EU Family Member Card in Spain: Who Qualifies and How to Apply
The card that lets a non-EU relative live and work in Spain with an EU citizen, and why family of Spaniards now usually take a different route.
A non-EU relative of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who will live in Spain for more than three months applies for the tarjeta de residencia de familiar de ciudadano de la Unión (EU family member residence card) on form EX-19, in person, within three months of arriving. As of November 2026 the fee is €12, the same as a Spanish ID card, and the card is valid for five years.
Who counts as a family member?
The rules come from Real Decreto 240/2007, Spain’s law on free movement of EU citizens. The ministry’s information sheet 62 lists these relatives of the EU citizen:
- Spouse, as long as the marriage has not been annulled or ended in divorce.
- Registered partner, if the partnership is entered in a public register of an EU or EEA country and has not been cancelled. Marriage and registered partnership cannot both be claimed.
- Unregistered partner in a stable relationship, proved by at least one year of living together, or by stable cohabitation if the couple has a child in common.
- Children of the EU citizen or of the spouse or registered partner, if they are under 21, or older but dependent, or have a disability.
- Parents and other direct ascendants of the EU citizen or of the spouse or partner, if they are dependent.
- Other relatives who were dependent on the EU citizen or lived with them in the country of origin (24 months of continuous cohabitation counts), or who need the EU citizen’s personal care for serious health or disability reasons.
“Dependent” (a cargo) means the EU citizen provides the financial support that covers the relative’s basic needs, and that dependency must exist in the country of origin.
What must the EU citizen prove?
The card depends on the EU citizen’s own right to live in Spain. They must be one of the following, as of November 2026:
| EU citizen’s situation | What the family member’s file needs |
|---|---|
| Employee in Spain | Employer’s certificate, registered contract, or Social Security registration |
| Self-employed in Spain | Tax census registration, Mercantile Register entry, or Social Security registration |
| Not working, with own means | Health insurance with cover equivalent to the public system, and proof of sufficient resources for the whole family |
| Student | Enrollment at a recognized school, health insurance, and a signed statement of sufficient resources |
For students, the eligible relatives are narrower: spouse or partner and children, plus dependent or cohabiting relatives. Dependent parents of a student do not appear on the list. The EU citizen usually holds the green registration certificate; our guide to the EU registration certificate in Barcelona covers that step.
What changed for family of Spanish citizens in 2025?
Since the immigration regulation in force from 20 May 2025 (Real Decreto 1155/2024), non-EU relatives of Spaniards generally apply for a separate permit: the autorización de residencia temporal de familiares de personas con nacionalidad española, on form EX-24, filed with the Oficina de Extranjería (the government’s immigration office). It also lasts five years and allows work.
The EX-19 route stays open to them only in one case. According to the ministry’s sheet, a relative of a Spaniard can use the EU family route if the Spanish citizen has exercised free movement, meaning they lived in another EU country and are now returning. Otherwise EX-24 applies. The EX-24 permit uses some different definitions, for example children up to 26, and parents who are dependent and lack family support in the country of origin. Check the ministry’s sheet for your exact case before choosing a form.
Which documents do you need?
- Form EX-19, completed and signed by the family member.
- Full valid passport. If it has expired, a copy plus proof that renewal is under way.
- Proof of the family link: marriage certificate, partnership registration or birth certificates.
- Proof of dependency where the rules require it (children over 21, parents, other relatives).
- For unregistered partners, evidence of a lasting relationship and of the time lived together.
- The EU citizen’s registration certificate, or the Spaniard’s DNI.
- Proof of the EU citizen’s work, studies or means, as in the table above.
- One recent color passport photo on a white background.
Foreign documents must be translated into Spanish or Catalan by a sworn translator, and public documents need an apostille or consular legalization unless a treaty exempts them. Standard EU forms such as the S1 need neither. Our guide to sworn translations and the apostille explains both.
How do you apply in Barcelona?
- Book a slot on the cita previa de extranjería (online appointment) site, province of Barcelona, choosing the police line for the EU family member card. Our guide to extranjería appointments in Barcelona shows how to pick the right procedure.
- Pay the fee before the appointment. The ministry sheet links it to form 790 code 052 when filed at the immigration office; police appointments use form 790 code 012, with the box for family member cards ticked.
- Attend in person with originals and copies. The application must be filed by the family member personally.
- Keep the stamped receipt. It proves your legal stay until the card is handed over.
- Return for the card when told. The law gives the authorities three months from filing to issue it.
The fee is €12 as of November 2026. By law it always equals the fee Spaniards pay for a DNI, so it moves when that fee changes.
How long is the card valid?
The card lasts five years from issue, or for the EU citizen’s planned period of residence if that is shorter. A favorable decision takes effect from the date you entered Spain as a family member. After five years of continuous residence you can apply for the permanent card, also on EX-19, which is valid for ten years. The card allows you to work as an employee or self-employed person.
Bottom line
Count the three-month deadline from your entry stamp, not from when you find an appointment, and keep dated screenshots of your booking attempts. If your EU or Spanish partner has never lived in another EU country, check first whether your case falls under EX-24 at the immigration office rather than EX-19 at the police.
FAQ
Can I work while the application is pending?
The filing receipt proves legal stay. Employers often ask for the card itself, so ask the office what your receipt allows in your case.
What happens if we divorce?
Divorce or annulment ends the basis for the card. Spanish rules allow the right to be kept in some cases, such as long marriages or custody of children; ask an immigration lawyer (abogado de extranjería) about your situation.
Do unmarried partners qualify without a registration?
Yes, if you prove a stable relationship. One year of living together is accepted, or stable cohabitation if you have a child together.
Is the TIE the same thing?
The EU family card is issued in the TIE card format. Our TIE appointment guide covers the fingerprint visit for other permit types.
