What is the best place in Spain to register pareja de hecho?

@ApogeeDuet

https://balcellsgroup.com/es/dudas-pareja-de-hecho/

Separately, what is your actual objective?

I'm guessing that the issue is residence, rather than pareja-de-hecho? By which I mean that you're an EU citizen (i.e. residence is easy-peasy anywhere in EU) but you have an unmarried non-EU partner (i.e. residence much less straightforward)?

You should note that EU Directives support Family Reunification for unmarried partners in a "durable" (i.e. at least 2 years) relationship. However, in this particular aspect, they also allow each country to decide whether or not to observe it. And many don't, insisting, instead, on a marriage or a civil/registered partnership.

I would suggest that you go to one of the many EU countries that accept unmarried partners. An EU residence permit does allow visa-free travel (up to 90 in 180) to the others, and it starts the (5 year) clock to permanent residence. And it minimizes the amount of aggravation from border officials with frequent EU travel in comparison to only having one's non-EU passport.

We were in a similar situation, and I obtained residence permits for us in both Bulgaria and Spain.

Bulgaria, back then, accepted unmarried partners merely with a sworn statement (done at the notary). Now, they want proof of cohabitation elsewhere in the EU. As an example, they accept a recent (last 3 months) Padron certificate from Spain (with both names).

Spain is quite tricky too, pushing very hard for marriage, registered/civil partnership or pareja de hecho.

I insisted, and provided proof of our cohabitation (other residence permits and UK council tax). They approved us subject to me obtaining a Certificate of No Impediment within 60 days.

Yes, the goal is to get a residence permit as a family member of a EU citizen.

Thank you for the link, they mention there that in Catalonia there is no need to prove long-term cohabitation. If that's correct then it should be possible to register pareja de hecho there just by a joint declaration before a notary public? What other documents were necessary to get a residence permit after registration pareja de hecho in your case? As far as a Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage is concerned, did the Spanish Immigaration department demand it from you (EU citizen) after your partner had submitted a residence permit application or it was a notary public who asked to see this document to register Pareja de Hecho?

@ApogeeDuet

We're just a vanilla cohabitating couple, we didn't do Pareja de Hecho or any other kind of formal registration.

After my registration (as an EU citizen) had been approved, we submitted a Family Reunification application. Yes, the migration office (not notary) asked me for the CNI.

Now, 5 years later, she just received approval for Spanish citizenship/passport (via the 2 year route for Ibero-Americans) so she's the EU citizen... and I'm the non-EU partner (due to Brexit). However, I got my permanent residence card in 2022, so that grants a significant degree of EU mobility (and permanence).

According to that link, it does seem there are places that don't enforce a minimum period for registering as Pareja de Hecho. But they insist on a Padron certificate, which typically means you need to buy a property or have a long-term rental contract in that district.

If you were to go the Bulgaria residence route, then a Padron would still be required, but could be anywhere in Spain (or elsewhere in the EU).

If I'm not mistaken it would be the same situation in Bulgaria - their Immigration department would ask for a long-term rental contract in Bulgaria or a deed to the property you own there to get a residence permit. Probably in Bulgaria it will much cheaper to rent something for that purpose than in Spain, so it may make sense if Bulgarian residence permits will be treated as Schengen ones from 01.04.2024 and if Bulgaria doesn't enforce a minimum period of cohabitation, so it would be possible to register a civil partnership there.

@ApogeeDuet

Correct, the proof of address requirement for EU Citizen Registration is the same everywhere. But there are some attorneys round here who will do you a rental contract to keep immigration happy.

Bulgaria doesn't ask for a minimum period, or a formal registration of your partnership. The requirement is simply an official proof of address (such as Padron certificate from Spain, or Anmeldung from Germany).

I think Portugal also accepts unmarried partners with "Circumstantial evidence of Unmarried Partnership".

https://imigrante.sef.pt/en/solicitar/residir/art98-2/

The non-Schengen status of Bulgaria doesn't affect the utility of the residence permit - it allows (up to) 90 days (in 180) visa-free in any EU country.