How to Marry a Foreign National in Spain
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What is marriage?
Marriage is the union of two people through a religious ceremony or a legal formality.
What does marriage between Spanish and foreign nationals mean for immigration purposes?
For immigration purposes in Spain, any Spanish citizen has the right to marry a foreign national.
Does the foreign national need to be legally residing in Spain to marry a Spanish citizen?
No. The foreign national does not need to be legally residing in Spain to marry a Spanish citizen.
What must be done before a Spanish citizen and a foreign national can marry?
Before a Spanish citizen and a foreign national can marry, they must complete a preliminary file at the Civil Registry.
What documents are required for the preliminary marriage file for an EU citizen and a foreign national in Spain?
The documents that the parties to a marriage between an EU citizen and a foreign national must submit to the Civil Registry in Spain are as follows:
- The Spanish citizen (EU citizen):
- Birth certificate.
- DNI (Spanish National Identity Document).
- Municipal registration certificate.
2. The foreign national:
- Birth certificate.
- Certificate issued by the consulate of their country of origin confirming that they are legally able to marry.
- Certificate issued by the consulate stating whether publication of marriage banns is required.
- Certificate of consular registration issued by the consulate of their country of origin.
- Valid passport or NIE.
- Municipal registration certificate.
Where should you submit the documents for the marriage file for a Spanish citizen and a foreign national?
Documents for a marriage between a Spanish citizen and a foreign national must be submitted to the Civil Registry for the judicial district where they are registered as residents.
The Civil Registry will provide you with forms to complete, and the marriage application file will be opened.
What steps must be completed after submitting the documents for a marriage between Spanish and foreign nationals in Spain?
After the documents are submitted, the Civil Registry will arrange an appointment for a private interview. Witnesses must also attend and give evidence about the couple’s relationship.
The purpose of the private interview is to ask the couple a series of questions to determine whether they are genuinely in a relationship and intend to marry.
Once the marriage has been approved, what is the foreign partner’s status in Spain?
The foreign national becomes a family member of an EU citizen.
They must therefore apply for the residence card for a family member of an EU citizen (EU family member residence card) at the Immigration Office in their province. This card allows them to reside in Spain for 5 years.