Showing that you and your partner share a life

Terms used

• Pareja de hecho — The pareja de hecho is a couple registered as a partnership in a public register, without being married.
• Certificado de empadronamiento — The certificado de empadronamiento is the town hall's certificate of who is registered as living at an address.
• Padrón — The padrón is the town hall's register of residents at each address.
• Extranjería — Extranjería is the immigration office that handles foreigners' residence applications.

Key rules

• Registered couples: A marriage or partnership certificate is your main proof, and registered partnerships are treated like marriage.
• Unregistered couples: You must prove a stable, lasting relationship, and the office decides how much evidence is enough.
• Padrón certificate: It proves only a shared address, so use it with other proof.
• Time together: Offices usually expect around one year of living together, or less with children in common.

How much proof you need depends on your status

If you are married, your marriage certificate is the main proof. If you are registered as a pareja de hecho, your partnership certificate does the same job. A registered partnership is treated like marriage, as long as it is in a public register and does not go against public order.

If you are neither married nor registered, you must prove a stable, lasting relationship. The office treats you as an extended family member and has discretion, so build a strong file.

What to gather if you are not registered

Collect evidence in four areas. The documents list below shows what to bring.

• Shared address. Ask your town hall for a certificado de empadronamiento showing you both at the same address. A historical or collective certificate, which shows who has lived there and since when, is stronger than a current one. It proves only that you share an address, not that you are a couple, so never rely on it alone.
• Shared finances. A joint lease or mortgage, joint bank account statements and utility bills in both names.
• Shared history. Photographs, travel records and messages or other communications spread over time. Dated evidence from the whole relationship is better than a pile from last month.
• Children. Birth certificates naming you both. Children in common can shorten the time you need to have lived together.

How long you must have lived together

There is no single fixed period. In practice, offices expect around one year of living together, or less if you have children together. Ask your immigration office (Extranjería) what it expects, since the time varies by region and office.

What to expect at the office

Interviews with the couple are common, to check the relationship is genuine. Marriages of convenience are checked. Make sure your documents and your answers agree, for example on dates, addresses and daily life.

If you are registered

Registered couples need much less. Bring the registration certificate from the public register, and add a padrón certificate if the office asks. Some regional registers differ, so check that the register you used is accepted for your application.

An unregistered partner gets no automatic benefits. If you are living together and plan to stay, registering is often the simpler route.

See the FAQ below for common questions.

Documents you need

• Marriage certificate, if you are married. It is issued by the civil registry.

• Partnership registration certificate (pareja de hecho), if you are registered. It comes from the public register, in an EU state or a Spanish regional register.

• Certificado de empadronamiento, the town hall's certificate of who is registered at an address, if you are not registered. A historical or collective one showing who has lived there and since when is stronger than a current one.

• Joint lease or mortgage showing you share a home. Offices want it alongside the padrón certificate, since the padrón proves only a shared address.

• Joint bank account statements and utility bills in both names.

• Children's birth certificates naming you both. Children in common can shorten the time you need to have lived together.

• Photographs and communications over time that show a genuine shared life.

Frequently asked questions

How long must an unregistered couple have lived together?

Offices usually expect around one year of living together for an unregistered couple. It can be shorter if you have children in common. The time required is not the same everywhere, so ask your local office.

Is a padrón certificate enough to prove we are a couple?

No, a padrón certificate only proves you share an address, not that you are a couple. Offices usually want it together with other proof, such as a joint lease or mortgage, bills, children or a cohabitation statement.

Will the office interview us as a couple?

Yes, interviews with the couple are common, because offices check that the relationship is genuine. Bring your shared evidence, such as photographs and communications, and answer questions about your daily life together.

Is an unregistered partner treated the same as a registered one?

No, a registered partnership is treated as equal to marriage, while an unregistered partner is assessed as an extended family member. The office has discretion, so you must prove a stable, lasting relationship.