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Family of Spanish citizens, EU residence card and family reunification

Since May 2025, family members of Spanish citizens have their own residence permit, separate from the EU residence card. Choosing the right route from the start saves months.

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Three different routes

Who is your family member and where do they live?

Happy family playing at home

Whether you need an EU family residence card in Spain or another permit depends on who your family member is: a Spanish citizen, a citizen of another European Union country living in Spain, or a foreign national with legal residence who wants to bring you over. These are three procedures with very different requirements, deadlines and advantages.

Information up to date as of September 2026.

Family of a Spanish citizen

Residence as a family member of a Spanish citizen

The permit created by the 2025 regulations for family members of Spanish citizens who have not exercised free movement.

  • Spouse or registered partner, aged over 18
  • Stable partner with twelve months of living together, or less if there are children in common
  • Children under 26, or older children who are dependent or have a disability
  • Dependent ascendants, and the father or mother of a Spanish minor
  • Children of Spanish citizens by origin and other dependent relatives up to the second degree
  • Up to five years, renewable. Allows you to work
  • Free of charge. Deadline for a decision: two months

Family of an EU citizen

EU residence card (tarjeta comunitaria)

For family members of a citizen of another EU country, the European Economic Area or Switzerland who lives in Spain —and of a Spanish citizen who has exercised free movement.

  • Spouse or registered partner
  • Stable partner with one year of living together, or less if there are children in common
  • Children under 21 or dependent, and dependent ascendants
  • The EU citizen must be working, or have resources and health insurance, or be studying with insurance and means
  • Apply within three months of entering Spain
  • Valid for five years. After five years of residence, permanent card

General system

Family reunification

For foreign nationals with legal residence in Spain who want to bring their family over from their home country.

  • The sponsor must have lived in Spain for one year and hold a permit valid for at least one more year
  • Spouse or partner, minor children and dependent ascendants aged 65 or over
  • Financial means: 150% of the IPREM (the Spanish public income benchmark) for two people and a further 50% for each additional member
  • Suitable housing, proven by a regional government report, and health insurance
  • The reunited family member can work
  • Deadline for a decision: two months

What's new

What changed in 2025 and 2026

  • May 2025. Family members of Spanish citizens leave the EU residence card system and get their own permit. Those who already had a card keep it as long as they meet the conditions.
  • July 2026. The Spanish Supreme Court struck down automatic refusal on the grounds of a criminal record in the system for family members of Spanish citizens: each case must now be assessed individually.

And before all this, there is sometimes a preliminary step to deal with: the marriage file with a foreign national or registration as a pareja de hecho (civil partnership). We handle that too.

How we work

Your case, step by step

  1. Which route applies to youWe look at your relationship and your family member's situation to choose the right procedure.
  2. Proof of the relationshipMarriage, partnership, parentage or dependency: we prepare the documents, translations and apostilles.
  3. SubmissionAt the Oficina de Extranjería (Immigration Office) or, if your family member is abroad, at the consulate.
  4. TIE and next stepsFingerprints, the TIE (foreigner identity card) and, when the time comes, permanent residence or Spanish citizenship.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions

My partner is Spanish. Do I have to apply for the EU residence card?

Generally, no. Since 20 May 2025, family members of Spanish citizens have their own residence permit. The EU residence card (tarjeta comunitaria) remains the route only when the Spanish citizen has exercised their right to free movement, for example by living in another EU country.

I already have an EU residence card through my Spanish family member. Will I lose it?

No. Those who already had it keep it as long as they continue to meet the conditions of the new system. The key thing is to check the renewal carefully.

Can my family member work while the application is being processed?

With residence as a family member of a Spanish citizen, the spouse, partner and children can already work while the application is being processed. With family reunification, the family member can work once the permit has been granted.

How long does each procedure take?

Residence as a family member of a Spanish citizen has a two-month deadline for a decision; the residence card for family members of EU citizens, three months; family reunification, two months. If there is no reply within the deadline for residence as a family member of a Spanish citizen or for family reunification, the application is deemed refused.

We are not married. Can we apply as a couple?

Yes, if you are a registered partnership or, in the case of family members of Spanish citizens, a stable couple who have lived together for at least twelve months (or less if you have children together). If you are not yet registered, we help you register as a pareja de hecho (civil partnership) or with the marriage file.

Speak to our team

Shall we talk about your case?

Book a consultation and we will look at your situation calmly: which route fits, what documents you need and what deadlines are ahead.

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Other services

Arraigo (residence through roots) Spanish citizenship Extraordinary regularisation 2026 All services

The information on this page is for guidance only and is up to date as of September 2026. Spanish immigration law changes often and every case is different: before submitting any application it is worth having your situation reviewed individually. We work in English and Spanish.

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