Pareja de Hecho (Civil Partnership) in Madrid

Registering a Pareja de Hecho (Civil Partnership or De Facto Union) is one of the most common ways for non-EU citizens to legally move to or stay in Spain if they are in a relationship with a Spanish or EU citizen.

Once registered, the non-EU partner gains the right to apply for a Tarjeta de Familiar de Ciudadano de la Unión (Family Member of an EU Citizen Card), which grants residency and full work rights in Spain for 5 years.

However, the rules for Pareja de Hecho are set by each autonomous community. The requirements in the Comunidad de Madrid are notoriously strict compared to other regions like Catalonia.

The Golden Rule: 12 Months of Cohabitation

Unlike getting married, which you can do at any time, Madrid requires you to prove that your relationship is stable before they will register it.

In Madrid, you must prove that you and your partner have lived together continuously in the Comunidad de Madrid for at least 12 months immediately prior to your application.

You prove this via the Empadronamiento. You both must have been registered at the exact same address on the padrón for a full year. There is almost no way around this requirement in Madrid.

(Note: If you haven't lived together for 12 months, your only options are to get legally married or move to a region with looser requirements, like Catalonia, register there, and then move back—though that carries its own logistical headaches).

Requirements to Apply

To register a Pareja de Hecho in Madrid, you must meet the following criteria:

1. Be of legal age (18+).
2. Constitute a stable couple and have lived together freely, publicly, and notoriously for at least 12 uninterrupted months.
3. At least one of the partners must be registered (empadronado) in a municipality within the Comunidad de Madrid.
4. You must be single, widowed, divorced, or legally separated. You cannot be currently married to anyone else.
5. You cannot be registered as a Pareja de Hecho with another person.

Required Documents

Gathering the paperwork is the hardest part. All foreign documents must be properly translated by a sworn translator (traductor jurado) and Apostilled (if issued outside the EU).

1. Passports / NIE / DNI: Valid original identification for both partners.
2. Certificado de Empadronamiento Histórico: This is the specific padrón certificate that proves you have lived together at the same address for the last 12 months.
3. Birth Certificates: Full birth certificates for both partners. (Foreign ones must be Apostilled and translated).
4. Certificate of Civil Status (Certificado de Estado Civil): This proves you are single and legally allowed to form a partnership. For foreigners, this is usually obtained from your home country's embassy or consulate in Spain. It also requires an Apostille and translation if not issued in Spain. Crucially, these certificates expire quickly (usually valid for only 3 months from issuance).
5. Payment of the Fee (Tasa 030): You must pay an administrative fee (around €82) to the Comunidad de Madrid before your appointment.

The Process: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Request a Cita Previa

You need an appointment at the Registro de Uniones de Hecho located at Calle Los Madrazo, 34 in Madrid. You can request this online through the Comunidad de Madrid website. The waiting time for an appointment can be several months.

Step 2: Prepare the Documents

Use the waiting time to get your foreign birth certificates and single status certificates Apostilled and translated. Do not get them too early, or they might expire before your appointment date.

Step 3: Attend the Appointment with Witnesses

On the day of the appointment, both partners must attend in person, along with two adult witnesses.

The witnesses can be friends or family members. They just need to bring their valid ID (DNI or NIE/Passport) and sign a document swearing that they know you and that you are a genuine couple.

Step 4: Resolution

The official will review your documents. If everything is correct, they will approve your application. You will receive a resolution and a certificate proving you are officially a Pareja de Hecho.

Next Steps: Applying for Residency

Once you have the official Pareja de Hecho certificate, the non-EU partner can immediately apply for their residency card (Tarjeta de Familiar de Ciudadano de la Unión) at the Extranjería. This involves a separate application (Modelo EX-19) demonstrating that the EU partner has sufficient financial means and health insurance to support the non-EU partner.