Children and stepchildren of a Spanish citizen: age and dependency

Key rules

• Age limit: Under the EU-style regime the limit is 21, and older children qualify only if dependent.
• Deadline: Register or apply for the family card within 3 months of arrival.
• Card length: The family card for a non-EU child lasts 5 years.
• Stepchildren: A stepchild needs extra proof of the tie to you and of the other parent's consent or your spouse's custody.

Who qualifies

Your child qualifies under the EU-style regime if they are under 21, or 21 or older and financially dependent on you. Under 21, there is no dependency test. The age limits for families of non-EU residents are different (under 18) and are covered on the page for that route.

Under 21: what you need to do

Register or apply within 3 months of arrival. How you do it depends on your child's nationality:

• EU-national child: register in person at the Oficina de Extranjería or a police station. Your child gets a certificado de registro with an NIE.
• Non-EU child: apply for the tarjeta de residencia de familiar de ciudadano de la Unión, also by appointment at the Oficina de Extranjería or a police station. The card lasts 5 years.

You will need your child's passport, their birth certificate and proof that you are a Spanish citizen. A birth certificate issued abroad must be legalised and translated. The documents and checklist below give the full list.

Appointment systems and offices vary by province, so check how to book where you live.

Age 21 or older: showing dependency

From 21, your child keeps the status only while they still depend on you financially. You must show this at renewal or when applying for the permanent card, and with the first application if your child is already 21 or older.

Useful proof includes:

• Bank transfers or money-transfer receipts from you to your child, covering a reasonable period. Often at least 6 to 12 months is expected.
• A document from the home authorities showing your child has little or no income or property.
• Proof that you live in the same household.
• Proof of your own income.

Foreign documents need an apostille or legalisation, plus a sworn translation. You do not have to prove that your child's need began in their home country. Proof of the support you actually give is what counts.

Offices differ on which proofs they accept and how much past support they want, so gather more than the minimum.

If dependency cannot be shown, your child has to move to another route. That means their own permit as a worker, student or self-employed person, or a long-term residence route if they have enough years of legal residence.

Stepchildren

A stepchild can qualify too, but the file needs more:

• Proof of your marriage or registered partnership with the child's parent.
• The child's birth certificate, showing the tie to your spouse or partner.
• Proof that the child is under 21 or dependent.
• Proof of the other parent's consent, or of your spouse's custody.

Ask the office before you book which exact documents it wants for the custody and consent proof. It is the part that varies most.

Timeline and deadlines

• Gather the passport, birth certificate, proof of the sponsor's status and any dependency proof: before you go to the office

• For a child 21 or older, collect proof of support from the sponsor: over the 6 to 12 months before applying, as offices often expect

• Receive the card, which lasts 5 years: after your application is accepted

Documents you need

• The child's passport.

• The child's birth certificate, as proof of the family tie to the Spanish citizen. If it was issued abroad, it must be legalised and translated.

• Proof that the sponsor is a Spanish or EU citizen.

• The child's registration in the Registro Central de Extranjeros, which gives the certificado de registro with an NIE (for an EU-national child).

• Proof of dependency if the child is 21 or older: bank or money-transfer receipts from the sponsor, a certificate from the home authority showing no or low income or property, proof of living in the same household, and proof of the sponsor's income. Foreign documents need an apostille or legalisation and a sworn translation.

• For a stepchild, proof of the marriage or registered partnership with the child's parent, plus proof of the other parent's consent or the spouse's custody.

Checklist

• Check that your child is under 21, or older and financially dependent on the Spanish citizen.

• Book an appointment at the Oficina de Extranjería or a police station to register or apply within 3 months of arrival.

• Prepare proof of dependency before your child turns 21, so you can show it at renewal or when applying for the permanent card.

Frequently asked questions

What happens to my child's status when they turn 21?

From 21, your child keeps family status only if they are still financially dependent on the Spanish or EU parent, or on that parent's spouse or partner. Dependency must be shown at renewal or when applying for the permanent card.

How long must an adult child have been supported before applying?

Offices often look for support over a reasonable earlier period, commonly at least 6 to 12 months of bank or money-transfer receipts. Add a document from the home authority showing little or no income, proof of living in the same household, and proof of the sponsor's income.

Does my adult child have to prove the need began in their home country?

No, your adult child does not have to prove that the need arose in the home country. Spanish case law accepts proof of actual support from the sponsor.

Does a stepchild of a Spanish citizen need more paperwork than a child?

Yes, a stepchild needs extra proof of the tie on top of the usual file. This means proof of the marriage or registered partnership with the child's parent, a birth certificate showing the tie to that spouse, and proof of the other parent's consent or the spouse's custody.