Immigration Sponsorship Letter Spain (Carta de Patrocinio de Inmigración)

An Immigration Sponsorship Letter Spain (Carta de Patrocinio de Inmigración) is a formal written declaration through which a Spanish resident, citizen, or legal entity commits to supporting a foreign national's application for a visa, residence permit, or other immigration authorisation in Spain. The letter is governed principally by Ley Orgánica 4/2000, de 11 de enero, sobre Derechos y Libertades de los Extranjeros en España y su Integración Social (LOEX), Article 45, and by Real Decreto 557/2011, de 20 de abril, por el que se aprueba el Reglamento de la Ley Orgánica 4/2000 (Reglamento de Extranjería — RE).

Article 45 LOEX and Article 93 RE regulate the invitation letter (carta de invitación) — a specific form of sponsorship letter used for short-stay Schengen visa applications — which must be executed before a Comisaría de Policía or Oficina de Extranjería and officially stamped (sellada) by the Spanish national police (Cuerpo Nacional de Policía — CNP) to be valid as supporting documentation for visa applications processed by Spanish consulates abroad under Reglamento (UE) 2016/399 (Código de Fronteras Schengen) and Reglamento (CE) 810/2009 (Código de Visados).

Beyond the invitation letter for short stays, Spain issues multiple categories of residence and work authorisations for which sponsorship letters are required. Long-stay residence applications (residencia de larga duración) under Article 32 LOEX, family reunification permits (reagrupación familiar) under Articles 16 through 19 LOEX and Articles 52 through 57 RE, student residence authorisations under Articles 33 and 34 LOEX, and the Golden Visa (visado de residencia para inversores) under Ley 14/2013, de 27 de septiembre, de apoyo a los emprendedores y su internacionalización — all may require formal sponsorship or support documentation from a Spanish resident or institution.

The Delegación del Gobierno para la Inmigración e Integración (formerly the Secretaría de Estado de Migraciones) coordinates immigration policy and the processing of residence permits, while Oficinas de Extranjería (operating within Subdelegaciones del Gobierno and Delegaciones del Gobierno in each province) handle individual permit applications. The Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, Unión Europea y Cooperación oversees visa applications processed through Spanish consulates and embassies abroad.

For family reunification under Articles 16 through 19 LOEX, a family member resident in Spain (reagrupante) must submit a sponsorship application demonstrating sufficient economic resources — the minimum income threshold is set at 150% of the IPREM (Indicador Público de Renta de Efectos Múltiples) for the first family member plus 50% of the IPREM for each additional member. The reagrupante must hold a valid long-stay residence permit (tarjeta de residencia) issued by the Oficina de Extranjería and must provide documentary evidence of the family relationship through certified translations of civil registry documents (Registro Civil).

EU citizens exercising their right to free movement in Spain under Real Decreto 240/2007, de 16 de febrero (transposing Directiva 2004/38/CE) are not subject to the LOEX sponsorship regime — they register directly in the Registro Central de Extranjeros and receive a Certificado de Registro Comunitario. However, their non-EU family members may require a Tarjeta de Residencia de Familiar de Ciudadano de la Unión and may benefit from a sponsorship letter from the EU citizen confirming the family relationship and financial support.

An Immigration Sponsorship Letter Spain is needed whenever a Spanish resident or legal entity is supporting a foreign national's application for entry into, or continued residence in, Spain or the Schengen Area.

The letter is required when a Spanish resident (national or foreign national with legal residence) is inviting a non-EU visitor to Spain for a short stay of up to 90 days under the Schengen regime — the official carta de invitación under Article 45 LOEX must be stamped by the Comisaría de Policía and submitted by the visitor with their Schengen visa application at the Spanish consulate in their home country.

An Immigration Sponsorship Letter is needed when a legal resident in Spain is applying for family reunification (reagrupación familiar) under Articles 16 through 19 LOEX — the reagrupante must prove economic sufficiency and provide a formal undertaking to support the family members they are bringing to Spain.

The letter is required when a Spanish company or research institution is sponsoring a highly qualified foreign worker for a Blue Card (Tarjeta Azul UE) or a researcher visa under Directiva (UE) 2016/801 (transposed by Real Decreto-Ley 11/2018) — the employer or institution's formal support letter forms part of the application package submitted to the Unidad de Grandes Empresas y Colectivos Estratégicos (UGE-CE).

An Immigration Sponsorship Letter is needed when a Spanish citizen or legal resident is supporting a family member's application for a long-stay visa (visado de residencia) for the purpose of family reunification, demonstrating that the sponsor has sufficient resources and stable accommodation for the applicant in Spain.

