Citizenship In Spain: All You Need to Know
From eligibility criteria to the naturalization process, Are you ready to explore the fascinating world of Spanish citizenship? Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered!
In this comprehensive guide, we’ve distilled all the essential information you need to know about obtaining Spanish citizenship as an expat.
Let’s dive in!
How to get Spanish Citizenship?
There are four different pathways that an individual can take to acquire a Spanish Citizenship. They are:
- Citizenship by Marriage.
- Citizenship by Option.
- Citizenship by Descent.
- Citizenship by Residency.
Citizenship By Marriage
If you are married to someone of Spanish descent, applying for Spanish Citizenship is easier. However, the process takes time, and you must wait for the status to be approved.
If you are married and want to apply for citizenship, you must ensure the marriage takes place in Spain. The marriage should be registered in Spain.
If you still need to, you can officially register your marriage in Spain to proceed with the citizenship.
You also have to apply for work authorization and a residence permit. Nationality by marriage can only be applied once you have lived in Spain with your partner for an entire year, with a residence permit.
Citizenship By Option
This pathway is only available to the children of a Spanish citizen.
It is optional for his parents to live in Spain when applying for citizenship, and there is no set requirement for them to have lived in Spain for a certain period. However, parents MUST be of Spanish descent.
Similarly, people who were adopted or were in the custody of a Spanish citizen are also eligible to apply for citizenship.
This only applies when the caretakers submit the child’s birth certificate when applying for a work permit. From this, the child can request citizenship for two years.
Adults cannot obtain citizenship by choice only if their parents obtained residency when they were under 18, and the adults themselves are currently between 18 and 20.
Who Can Benefit from Citizenship By Option
- Foreign citizen children who were born in Spanish territory.
- Spanish nationals adopted individuals over 18 years of age.
- Those who have been or are subject of custody of Spanish national.
Citizenship By Residency
Spanish nationality through residency is the most common and most sought-after option an individual looks for. If you have been a legal resident of Spain for a certain amount of years, you can apply for nationality through naturalization.
Even beyond living in Spain for 2, 5, or 10 years, you must ensure the following things before applying for Spanish nationality:
- You must live in Spain for ten years uninterrupted with a Spanish residence. You must not travel frequently for more than three months during this time.
- Short leaves and work trips are allowed.
- Any time on a student visa or with a tourist would not be accepted.
- A background check will be involved once you apply for citizenship. Hence, you need to conduct positive civic behavior during your residency in Spain.
- Minor legal matters such as speeding tickets or even renewing your residence card late may work against you during your background check.
Citizenship By Descent
It is possible to obtain nationality if your grandparents were born in Spain. Nonetheless, there are specific requirements that you need to meet in order to achieve citizenship:
- Being the child or grandchild of someone who has nationality through historical memory – but could not get the nationality by option for being older than 18 years.
- Grandchildren of a Spanish national who left Spain and got another nationality before their children were born can also apply for nationality.
- Grandchildren of Spanish women born before the 1978 constitution and married to non-Spanish citizens can also apply for nationality.
Dual Citizenship In Spain
If you are willing to apply for Spanish Citizenship, you would have to renounce your previous citizenship in favor of Spanish nationality.
Dual Citizenship is only exempted if you are a Sephardic Jew or your country is Spanish-American, such as The Philippines, Andorra, Portugal, Equatorial Guinea, and many more.
Application Process Of Getting Spanish Citizenship
Once you have decided to take a route for getting Spanish citizenship, you will need to do the following:
- Fill out the Spanish citizenship application form, preferably online.
- Collect your supporting documents.
List Of Supporting Documents
- Marriage Certificate.
- Birth certificate.
- Proof of payment of the application fee.
- Spanish Language certificate, which can be obtained by taking relevant tests.
- Resident Register
- Valid Passport
- Evidence of working history in Spain
- Proof of finances
- Background records of your origin country.
Once you provide all the relevant documents, you will need to pay the application cost of 60 to 100 Euros.
Processing Time Of Spanish Citizenship
There has yet to be a definitive time period for the processing of citizenship. However, the process may take up to two to three years.
What Are The Pros and Cons of Getting Spanish Citizenship?
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ Since you have the right to live in Spain, you cannot be deported. | ❌It costs a lot of money, which people can use for something of more significance. |
| ✅ You can efficiently work and study in Spain without repeatedly going through the renewal process. | ❌ It is very difficult to have Dual Citizenship in Spain. |
| ✅ You become a member of the Schengen region. You can travel between European countries without going through border control. | ❌It is challenging to renounce your original citizenship, which can be emotional for many. |
| ✅ Universal healthcare in all EU countries comes with Spanish Citizenship. | ❌ The process of getting citizenship can be stressful, not to mention the amount of time period required to apply for one. |
| ✅ You can work in any of the EU countries without being doubly taxed. | ❌ It also requires a lot of patience, as you have to wait for two more years to be called a Spanish Citizen. |
Conclusion
Now that you’ve unlocked the treasure trove of knowledge about Spanish citizenship, you’re one step closer to making Spain your second home.
Embrace the beauty, culture, and warmth of this enchanting country. Your journey to Spanish citizenship begins here.
Citizenship Guaranteed!
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