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Family members of EU citizens get easier treatment than ordinary visitors, but only in specific cases. This guide explains who qualifies, what the embassy can ask for and how the application works for Nigerian spouses, children and other relatives. If you only want to visit a relative who is a resident, not an EU citizen using free movement, read our Schengen family visit guide instead.
Who qualifies
EU free-movement rules protect family members of an EU citizen who lives in an EU country other than their own. For example, a Nigerian wife of a Polish citizen who lives and works in Germany. The rules do not cover a family member of a citizen who lives in their own country. In that case the national immigration law of that country applies.
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| Family member | Position under EU free-movement rules |
|---|---|
| Spouse or registered partner | Covered |
| Children and grandchildren under 21 | Covered |
| Older children and grandchildren who depend on the EU citizen | Covered |
| Dependent parents and grandparents | Covered |
| Other relatives, such as siblings, and partners in a durable relationship | The state must facilitate entry, with a case-by-case review |
What is different for these applicants
- The visa must be issued as soon as possible, under an accelerated procedure.
- It is issued free of charge. Normal Schengen visa fees of €90 do not apply, though a visa application centre may still charge a service fee.
- You must be given every opportunity to prove that you are a family member. The embassy should not ask for the usual proof of trip funds in the same way.
- If you plan to stay for more than three months, you apply for a residence card in the host country after you arrive.
Procedures differ from country to country, so check your embassy’s own page before you pay for anything.
Documents to prepare
- Your valid passport and the completed application form.
- Your EU relative’s passport or national ID card.
- Proof of the relationship: marriage certificate, birth certificate or proof of dependency. Documents often need to be legalised or apostilled and translated.
- Proof that your relative lives in the EU country, such as a registration certificate, tenancy agreement or employment contract.
- For a dependent relative, proof of dependency, such as money transfers or a statement from your relative.
Our translation and certification guide explains how to prepare foreign-language documents.
Worked example
Ngozi is Nigerian and married to an Italian citizen who works in Spain. She applies at the Spanish embassy in Abuja or Lagos, whichever handles her case, with her marriage certificate, her husband’s passport and Spanish residence registration, and her own passport. She asks for the visa under the free-movement rules. If she is approved, she travels to Spain and applies for a residence card there. Had her husband been living in Italy, the Italian national rules would apply instead.
Frequently asked questions
I am married to an EU citizen who lives in Nigeria. Do these rules apply?
Not usually, because the free-movement rules apply once your spouse is exercising those rights in another EU country. Ask the embassy which rules it will apply to your case.
Can the embassy refuse an EU family member?
Yes, if the relationship is not proven, the documents appear false, or there is a genuine threat to public policy or security. A refusal must be explained and can be appealed.
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Do I still need medical insurance?
Embassies differ. Many still ask for it, so confirm on your embassy’s checklist.
For the general visa basics, see our Schengen visa guide.
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