Canary Islands Family Surplus Certification Reform

Overview

On July 17, 2025, the Canary Islands regional government’s Welfare and Social Federation signed an agreement with the San Miguel de Abona municipality to streamline procedures for recognizing and issuing family surplus certificates.

This collaboration aims to:

• Make the process faster and more accessible for residents.
• Enable families to obtain, renew, or replace their family surplus titles through online systems and local municipal offices.

Responsibilities under the Agreement

• Municipal Staff Tasks:
  • Collecting documents
  • Guiding applicants
  • Filing requests via a dedicated digital platform
• Regional Authority Tasks:
  • Approving and issuing the actual titles
  • Ensuring clear legal and data protection measures are in place

Significance of the Initiative

"This initiative highlights the regional government’s efforts to improve social support services for large families, a key issue in Spain where family rights and social benefits are enshrined constitutionally."

• Emphasizes the importance of:
  • Digitalization
  • Intergovernmental cooperation
• Benefits for residents, especially:
  • Expat and immigrant families
  • Reducing bureaucratic hurdles
  • Bringing official support closer to home

Goals

• Reinforce the commitment to:
  • Social justice
  • Inclusion in the Canary Islands

This reform demonstrates a concerted effort to improve social services and accessibility for large families across the region.