Family of EU and Spanish citizensArticle 5 of 8 · 2 min read
Residence for the spouse, partner and children of a Spanish citizen
Explains which non-EU relatives of a Spanish citizen can get residence under the EU-style family regime, and what the five-year family card allows. For spouses, registered partners, children and dependent parents of Spaniards.
Key rules
- Deadline: Apply for the family card within 3 months of entering Spain.
- Card: The family card is valid for five years and lets you work as an employee or self-employed without a separate work permit.
- No funds test: The Spaniard does not have to show work, funds or health insurance.
Who qualifies
A non-EU relative of a Spanish citizen who lives in Spain with them uses the EU-style regime by extension, not the ordinary foreigner rules, and gets the same family card as relatives of other EU citizens.
- Spouse. The couple must not be legally separated.
- Registered partner. The union must be equivalent to marriage; the proof is the registration certificate.
- Children. A Spaniard's own children are Spanish citizens and need no card; their birth is registered with the Spanish authorities. Only the non-Spanish children of the spouse or partner are carded, if they are under 21 or dependent on the Spaniard or the spouse.
- Parents and other ascendants. Dependent ascendants of the Spaniard, or of the Spaniard's spouse, qualify once they prove the dependency. A parent who is not dependent can use the extended-family route in Extended family of an EU citizen and facilitated entry only if they lived in the Spaniard's household in the home country or need the Spaniard's personal care for serious health reasons; otherwise they use the general regime for foreigners (an ordinary residence permit).
- Unmarried partner and other dependent relatives, such as a brother. There is no automatic right. They use the discretionary route in Extended family of an EU citizen and facilitated entry, where Spain facilitates entry and decides case by case.
What you show
You show the family link, that the Spaniard lives in Spain and, for a stepchild aged 21 or over or a parent, that you depend on them. The Spaniard shows their DNI or passport. You can qualify even if the Spaniard has never lived in another EU country.
Applying
The procedure for the "Tarjeta de residencia de familiar de ciudadano de la Unión" is in The EU family residence card for non-EU relatives. Whether you need a visa first is in Applying as family of a Spaniard from abroad or inside Spain.
Other nationalities
An EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who is the relative of a Spaniard registers as an EU citizen instead of applying for a card; see Registering as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen. UK citizens follow the rules in Who counts as family of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen. Papers issued abroad follow the legalisation rules there too.
More in Family of EU and Spanish citizens
- Who counts as family of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen
- What your EU citizen relative must show first in Spain
- Entering Spain as family of an EU citizen: visa or visa-free
- Extended family of an EU citizen and facilitated entry
- Applying as family of a Spaniard from abroad or inside Spain
- Returning to Spain as a Spaniard with a foreign spouse and children
- Non-EU parents of a Spanish or EU child: your residence options
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