Registering EU family members
Content
Application
Family members of a citizen of a Member State of the European Union, of another State party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area or of Switzerland must apply for registration in the Central Register of Non-nationals) or at the relevant police station.
The EU citizen’s death or departure from the host Member State do not affect the right of residence of his/her family members who are nationals of a Member State. Before acquiring the right of permanent residence, the right of residence of the persons concerned is to remain subject to the requirement that they are able to show that they are workers or self-employed persons, that they are studying and/or that they have sufficient resources for themselves and their family members not to become a burden on Spain’s social assistance system during their period of residence and have comprehensive health insurance cover in Spain, or that they are members of the family, already constituted in Spain, of a person satisfying these requirements.
Divorce, annulment of the EU citizen’s marriage or termination of his/her registered partnership is not to affect the right of residence of his/her family members who are nationals of a Member State. Before acquiring the right of permanent residence, the right of residence of the persons concerned is to remain subject to the requirement that they are able to show that they are workers or self-employed persons, that they are studying and/or that they have sufficient resources for themselves and their family members not to become a burden on Spain’s social assistance system during their period of residence and have comprehensive health insurance cover in Spain, or that they are members of the family, already constituted in Spain, of a person satisfying these requirements.
Deadline
The application must be made within three months of the date of entry into Spain.
Documentation
Family members who are nationals of a Member State of the European Union, of another State party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area or of Switzerland must apply for registration in the Central Register of Non-nationals) and provide the following documentation:
- Current and, where necessary, legalised documentary evidence of their family relationship with the EU citizen.
- Documentary evidence of financial dependence.
- Documentary evidence that the family member from whom they derive a right of residence is a worker or self-employed person, or has sufficient resources for themselves and their family members.
- Health insurance.
Information from local authorities
You need to be registered with your municipal council in order to be able to apply for residence. The register set up for this purpose is known as the ‘padrón’ (municipal administrative register).
Access to the Local Government Map
to select the relevant municipality.
Legal and/or technical references
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Directive 2004/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States
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Royal Decree 240/2007 on the entry, free movement and residence in Spain of citizens of EU Member States and other States Parties to the Agreement on the European Economic Area
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Order PRE/1490/2012 laying down rules for the implementation of Article 7 of Royal Decree 240/2007
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Order of 7 February 1997 laying down rules on the card for non-nationals
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Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Swiss Confederation, of the other, on the free movement of persons of 21 June 1999
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Regulation (EU) 2019/1157 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on strengthening the security of identity cards of Union citizens and of residence documents issued to Union citizens and their family members exercising their right of free movement
