Civil and registered partners
If you are an EU citizen moving to another EU country to live, work or study, EU rules make it easier for your family to join you. On this page, you can find out how your civil or registered partner can join you.
Warning
However, if you are an EU citizen and have never lived in another EU country only national rules will apply.
If you are in a same-sex civil union, your host country should grant your partner residence rights under the same conditions that apply to either civil and registered partners or other relatives.
Your partner is an EU national
Staying by virtue of their own rights
As an EU national, your registered partner may live in your host EU country under the same conditions that apply to EU nationals.
If your partner is working or looking for a job, receives a pension or is studying, check the conditions and formalities for:
Staying as your dependant
Your partner doesn't plan to work or look for a job, study and doesn't receive a pension?
They can still join you as a family member.
Some EU countries treat civil and registered partnerships in the same way as they treat married couples. In this case, you should check the applicable residence rights and conditions for spouses.
Other EU countries do not recognise civil and registered partnerships as being equivalent to marriage. In this case, check the applicable residence rights and conditions for other relatives.
Find out about the recognition of civil partnerships in Europe.
Your partner is not an EU national
Some EU countries treat civil and registered partnerships in the same way as they treat married couples. In this case, you should check the applicable residence rights and conditions for non-EU spouses.
Other EU countries do not recognise civil and registered partnerships as being equivalent to marriage. In this case, you should check the applicable residence rights and conditions for other non-EU relatives.
Find out about the recognition of civil partnerships in Europe.