The special category of large families will be expanded starting in 2027. The reform of the Law on the Protection of Large Families establishes that the family units with four or more children and certain households with three may access it, which until now could remain in the general category.
The changes in the classification and recognition of the status of large family will take effect on January 1, 2027. The reform is part of Royal Decree-Law 35/2026, published in the Official State Gazette on November 11.
Which families may obtain the special category
The new wording of Article 4 of Law 40/2003 establishes three main cases for accessing this classification:
- Families with four or more children.
- Families with three children when at least two come from the same birth, adoption, foster care, or multiple foster care with a view to adoption.
- Family units with three children whose annual income, divided among all their members, does not exceed 150% of the current annual IPREM, including the additional payments.
The income calculation does not set a fixed amount of income for all families. The limit depends on the number of members of the family unit, so the average per person must be calculated before checking whether the requirement is met.
The rule also maintains that each child with a disability or an inability to work will count as two for the purposes of determining the corresponding category.
What happens with large family titles that have already been issued
The transitional provision of the royal decree-law includes the automatic transition to the special category for families that already have recognized a general category title and have four children, or with three when at least two come from the same birth or from one of the multiple cases provided for in the law.
In contrast, families with three children who may meet the new income criterion must request reclassification and prove that they do not exceed the established limit. Therefore, it is not enough to have previously been granted the general category title in order to access this change on the basis of income.
The titles issued prior to this will retain their validity until the date scheduled for their renewal or termination, except when the new conditions require classifying the family in a different category.
Where the title is requested and when it must be renewed
The recognition of the status of large family and the issuance or renewal of the title correspond to the autonomous community or autonomous city of residence of the applicant. The application may be made by any of the ascendants or another member of the family unit with legal capacity.
The title will be valid throughout the national territory. The reform also expressly recognizes the certification in digital format, which will have the same validity as the physical document.
It will be necessary to renew or modify the title when the number of members of the family unit changes or the circumstances that justified its issuance change and that variation implies a change of category or the loss of the status of large family. Families classified in the special category may keep it as long as at least one of their children continues to meet the legal conditions to be part of the title.