Joining a European partner in Guadalajara
Published
A Colombian husband, a Romanian wife, a flat in the city. How the non-EU partner of a European gets the right to live here, and where the request goes.
Many couples in Spain mix passports. One partner holds an EU passport, the other does not. For the second one, Spain has a separate route that is often simpler than the usual non-EU rules: the residence card for a family member of an EU citizen.
The route starts with the EU partner. They must live in Spain legally as an EU citizen, usually through work, studies or enough means, and the usual proof is their own green certificate. If possible, get it first.
Then the family link. A marriage certificate, a registered partnership, or proof of a stable relationship; for children and dependent parents, birth certificates and proof that they depend on you. Papers issued abroad generally need an apostille or legalisation, plus a translation into Spanish.
The request is made on form EX-19. In Guadalajara, the government’s page lists the card for a family member of an EU citizen at the Oficina de Extranjería, Avenida Francia 18. The police take the fingerprints for the card, and each appointment confirmation tells you which office to go to.
With the card, the non-EU relative can live in Spain and take a job or work as self-employed. It is not the same as family reunification, which is the route for relatives of non-EU residents.
One case is different: the non-EU relative of a Spanish citizen. Since the 2025 reform of the immigration regulation, they no longer use the EX-19 card; a separate residence authorisation is now theirs, so check that route before you fill in any form. If a move from abroad is part of the plan, AnchorLess, an independent relocation firm, can organise it with you.