 Approximately 4 @,@ 500 same @-@ sex couples married in Spain during the first year of the law . Shortly after the law was passed , questions arose about the legal status of marriage to non @-@ Spaniards whose country did not permit same @-@ sex marriage . A ruling from the Justice Ministry stated that the country 's same @-@ sex marriage law allows a Spanish citizen to marry a non @-@ Spaniard regardless of whether that person 's homeland recognizes the partnership . At least one partner must be a Spanish citizen in order to marry , although two non @-@ Spaniards may marry if they both have legal residence in Spain . 
