Spain residence for spouses of EU citizens: move together, apply in Spain.
If your spouse or partner is a citizen of another EU country, an EEA country or Switzerland, you don't apply for a visa at a consulate. You enter Spain together, register your address, and apply for an EU family residence card within three months of arriving. Start with the checklist.
- No consular visa needed
- Card valid for up to 5 years
- Right to work in Spain
Free PDF: EU Family Residence Document Checklist
- Forms EX-18 and EX-19 explained
- Relationship and sponsor evidence
- Filing in Spain, step by step
PDF · No email required
This route is for family members of non-Spanish EU, EEA and Swiss citizens. Family members of Spanish citizens follow a different procedure.
Who the EU family residence route is for
It covers spouses, registered or long-term partners, children and dependent relatives of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who is moving to Spain with them.
A good fit if you…
- Are married to, or the partner of, a non-Spanish EU, EEA or Swiss citizen
- Are relocating to Spain together as a family
- Have a spouse who will work, study or be self-sufficient in Spain
- Can show enough resources to support the whole family
- Can get comprehensive private health insurance for everyone
Consider another route if you…
- Are married to a Spanish citizen Spanish Spouse Residence
- Are retiring or living off savings, without an EU partner Non-Lucrative Visa
- Work remotely for a U.S. employer or clients Digital Nomad Visa
- Are coming to study for more than 90 days Student Visa
From arrival to residence card
Everything happens in Spain, after you arrive. Your EU spouse registers first, then you apply as their family member.
Enter Spain together
Arrive visa-free on your U.S. passport and keep your entry stamp, boarding passes and travel records.
Register address and sponsor
Complete your padrón, and your EU spouse registers as an EU resident (Form EX-18) to get the green certificate.
Apply in person
File Form EX-19 at the local immigration or police office within 3 months of entry, and keep your receipt.
Collect your card
Your family residence card should be issued within 3 months of filing.
What you'll need for your EU family residence card
Tick items off as you go. The full PDF explains what each document needs to show and how filing works in your province.
Entry, address & forms
Relationship & sponsor evidence
Filing day & your card
A NIE isn't a residence permit. A NIE is just an identification number. You're only resident once your EX-19 is approved and you have your physical card. Your U.S. marriage and birth certificates will need an apostille and an official Spanish sworn translation. See our official sworn translation services.
Private health insurance is required for this route
When your family relocates together and your EU spouse has never lived or worked in Spain, you won't have Spanish public healthcare. Plan on comprehensive private cover that is:
- For your EU spouse and every accompanying family member
- Valid throughout Spain
- Equivalent to Spain's National Health System
- Accepted for both the EU registration and your EX-19 application
GuiriGuru can arrange visa- and residency-compliant coverage and provide the certificates you'll need for the residence process.
Good to know
- When insurance might not be neededIf your EU spouse gets qualifying Spanish employment, self-employment, Social Security registration or public healthcare before you file, the insurance requirement may change. Get a case review before relying on this.
- No criminal record or medical certificate, usuallyThese aren't standard requirements for this application, although an office can ask for extra evidence in individual cases.
- Your receipt proves legal statusWhile your card is being processed, the resguardo shows you're in Spain legally. It may not be enough for smooth re-entry after travelling abroad.
- Married to a Spanish citizen?Different rules apply. See the Spanish spouse route.
Get the complete EU Family Residence checklist
The free 3-page PDF covers the route, entry and forms, relationship and sponsor evidence, health insurance, and filing in Spain through to receiving your card. Keep it on your phone while you gather your paperwork.
Not the right fit? Explore the other visa routes
Important: This page and checklist are for general information only and are not legal advice. Requirements change and can vary by province, relationship category and personal circumstances. Always confirm the current requirements with the competent Spanish authority, or book a consultation with a licensed Spanish immigration lawyer through GuiriGuru.