Step · Legal
Registering as an unmarried couple (pareja de hecho)
Unmarried couples can register in a regional register (some town councils keep their own). The registers, requirements and forms differ by region. The Seguridad Social page on the widow(er)'s pension asks unmarried couples for a certificate of registration in a regional or local register, or a public deed, and for proof of living together.
- Why it matters
- If you live with a partner in Spain without being married, the rules for registering are set by the region where you live, and some benefits official pages describe depend on having registered. This card describes what the official pages say and does not say whether anyone should register.
- When
- You live with a partner and want to know how an unmarried couple is registered, or what the Seguridad Social asks of unmarried couples for a widow(er)'s pension.
- Official page
- Pensión de viudedad: parejas de hecho
- Last checked
- 26 Oct 2026
In the guide: the 4 steps, what to bring (4 items), the 2 offices with addresses and hours, and tips and what to watch for, with every official source.
One Easy to miss, on us
The Seguridad Social page asks unmarried partners for proof of living together for at least five years immediately before the death, and for both partners' income in the calendar year before the death.