Residence for family members of Spanish and EU citizens
If your spouse, partner, parent or child is a Spanish, EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, you may be able to live in Spain through a family route rather than a standalone visa. Since the 2025 immigration regulation, family members of Spanish citizens have a dedicated residence authorisation, granted for five years and allowing work. Family members of EU citizens exercising free movement continue to apply for the EU family member residence card.
This route suits
- Spouses and partners of Spanish citizens, including unregistered partners with at least 12 months’ cohabitation or a child in common
- Children of the citizen or of their spouse or partner, under 26 — or older if dependent
- Parents or guardians of a Spanish minor, and dependent parents in some cases
- Non-EU spouses and registered partners of EU, EEA or Swiss citizens moving to Spain
- Mixed-nationality families relocating together
It’s not designed for
- Unregistered partners who cannot show 12 months’ cohabitation or a child in common
- Relatives outside the qualifying categories, or adult children and parents who cannot evidence dependency
- Relatives of non-EU residents in Spain — family reunification is the route for them
Key requirements
Qualifying relationship with a Spanish citizen
Spouse, registered partner, or unregistered partner with at least 12 months’ cohabitation or children in common; children (your own or your spouse’s or partner’s) under 26, or older if dependent; dependent first-degree ascendants in some cases; and the parent or guardian of a Spanish minor.
Family of EU, EEA or Swiss citizens
Under free movement, the citizen must be registered in Spain and working, self-employed, studying or holding sufficient means and health cover. The qualifying relatives and conditions follow the EU regime, which differs in places from the Spanish one.
Proof of the relationship
Marriage, partnership and birth certificates, apostilled or legalised and, where needed, with a sworn translation into Spanish. Unregistered partners also need solid evidence of cohabitation or of children in common.
Criminal-record certificate
For family of Spanish citizens, a criminal-record certificate from your country of origin is generally not required. Other routes and individual cases can differ, so we confirm what applies at consultation.
Dependency, means and health cover
Where the route depends on dependency — older children or parents — it must be documented. Depending on the regime and the family’s situation, evidence of means and health cover may also be requested.
Identity and registration documents
Valid passport, padrón registration and the application form for the relevant procedure (EX-19 for family of EU citizens, or the form for family of Spanish citizens).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; we confirm your situation in a consultation.
Last reviewed: Legal basis: RD 240/2007 (EU citizens and family) · RD 1155/2024 (family of Spanish citizens)
How the process works
Route confirmation
We confirm which regime applies — the authorisation for family of Spanish citizens or EU free movement — and which relatives can be included.
Entry planning
Some nationalities need a visa to enter Spain first; others can enter visa-free. We plan the entry and the timing of the application.
Document preparation
We collect and review civil-status documents, apostilles, sworn translations, evidence of cohabitation or dependency and evidence of the citizen’s situation.
Application in Spain
If the Spanish citizen lives in Spain, the application is filed in Spain; family of EU citizens also usually apply after arrival, at the Oficina de Extranjería or through the relevant channel. Where a filing legally requires a colegiado professional, our named partner (abogado or gestor administrativo colegiado) submits it.
Card and follow-up
We follow the application, respond to any requerimiento and book the fingerprint appointment for your card.
After approval
Family members of Spanish citizens receive a residence authorisation for five years that allows work, as an employee or self-employed. Family members of EU citizens collect the EU family member residence card (tarjeta de residencia de familiar de ciudadano de la Unión), which also generally allows work. Renewal and the path to long-term or permanent residence depend on the regime, and we track the dates for you.
Why files get refused or delayed
- Marriage or birth certificates without an apostille, or translated without a sworn translation
- Unregistered partners without clear evidence of 12 months’ cohabitation or a child in common
- Children aged 26 or over without evidence of dependency
- Civil-status documents too old for the office’s validity window
- The EU citizen not yet registered in Spain, or unable to show their own residence conditions
- Applying under the EU free-movement regime when the route for family of Spanish citizens applies, or vice versa
Frequently asked questions
How does my non-EU spouse get residency in Spain if I am Spanish?
Since the 2025 immigration regulation, spouses and partners of Spanish citizens have a dedicated residence authorisation. If you live in Spain, the application is filed here. It is granted for five years and allows your spouse to work.
Do unmarried partners qualify as family members in Spain?
Registered partners qualify. For family of Spanish citizens, unregistered partners can also qualify with at least 12 months’ cohabitation or a child in common. Under the EU regime, unregistered partners need to prove a stable, lasting relationship. We review your evidence first.
Up to what age can children be included?
For family of Spanish citizens, children of the citizen or of their spouse or partner can be included under 26, or older if they are dependent. Dependency needs to be documented.
Do I need a criminal-record certificate as the family member of a Spaniard?
Generally, no certificate from your country of origin is required for this route. Requirements can differ in individual cases, so we confirm the document list at consultation.
Can I bring my parents to Spain as family members?
In some cases, dependent parents can be included, but dependency must be documented. The rules differ between family of EU citizens and family of Spanish citizens, so it needs a case-by-case assessment.
Do I need a visa before applying as a family member?
It depends on your nationality. Some nationals can enter Spain visa-free and apply after arrival; others need an entry visa first. We plan entry and application together.
Turn this into a plan
The route finder takes two minutes. A consultation turns it into a plan.