Question
I’m a Norwegian citizen, and I have a Filipino wife. We are about to apply for family reunification for her to move to Norway, but it’s about a year from now. We plan to move to Spain for the majority of the time and eventually settle there permanently in 10-15 years when I retire. I wanted to inquire about our residency options.
I will be keeping my Norwegian citizenship, so I plan to stay in Spain for 11 months one year and then 5 months the next, depending on circumstances. My wife might stay in Spain permanently.
We are a little unsure about the best way to proceed. Since she is a Filipina, she can gain Spanish citizenship within 2-3 years, whereas Norway would take 7 years.
Would our Norwegian family reunification status be valid for Spain for a long-term stay? For work permits, etc.? And would the time spent living in Spain count towards her Spanish citizenship?
If not, is it possible to acquire a similar status for Spain with me as a Norwegian citizen, so she can live and work there?
Answers
These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
“If you are a Norwegian citizen, as an EEA/EU citizen, you can move to Spain now. Upon arrival, you must register as an EEA/EU citizen resident in Spain. Once registered, you can bring your spouse to Spain under the family member reunification process.
She will need to register upon arrival and can begin working once the application is in process. After two years of legal residency in Spain, your spouse, as a Filipino citizen, would be eligible to apply for Spanish citizenship.”
“The Norwegian family reunification status would not be valid for Spain. However, as the spouse of an EU citizen, she will have freedom of movement within the EU, which allows her to live and work in Spain.”
“She would need to physically reside in Spain and register as a resident. A Schengen Type C visa can be applied for at the Spanish embassy, which allows entry without the need to prove financial means or intent to return. After arrival, you would register using form EX-18, and she would apply for a residence card using form EX-19.”
“For your wife to gain Spanish citizenship, she must reside in Spain for two years without being outside the country for more than three months at a time. She will also need to pass Spanish language and cultural tests.”
“If she stays in Spain and works there, she might lose her eligibility for Norwegian family reunification rights, as the process requires her to reside with you in Norway.”
“Acquiring Spanish citizenship would not necessarily help in gaining Norwegian citizenship. The Norwegian process requires at least 3 years of cohabitation in Norway within a 7-year marriage period.”
“Ultimately, if your goal is for your wife to obtain Spanish citizenship, she can do so in two years, provided she legally resides in Spain with you as her sponsor.”
Conclusion
According to Spainguru’s Facebook group members, the Norwegian family reunification status does not grant long-term rights to live in Spain. However, as the spouse of an EEA/EU citizen, the Norwegian applicant’s wife can benefit from EU freedom of movement and apply for residency in Spain.
To obtain Spanish citizenship, she must reside in Spain for two years (fast-track citizenship for Filipino passport holders and Ibero-American passport holders), avoid prolonged absences, and pass the necessary language and cultural tests.
If the couple intends to maintain eligibility for Norwegian family reunification, careful planning of their residency arrangements is needed to comply with Norway’s requirements.
