TIE HoyEU family residence — eligibility in Spain
Check your own nationality, family link and the EU citizen’s residence basis before applying for a family card.
Is this the right route for me?
Yes, if you are a non-EU/EEA/Swiss relative joining an eligible EU/EEA/Swiss citizen in Spain.
If you are yourself an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen, use your own registration route instead.
Does a family relationship alone qualify me?
No. The citizen must meet the residence conditions.
Employment, self-employment, or sufficient resources plus health cover can qualify.
An EU student has a narrower family scope under Article 7.4.
Which relatives qualify?
Spouse or registered partner; direct children under 21, older dependent children or children with incapacity; dependent parents.
Article 2 bis also covers a proven durable partner and specified dependent, cohabiting or seriously ill relatives, assessed on their evidence.
If the citizen is a student
Article 7.4 limits the Article 2 family route to spouse/registered partner and dependent children.
Do not substitute the separate non-EU student-family stay scheme for the EU free-movement scheme.
If the citizen is Spanish
A Spanish citizen’s return after qualifying EU residence needs its own framework check.
Use the family classifier; travel alone does not prove EU-residence conditions or remove the Spanish-family authorization option.
What to do
Match the family relationship and the citizen’s residence basis.
Bring
- Your passport
- Relationship proof
- Citizen’s registration and residence-basis evidence
- Dependency or care evidence when the category requires it
Steps
- Check your passport nationality and the citizen’s nationality.
- Match your relationship to Articles 2 or 2 bis.
- Read the official eligibility and evidence list.
Basis
RD 240/2007 Articles 2 and 2 bis define relatives; Article 7 defines the citizen’s residence basis; Article 8 governs non-EU family cards.