Eric S

I am American, my wife is Spanish. I believe we could easily move to Spain and I could get residency there via my wife. But does anyone know how that would work for other EU countries? (For example, France).

I know that my wife could live in any other EU country because she's a citizen of an EU country now. But what about me? Would I need to become a Spanish citizen first?

Thanks.
- Eric S.

Fred James

Under EU residency law, spouses and other family members of an EU citizen are allowed the same residency rights and they apply to other EU countries. You will be issued with a full EU/Spanish residency card.

Eric S

We currently live in the US. So if we decide to move to France or Italy, we won't need to live in Spain first?

- Eric S.

BritInParis

No. It's actually easier to go to a third EU country than Spain.

Eric S

And why is that?

- Eric S.

Novocastrian

I don't know the specifics on Spain, but your Spanish wife is an EU citizen. As such she has the right to live in any EU country and the right to have her spouse accompany her.

For the UK, for example, there are fairly stringent financial requirements for a UKC spouse to bring her/his spouse along.

BiP is the expert but I imagine he's alluding to similar issues in Spain.

BritInParis

EEA/EU freedom of movement rules means that you could both live and work without restriction in any third EU country whereas you would need to comply with Spanish immigration regulations for foreign spouses were you to move to Spain.