Skip to content
SabahAbogados

Family member of an EU citizen

Being the family member of an EU citizen gives you residence rights in Spain. We help you exercise them and protect them when your situation changes.

WhatsApp

What it involves

The rules for family members of EU citizens recognise the right to live in Spain of the family members, even if they are not European, of a citizen of another EU country, the European Economic Area or Switzerland. They define who counts as a family member, what has to be proved and in which cases residence is kept if the relationship ends or the European citizen leaves Spain.

Is this your case?

  • Your mother is a Portuguese citizen, lives in Spain and you depend financially on her.
  • You live with a European citizen without being married or registered as a couple.
  • You have divorced your European spouse and don't know whether you keep your residence.
  • Your residence has been refused because your evidence of dependency or living together was not accepted.

How we help

We analyse your relationship with the European citizen and tell you whether you fit these rules and with what evidence. We prepare the documents proving dependency, living together or your family tie, and present the application so that your case is clearly understood. If your situation changes, we look for a way to keep your residence. We can help you in Spanish, Arabic, Tamazight, French and English, at our offices in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Málaga and Barcelona or online, wherever you are in Spain.

Once your right is clear, we process your EU family member card; and if it has already been refused, we prepare the appeal against the refusal.

Frequently asked questions

Who counts as a family member of an EU citizen?
Usually the spouse or registered partner, the children and the parents, subject to certain conditions. Depending on the case, other relatives who depend on or live with the European citizen, or an unregistered stable partner, may also be included.
What do I do if my European family member leaves Spain or dies?
Don't assume your residence is lost. In many cases it can be kept, depending on how long you have been in Spain and your personal situation. Contact us as soon as possible so you don't miss any option.
My brother is European and I depend on him. Do I have any options?
You may. Some relatives who are not a spouse, child or parent have a route if they depend financially on the EU citizen or live with them. We study the evidence you have to prove it.

Last updated:

Let's talk

Tell us about your case.

A first conversation — confidential and without obligation — to understand whether we can help, and how.

We speak Spanish, Arabic, Tamazight (Berber), French and English.