Can I work anywhere in Europe with a Spanish tarjeta de comunitario EU (Pareja de Hecho)?

Last Updated on April 20, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi

Question

I have tarjeta de comunitario de EU (pareja de hecho) I got a temporary job offer in Germany for 5 month. Am I allowed to work there? Anyone knows how does that work?

Answers

These are the answers of some Facebook group members:

“your Spanish residency doesn’t give you rights to work in Germany, so basically you will need to take up residency there to be able to work and yes it will have an effect on your curent residency”

“No it doesn’t, your card only gives you permission to work in your region in Spain.”

“No you CANNOT.”

What Does the EU Family Card Allow in Terms of Working in Europe?

The Tarjeta de Familiar de Comunitario (EU Family Card) grants you the right to live and work in Spain as the family member of an EU citizen. However, this card does not automatically give you the right to work in other EU countries. Each EU member state has its own rules regarding the employment rights of non-EU family members.

Under EU Directive 2004/38/EC, you have the right to accompany your EU family member to any EU country where they exercise their treaty rights. If your EU partner moves to another EU country for work, you can generally join them and work there. However, you would typically need to register with that country’s authorities and potentially apply for a new residence card under their national procedures.

For short business trips or remote work from Spain for employers in other EU countries, the situation is more nuanced and depends on the specific country’s tax and employment laws. Consulting with an immigration lawyer familiar with cross-border EU employment is recommended if you plan to work across multiple EU countries.

Bruno Bianchi CEO & Spain Immigration Expert

Bruno Bianchi is the founder and CEO of Spainguru, Spain's largest expat immigration community with 150,000+ members. Since 2014 he has helped thousands of people relocate to Spain through expert guides, webinars and vetted professional services covering visas, residency, taxes and life in Spain.

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