Immigration services for individuals

The Residence Card for EU family members is intended for those persons who are direct relatives of someone with Spanish nationality or of another country of the European Union (EU), allowing them to reside and work in Spain for 5 years.

The EU Certificate can be obtained by any citizen with nationality of a European Union (EU) country, who wishes to reside and/or work in Spain for a period of more than 3 months.

This type of residence permit allows foreigners (who are not citizens of the European Union) to stay in Spain for a minimum of 6 months per year if they wish to settle in the country without the intention of working. They must prove that they have sufficient financial resources and health insurance.

Residence on the grounds of social integration (“arraigo“) allows non-EU nationals who are already residing irregularly in Spain to regularise their administrative status. Depending on individual circumstances, several types of arraigo are available:

• Second-chance arraigo: granted to individuals who have resided in Spain for at least two years and were unable to renew a previous residence permit, provided that the previous permit was not issued under exceptional circumstances.
• Employment-based arraigo (arraigo sociolaboral): available to those who have lived in Spain for two years and can present a valid job offer or employment contract.
• Social arraigo (arraigo social): accessible to individuals who have family ties with a legal resident or can provide a report of social integration, and who have resided in Spain for at least two years.
• Training-based arraigo (arraigo socioformativo): allows individuals who have been in Spain for two years to regularise their status by enrolling in officially recognised training programmes.
• Family arraigo (arraigo familiar): this type does not require prior residence in Spain and may be granted to:
  • Parents or legal guardians of minors who are nationals of EU Member States, the EEA, or Switzerland.
  • Individuals who provide support to a person with a disability who is a national of the EU, EEA, or Switzerland.

There are several ways to apply for Spanish nationality:

• Nationality by residence for those foreign citizens who can prove a certain period of legal residence, continuous and prior to submitting the application for nationality, in the case of obtaining the Spanish National Identity Card and Passport, and who can keep their previous nationality in the cases established by the Spanish Civil Code.
• Nationality by option. There are certain cases in which it is possible to obtain nationality without having previously resided in Spain, for example, if you are the child of a Spaniard born in Spain, or if you are the minor child of a Spaniard who has been nationalised, among other cases.

Administrative procedure for foreigners from outside the European Union (EU) who legally reside in our country and who wish to be reunited in Spain with their common-law partner or spouse, their children or those of their partner or spouse, or their own ascendants or those of their spouse or partner.

Through this process, they can request that the family members they wish to join them in Spain be granted a residence and work permit, after obtaining a visa from the Spanish Consulate in their country of origin. The residence permit entitles the applicant to work, is subject to the maintenance of the family member’s residence and is valid for the same period of time as the family member’s residence.

We manage any type of renewal of residence or study permits on your behalf, both those covered by the General Immigration Law and the Entrepreneurs Law.

We will prepare the file, submit the application on your behalf and accompany you and follow up the process until you receive your new residence card.