Spanish residency and Citizenship

[Sam]

Hi guys… I am married to a Spanish citizen for more than a year now and am looking to start the residency procedures. The problem with that is that I need to live in Spain for at least a year. With the economic situation there, the Gulf is more attractive and lucrative. Do you know if there is any way around that ?

Thanks
Sam

[Patricia]

Hello Sam,

Once you obtain the residence card as a relative to an EU citizen, you are granted 5 years work and residency right and the 183 days per year requirement is more flexible than for to other temporary residence permits.

The article 14.3 of the Royal Decree 240/2007 (http://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2007/02/28/pdfs/A08558-08566.pdf) , regarding free movement and residency of EU relatives in Spain, stipulates that the validity of the residence card for relatives of EU members will expire for absences over 6 months per year. However, there are exemptions: Military service obligations, or absences no longer than 12 consecutive months due to Pregnancy, delivery, post-delivery, severe illness, studies, professional training or international transfers due to professional reasons. This absence expiry won´t be applicable to residence card for relatives of EU members holders linked by means of work relationship to Non Lucrative organizations, foundations or associations, registered in the corresponding General Registry and officially recognized as Pubic Cooperating entity, doing research and investigation, development cooperation and humanitarian aid work for them, overseas. It won´t be applied either to that type of card holders that remain in other EU member Estate territory for the accomplishment of temporal Study programs promoted by the EU.

Regards,