EU Citizen & Family Members Residency in Spain

If you are an EU/EEA or Swiss passport holder planning to live in Spain for more than three months, you are required to register as a resident in

Spain.

If you are moving with family members who do not hold an EU passport, they may also be able to obtain Spanish residency based on their relationship to you. This can include:

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• A husband, wife or registered partner

• An unmarried partner in a stable relationship

• Couples with children in common

• Qualifying children and other dependent family members

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Unmarried couples can qualify in certain circumstances. Where the couple have children in common, this can be used to demonstrate the existence of a stable relationship. Where there are no children in common, additional evidence of the durable relationship and, where applicable, cohabitation will be required.

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The Residency Process – Two Stages

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Where an EU citizen is applying together with non-EU family members, the process is normally completed in two stages.

 

Stage 1 – EU Citizen Residency

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The EU passport holder applies first for registration as an EU resident in Spain and obtains their EU Citizen Registration Certificate (Certificado de Registro de Ciudadano de la Unión).

Depending on their circumstances, the EU citizen will normally need to demonstrate that they are:

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• Employed in Spain;

• Self-employed in Spain; or

• Financially self-sufficient with appropriate healthcare cover.

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Please note: Appointments for EU residency applications can be extremely limited in some areas of Spain. It may therefore take several weeks or, in some provinces, a few months to secure and complete the first stage. This should be taken into consideration when planning your move.

 

Stage 2 – Residency for Non-EU Family Members

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Once the EU citizen has established their residency in Spain, their qualifying non-EU family members can proceed with their own residence applications as family members of an EU citizen.

This may include a British or other non-EU:

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• Spouse

• Registered partner

• Unmarried/durable partner

• Child or qualifying dependent child

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Each non-EU family member makes their own application for a Residence Card for a Family Member of an EU Citizen (Tarjeta de Residencia de Familiar de Ciudadano de la Unión).

We will advise on the evidence required to establish the family relationship. This will differ depending on whether you are married, registered partners, unmarried partners, have children together, or are applying with children from a previous relationship.