The letter is required when a Spanish educational institution is supporting a foreign student's application for a student residence authorisation under Articles 33 and 34 LOEX — confirming admission to an accredited course and the institution's commitment to notify the Oficina de Extranjería if the student fails to attend.

An Immigration Sponsorship Letter is needed when a non-profit organisation or employer is sponsoring a volunteer or intern under the specific categories of the Ley 45/2015, de 14 de octubre, de Voluntariado, confirming the nature of the activity, the duration, and the accommodation and subsistence arrangements for the sponsored individual.

Under Spanish law, the Código Civil governs marriage (Article 66), divorce (Article 81), custody (Article 92), and maintenance (Article 142). The Ley Orgánica 1/1996 (LOPJM) protects minors. The Registro Civil records births, marriages, and deaths. The Ley 15/2015 de Jurisdicción Voluntaria governs non-contentious proceedings. The Ley Orgánica 1/1982 protects fundamental rights including image and privacy.

A valid Immigration Sponsorship Letter Spain under Ley Orgánica 4/2000 and Real Decreto 557/2011 must contain the following essential elements to support the foreign national's immigration application.

Sponsor Identification: Full legal name, NIE/DNI/NIF (as applicable), nationality, date of birth, and complete address of the sponsor. If the sponsor is a legal entity (company or institution), its registered name, NIF, Registro Mercantil details, and the name of the authorised signatory must be included. The sponsor's immigration status in Spain must be stated — Spanish citizen, EU citizen registered in the Registro Central de Extranjeros, or foreign national holding a valid tarjeta de residencia.

Sponsored Person Identification: Full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number and expiry date, and permanent address abroad of the person being sponsored. The nature of the relationship between the sponsor and the sponsored person (family member, employee, student, friend) should be clearly stated.

Purpose of Sponsorship: A clear statement of the purpose for which sponsorship is provided — short-stay visit, family reunification, employment, study, or other category — and the specific immigration authorisation being applied for (Schengen visa, tarjeta de residencia, autorización de trabajo, etc.).

Duration of Stay: The proposed start date and end date of the sponsored person's stay in Spain, or the duration of the residence permit being supported. For Schengen short-stay visas, the maximum permitted stay is 90 days within any 180-day period under Reglamento (UE) 2016/399.

Accommodation Details: The address in Spain where the sponsored person will reside, confirmed as the sponsor's own home or a property the sponsor has arranged. For carta de invitación purposes under Article 93 RE, the accommodation address must match the sponsor's registered address or the sponsor must explain the accommodation arrangement.

Financial Undertaking: A clear statement that the sponsor commits to supporting the foreign national financially during their stay in Spain, covering accommodation, subsistence, and repatriation costs if necessary. For family reunification, documentary proof of income — payslips (nóminas), income tax declaration (declaración del IRPF — Modelo 100), or bank statements — must accompany the letter to demonstrate the IPREM threshold is met.

Declaration of Accuracy: A formal declaration by the sponsor that all information contained in the letter is true and accurate, and that the sponsor is aware that providing false information may result in administrative or criminal sanctions under Ley Orgánica 4/2000 and Articles 390 and 391 of the Código Penal (falsehood in official documents).

Police Stamp (for Carta de Invitación): For the official carta de invitación under Article 45 LOEX and Article 93 RE, the letter must be presented in person by the sponsor at the Comisaría de Policía (Brigada Provincial de Extranjería e Inmigración) or Oficina de Extranjería in the province of Spain where the sponsor resides, and stamped (sellada) by the Cuerpo Nacional de Policía before submission to the consulate.

Data Protection Statement: A GDPR notice under Reglamento (UE) 2016/679 and Ley Orgánica 3/2018 (LOPDGDD) informing the sponsored person that their data will be processed by the immigration authorities (Secretaría de Estado de Migraciones, Delegaciones del Gobierno) for the purpose of evaluating the immigration application.

Forms-legal.com provides this Immigration Sponsorship Letter Spain template as a starting point. Immigration procedures in Spain are complex and subject to frequent regulatory changes — consulting a qualified abogado especialista en extranjería or acreditado by the Consejo General de la Abogacía Española is recommended for residence permit applications and family reunification procedures.

Under Spanish law, the Código Civil governs marriage (Article 66), divorce (Article 81), custody (Article 92), and maintenance (Article 142). The Ley Orgánica 1/1996 (LOPJM) protects minors. The Registro Civil records births, marriages, and deaths. The Ley 15/2015 de Jurisdicción Voluntaria governs non-contentious proceedings. The Ley Orgánica 1/1982 protects fundamental rights including image and privacy.