Interview: an important step before getting married in Spain

Love can burst into life without asking your permission. It is not worried about the distance, nor the difference in mentality and nationalities, nor the bureaucratic delays that international couples have to face.

One of these difficulties is the wedding. On the one hand, it is a wonderful and joyful event. On the other hand, it takes a lot of patience and time before the couple can reunite in Spain and start building a new social unit.

In addition to the paperwork, Spanish law provides for interviews if one of the spouses is a foreigner from another country. Many are afraid of him, but it is not so scary if your intentions are pure and you truly love your partner.

Marriage interviews are needed to verify the authenticity of a marriage between a Spaniard or a resident of Spain and a non-resident. The Spanish side must make sure that the purpose of marriage is to create a family, and not to obtain a residence permit, material benefits and other reasons that are considered fictitious.

Interviews are conducted with both partners. In addition, the presence of a witness is mandatory, who is also questioned about the spouses.

The bride and groom are interviewed separately to avoid unnecessary conversations and agreements between themselves. The whole process takes place in Spanish, including a written questionnaire. Therefore, if one of the couple does not understand well and speaks or does not speak Spanish at all, an interpreter can be invited.

Each of the partners individually fills out a questionnaire, and then, if necessary, undergoes an oral survey. Questions can range from formal to personal. They are aimed at catching bogus alliances.

For instance:

Formal / General Questions:
Your partner’s full name?

Is the marriage you want to have valid?

What language do you communicate with each other?

What is your nationality? What about your partner?

Have you visited your partner in his country? How many times?

Has your partner been to your country? How long?

Where and by whom does the partner work? And you?

When is your partner’s birthday?

What is your education? What about your partner?

Romantic questions:
When, where and how did you meet?

How often did you see each other?

How did you keep in touch with each other?

Have you been married / married before? What about your partner?

When did you decide to get married?

Whose initiative was it to formalize the relationship?

Where will the wedding be?

Who will be present at the wedding on the part of each of you?

Who pays for the wedding?

Family issues:
How often do you visit your relatives?

How do you get along with your relatives? When was the last time they were seen?

Do you have common children? Who puts them to bed? What is their favorite food? Favorite toy?…

Do you know your partner’s family? Is he with yours?

What are the names of your partner’s parents? Where do they live?

Do you have brothers and a sister? How many? Where live? What about your partner?

Personal questions:
Do you live with your partner? Where is (address)?

How often do you spend time together? What do you do?

What are your common hobbies?

Do you smoke? What about your partner?

Your and your partner’s favorite food?

What are your favorite hobbies? What about your partner?

Who sleeps on which side of the bed?

Who usually gets up first of the two of you?

!!! Questions may vary depending on the local registry office, the interviewer, and the particular couple looking to get married.

After the interview, the case is referred for further consideration. By evaluating the answers, forms an opinion whether you know each other, whether you are really getting married for love.

If the registry office employee has a lot of doubts, then marriage registration may be refused. The refusal must be motivated, that is, specific reasons must be indicated. For example, if the answers about the history of dating vary greatly.

As a rule, couples wishing to get married do know enough about each other and are easily interviewed. Therefore, failures are rare. So you should not be afraid of marriage interviewing if both partners have sincere intentions.