French Guiana is a department and region of France and part of the EU, although it lies outside the Schengen area. For French citizens living there, moving to Spain is free movement: no visa or work permit, just registration as an EU citizen. For foreign residents of French Guiana, however, a French titre de séjour gives no right to live in Spain.
Key facts
- Free movement: with a French carte nationale d’identité or passport you can live, work and study in Spain. If you stay longer than three months, register at the Central Register of Foreign Nationals (EU citizen registration certificate) by showing work, self-employment, studies or sufficient resources with health cover. After five years, permanent residence.
- Outside Schengen: French Guiana does not apply the Schengen agreement, so there are document checks when travelling from Cayenne to mainland Europe. A French citizen only needs an ID document; a foreign resident of French Guiana must check whether their titre de séjour allows travel to Spain or whether a visa is needed.
- Spanish citizenship: 10 years of legal, continuous residence. Thanks to the Spain–France dual nationality treaty (2021, in force since 2022) you do not have to give up French nationality. You need the CCSE and the DELE A2.
- Documents and licence: Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 removes the apostille for civil status documents and criminal record certificates between EU states, and its multilingual forms avoid translations. A French driving licence is valid in Spain without exchange.
- Health and tax: for the first period, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from your Assurance Maladie fund; pensioners use the S1 form. If you spend more than 183 days a year in Spain, you are usually a Spanish tax resident.
How people usually move
- Work or job search. As an EU citizen you can work from day one with no permit; with your contract you register as an EU citizen and obtain your NIE. EU citizen registration
- Studies. You need no study authorisation: you register as a student with your enrolment, health cover (the European Health Insurance Card is accepted) and a declaration of sufficient resources.
- Self-employment. With your NIE you register with the tax agency and the self-employed scheme of Spanish social security. Self-employment
- Retirement. With a French pension and the S1 form from your health insurance fund, you register by showing resources and health cover.
- Non-EU family members. Your spouse or registered partner, children under 21 (or older but dependent) or dependent parents of another nationality (for example Brazilian, Surinamese or Haitian) can obtain the EU family member residence card if they settle with you. Family member of an EU citizen
- Foreign residents of French Guiana. If you are not an EU citizen, your French titre de séjour does not let you settle in Spain: you need a Spanish visa or permit depending on your nationality and purpose. If France granted you EU long-term residence, there is a specific mobility procedure for Spain; check that your card states it.
Documents and apostille
- Extrait de casier judiciaire (bulletin no. 3): requested free of charge online from the Casier judiciaire national. It is not required for EU registration but is required for Spanish citizenship; under Regulation 2016/1191 it needs no apostille.
- Civil status records (acte de naissance, acte de mariage) from the mairie, with the EU multilingual standard form or a multilingual extract to avoid translation, especially if you will register family members.
- Health cover: the EHIC or the S1 form from your Assurance Maladie fund, accepted as health insurance for EU registration where applicable.
- If you are a foreign resident of French Guiana: passport, titre de séjour and, for a Spanish visa, criminal record certificates from France and your country of nationality; non-EU documents need an apostille or legalisation and a sworn translation.
What to keep in mind
- French citizens need no visa and no consulate: the process starts in Spain, with an appointment at the Foreigners’ Office or police station for the EU registration certificate and the NIE.
- French Guiana falls within the district of the Consulate General of Spain in Paris, with an honorary consulate in Cayenne. If you are a foreign resident there and need a Spanish visa, confirm with the Consulate General in Paris where and how to apply.
- A common mistake: travelling as a foreign resident of French Guiana assuming the titre de séjour is valid for the Schengen area or for settling in Spain. Check before buying your ticket.
- In Spain: register at the town hall (padrón), apply for the EU registration certificate within the first three months and, if you work, register with social security.
Frequently asked questions
I am French and live in French Guiana. Do I need a visa or work permit?
No. As an EU citizen you enter with your ID document and can work from day one. If you stay longer than three months, you only need to register at the Central Register of Foreign Nationals and obtain the EU citizen registration certificate with your NIE.
I live in French Guiana with a titre de séjour. Can I move to Spain?
Not through free movement: the French permit gives no right to reside in Spain. You need a Spanish route (studies, work, family, non-lucrative residence…) with whatever visa your nationality requires, and you should check whether your titre de séjour even lets you travel to Spain visa-free. If you hold EU long-term residence or are married to an EU citizen, specific routes exist; it is worth reviewing with a lawyer.
Will I lose French nationality if I become Spanish?
No. The Spain–France dual nationality treaty, in force since 2022, lets you keep both. Spanish citizenship by residence requires 10 years of legal, continuous residence, the CCSE and the DELE A2.