be valid biennially.