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Spain · Family

Spain Independent residence after a family link with a Spanish citizen

6 facts quoted from the official source

A person who has or had a qualifying link with a Spanish citizen may retain or obtain independent residence in the statutory cases.

Route type
Family
Can bring
—
Not stated in the official source
Requirements
2
each quoted below
Who qualifies

Who this route is for

Every item below is the government’s own wording, quoted from the official source. Whether you personally qualify depends on your full profile.

2 requirements quoted from the official source.

The conditions that decide it
  • Prior immigration or residence statusThe applicant must have or have had a qualifying family-of-Spanish-citizen link and meet a statutory retention or independence ground.
What you’ll show with your application

Paperwork you prepare — it does not rule you out.

  • Passport or travel-document requirementA valid passport or travel document recognised by Spain is required.
Also stated by the source
  • Work rightsThe independent residence authorisation includes the work rights attached by the regulation.
  • Long-term residence or conversion pathLawful residence may count toward long-term residence where the statutory continuity and status conditions are met.
Family

Who you can bring

— Not stated in the official source. The official page for this route does not address dependent-family rights, so we do not publish a claim either way.
Costs & timelines

What the source prices

Fees
1 proven from the official source.
  • Government feeThe official procedure requires payment of the applicable processing fee; the amount depends on the application and current tariff.checked 2026-07-27
How it works

From here to a yes

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FAQ

Straight answers

01Who qualifies for this route to Spain?
The official source states: A person who has or had a qualifying link with a Spanish citizen may retain or obtain independent residence in the statutory cases.
02What does this route lead to?
The official source states: Lawful residence may count toward long-term residence where the statutory continuity and status conditions are met.

Every answer is quoted from the official boe.es page for this route, last read 2026-07-27.

We checked 6 points against the official source; 6 are quoted on this page. The other 0 are either not addressed by the source or not yet backed by a quote — we would rather show you the edge of the record than fill it with a plausible guess.

See the 0 open points

Validity and processing time are not published in the official source for this route. We publish a number only when the official text states that number.

Not stated in the official source — the official source names no exclusion for this route.

The source

Where every quote comes from

Official government source boe.esLast read 2026-07-27 Every quote on this page is from this Spain government page.
Compiled from official sources · pending independent re-check · Last checked 2026-07-27 · Our methodology
 · Compiled by António Mira · How we verify · Not legal advice — rules change; confirm with the official source before deciding.
Same category, same country

Other family routes to Spain

11 other family routes to Spain.

Arraigo — familyFamily member of a higher-education studentFamily member under Law 14/2013 international mobilityFamily residence in Spain linked to an EU long-term resident from another Member StateFamily reunification by a non-EU residentIndependent residence for a reunified family member
Same category, elsewhere

Family routes in other countries

201 other countries publish at least one family route. Nearest first.

Italy22 family routes Greece16 family routes Portugal13 family routes San Marino11 family routes Malta8 family routes Cyprus3 family routes

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