Marry or register a partnership (pareja de hecho): which gives status

Key rules

• Marriage: Marriage gives full spouse status in every regime.
• Registration: A registered partnership gives spouse status only where the registry and regime accept it.
• Unregistered couples: Couples who have not registered have limited recognition.

Registration fees, timing, and how far a registered partner is treated like a spouse vary by registry and regime, so confirm them with your town hall and the office involved.

The short answer

Marriage gives you full spouse status in every regime. A registered partnership (pareja de hecho) gives you that status only where the registry and the regime accept it. A couple who has not registered has limited recognition. So choose by regime, cost and speed, and pick marriage if you need certainty.

When marriage is the safer choice

Choose marriage if the partner's status will be checked by an immigration office, a pension body or the tax office. Officials in every regime recognise a spouse. They do not all recognise a registered partner in the same way.

When registering may be enough

Registering can work where the office or regime you deal with accepts your registry. Registries are run locally, so what counts depends on where you register. Before you apply, ask the office that will judge your status, such as immigration or your employer's benefits office, whether it accepts your registry's certificate.

If you are not registered

Living together without registering gives you limited recognition. Do not rely on it for residence, benefits or inheritance. Register or marry first.

Questions to ask before you choose

• Residence for a partner: ask the immigration office whether a registered partner is treated like a spouse for your case. The answer differs depending on whether the partner is an EU citizen, a Spanish citizen or a non-EU resident.
• Inheritance, pensions and tax: a registered partner's rights can differ from a spouse's. Ask a notary or a lawyer before you rely on them.
• Cost and speed: the fee and the processing time for registration depend on the registry. Ask your town hall or regional registry for the fee, how long it takes and the date from which the registration counts.

Next step

Decide what you need the status for. If it is residence or long-term financial protection, marriage removes most of the doubt. If you register, get written confirmation that the office you care about accepts that registry.