Pareja de Hecho Registration in Barcelona – Legal Guide for Foreigners

🏛️ Want to Register as Pareja de Hecho in Barcelona?

If you’re in a stable, long-term relationship with a Spanish or EU citizen — but not married — you can apply for pareja de hecho (civil union) status in Barcelona.

This regional legal status grants you many of the same rights as marriage, including the ability to apply for:

  • 🛂 EU Family Member Residence Card

  • 👩‍⚖️ Family reunification visas

  • 🏥 Public healthcare coverage

  • 💼 Work and residency rights


💡 Key Benefit: Access to the EU Family Member Card

Once registered as pareja de hecho with a Spanish/EU citizen in Barcelona, your non-EU partner becomes eligible for the Tarjeta de Familiar de Ciudadano de la UE, a 5-year renewable residence card with full work rights.

✅ No need to marry
✅ Easier than student/work visa paths
✅ More stable than tourist overstays


📍 Where to Register in Barcelona?

In Barcelona, pareja de hecho registration is managed at the Autonomous Community level (Catalonia), specifically via:

  • Generalitat de Catalunya – Registro de Parejas Estables

  • Some procedures may require a Notary (notaría)

➡️ Barcelona does not use a municipal register for pareja de hecho like other regions.


📄 Requirements to Register as Pareja de Hecho in Barcelona

Requirement Details
Cohabitation Must have lived together for at least 2 years, or have a child together, or sign a formal notarial declaration
Proof of relationship Shared lease, joint bank account, testimonies, photos
ID documents NIE, passport, DNI of both partners
Sworn statements Declaring your status as an unmarried, stable couple
Notary deed Optional but strongly recommended for expedited processing
No existing marriage or union Both must be single and not in another registered union or marriage

✅ We can draft and notarize all required declarations for you.


📆 Timeline for Pareja de Hecho in Barcelona

Step Time
Gather documents + draft declarations 1–2 weeks
Notarial deed and submission 1 week
Generalitat processing 4–8 weeks
Apply for EU Family Member Card After registration is approved

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Applying too soon without proof of 2-year cohabitation

  • Not legalizing/officially translating non-Spanish documents

  • No proof of shared address (e.g. missing empadronamiento)

  • Assuming padron registration alone is enough in Catalonia — it’s not

  • Using unofficial declarations or failing to notarize key statements


👩‍⚖️ Why Use Borderless Lawyers in Barcelona?

We assist you with:
✅ Eligibility review
✅ Document preparation & sworn statements
✅ Notary coordination
✅ Generalitat registration
✅ Full EU Family Card application support

Our bilingual legal team knows the Catalan civil union system inside and out.


📞 Book a Consultation for Pareja de Hecho in Barcelona

Don’t risk delays, rejections, or confusion — let us manage your pareja de hecho registration and residency application in Barcelona.

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