What is the EU Family Member Card and what benefits does it provide?

What is the “EU Family Member Card,” and what benefits does it provide? What are the requirements to apply for EU Family Member Card? Who can apply EU Family Member Card? At Gentile Law,  expert lawyers in processing visas and residency, we tell you the keys to obtain the European Community Family Card.

Did you know that Spain is regarded as one of the most attractive destinations for those settling in Europe? With its pleasant climate and rich culture and history, it attracts thousands of people each year worldwide. And for those with a family member who is a European Union citizen, the “EU Family Member Card” offers a valuable opportunity to obtain a Spanish residency permit.

What is the EU Family Card?

What is the EU Family Card? The EU Family Card is an individual residency permitgiven to the family members of citizens from the EU, European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland. This card is granted when the non-EU citizen joins or accompanies their EU family member in Spain. 

What benefits does the EU Family Card provide?

What are the advantages of the residence card of a family member of a European Union citizen? At Gentile Law, experts in processing the EU Family Card, we explain everything you need to know to obtain the European Union Citizen Family Car

• The right to live and work in Spain.
• Access to social security and healthcare.
• The right to study under the same conditions as Spanish citizens.
• Free movement throughout the Schengen Zone without the need to apply for additional visas.
• The right to regroup with one’s family, allowing for additional members of the cardholder’s family to move to Spain.

What are the requirements to apply for the EU Family Card?

Who can apply for EU Family Card? There are several requirements to apply for this card, with the main requirement being that the applicant must be a family member of an EU citizen legally residing in Spain or planning to move to Spain. The eligible family members who can apply for this card are:

• Spouses.
• Civil partners.
• Children under 21 years old; or children who are over 21 and financially dependent.
• Dependent parents.

If you are interested in learning more about how to obtain Spanish residency through civil partnership, we invite you to take a look at our article: “¿Cómo obtener la residencia en España por pareja de hecho?”.

What documents are required to apply for the EU Family Card?

How to obtain the EU Family Card? The following documents are required to apply for the EU Family Card.

• Valid passport of the applicant.
• Proof of relationship to EU citizen.
  • Depending on the nature of the relationship, this could be proven via:
    • Marriage license.
    • Civil partnership registration.
    • Child’s birth certificate.
    • In the case of a parent or child over 21, proof of financial dependency.
  • Proof of legal residence in Spain by the EU citizen. This might include either: the “registration certificate” of the EU national granted by Spanish authorities or, in the case the EU national is a Spanish citizen, their DNI.
• Valid medical insurance with the same coverage as the Spanish public health insurance.

One key difference between the EU Family Card and the majority of other Spanish residency permits is that there are cases in which applicants for the Family Card do not have to prove sufficient economic means. The provided list of documents includes the generally required ones; however, additional information may be necessary depending on the specific case.

What is the process for applying for the EU Family Card?

What is required to start the application for the EU Family Card? What is the process for applying for the EU Family Residence Card? The application process can be started with the applicant already in Spain and done online via a relatively quick procedure. Once all of the necessary documents have been gathered, the applicant will have to complete the following three steps:

• Submit the request: The applicant must collect all the documents (listed above), fill out the required administrative forms, and pay the applicable taxes. Once this has been done, the applicant should simultaneously submit all the documentation online. The applicant should submit the request within 3 months of their entry into Spain.
• Get fingerprinted: once the applicant has been granted the residency permit, they must make an appointment to get fingerprinted (toma de huellas) at a police station.
• Obtain a foreigner’s identification card (TIE- Tarjeta de Indentidad Extranjero): 40 days after being fingerprinted, the applicant can retrieve their TIE from the police station where they were fingerprinted.

What is the EU Family Card and what benefits does it provide? At Gentile Law, expert lawyers in processing visas and residency in Spain and Europe, we have a team of professionals who are experts in applications for EU Family Card applications. Our highly qualified, bilingual lawyers are happy to assist you throughout the application process and answer any questions you may have. We strive to ensure that the immigration process moves smoothly and efficiently.