Applicants who have an ethnic or territorial connection with the state or have lived in the country from one to 10 years for naturalization can obtain Spanish citizenship. The applicant for registration of status must be law-abiding, voluntarily express a desire to acquire a Spanish passport, and meet the requirements for the applicant in accordance with the basis.
The rules for granting citizenship in the Kingdom of Spain are regulated by articles 17–28 of the Civil Code. The Spanish passport is the second most powerful in the world and allows you to live in an economically developed country, which is ranked 10th out of 84 developed countries according to the Numbeo quality of life index. Spain is a member of the European Union, so the applicant also receives EU citizenship, with all the corresponding rights and privileges.
The benefits of a Spanish passport
Spanish citizenship and passport entitles the holder to the following benefits:
- travel to 175 visa-free countries, including the entire territory of North and South America, as well as Europe;
- the possibility of permanent residence in any state of the European Union with an EU passport;
- access to the labor market, education, medical and banking services, commercial activities, purchase of real estate of all types in the EU;
- receiving state support due to the status of social benefits and benefits, protecting civil rights and freedoms;
- registration of citizenship for minor children, as well as spouses within the framework of accelerated naturalization.
What is needed to obtain Spanish citizenship status?
An applicant for Spanish citizenship by naturalization must meet the following requirements:
- age over 18 years (or 14, if there is a legal representative);
- preliminary residence in the kingdom for a fixed period of 1–10 years, depending on the basis;
- decent civil behavior (no cases of violation of the law);
- a sufficient degree of integration into local society (determined by a special test);
- the obligation to obey royal decrees, laws and the Constitution;
- no criminal record (including in your home country);
After acquiring the requested status, the immigrant undertakes to register in the Spanish civil registry within 180 days.
Legal ways to obtain a Spanish passport
Registration of Spanish citizenship as of 2023 is possible through general or accelerated naturalization, by origin, option (choice), in exceptional cases. The applicant must pay a state fee for filing an application in the amount of 104 EUR. It is impossible to buy a kingdom passport legally (including through investment). Individuals born in Spain are eligible for citizenship after 12 months, but foreign parents are not granted the status.
By origin
Article 17 of the Royal Civil Code provides for the provision of a Spanish passport by origin in the following cases:
- at least one of the applicant’s parents has Spanish citizenship;
- the child was found on the territory of the state and his nationality could not be established;
- the applicant was born on the territory of the kingdom into a family of stateless persons (stateless persons);
- the child’s parent is a foreigner who was born in the state but does not have local citizenship;
- the applicant is adopted by a Spaniard (persons over 18 years of age can apply for citizenship only 2 years after adoption).
Citizenship is granted automatically, without paying a state fee.
By option (choice)
Applicants who were born abroad and have a former native Spaniard in their family up to the second generation (grandfather, grandmother) have the right to apply for Spanish citizenship. The applicant’s relative must have lost his nationality for reasons beyond his control, such as expulsion from the kingdom for political or religious reasons, or refusal of a passport due to marriage to a foreigner.
Currently, the law establishes the possibility of reinstating Spanish citizenship by option by submitting an application before October 21, 2024. The applicant must document the relevant family ties. Before submitting the request, the applicant must have resided legally in Spain for 12 months.
In exceptional circumstances
According to the law on the procedure for granting citizenship, foreigners over 18 years of age (or 14 years of age if there is a legal representative), living in the territory of the kingdom and having special circumstances (considered by government departments on an individual basis) can obtain a Spanish passport. The applicant draws up a letter of naturalization and provides documents that confirm his need to obtain the requested status. Each request is examined by authorized bodies on an individual basis.
As part of general naturalization
Registration of Spanish citizenship is possible for adults (or over 14 years of age with the approval of parents or guardians) who have legally and continuously resided in the state for 10 years before submitting the request. The applicant must demonstrate good integration into the local community, waive the first identification card, be law-abiding and willing to take an oath.
Initially, the foreigner moves to Spain and obtains resident status. There are the following popular ways to obtain a residence permit in the kingdom:
- Training .
Registration of a Spanish residence permit is possible for persons who arrive in the state to carry out non-work practices, conduct scientific research, and obtain education at local universities (including within the framework of student exchange programs). - Work .
Persons who have received an official position in a Spanish company can apply for local residence. The applicant must also obtain a work permit, the request for which, after checking the eligibility criteria, is submitted to the employer by the receiving party. - Business .
Foreigners who plan to conduct commercial activities in the state have the right to obtain a Spanish residence permit. Applicants can invest in a new business or buy out an existing enterprise. - Buying real estate .
Applicants who purchase real estate in the kingdom can obtain a residence permit in Spain. The object must cost from 500,000 EUR, and the applicant can dispose of it at his own discretion – for example, rent it out. - Family reunion .
Spouses and children of local residents or foreigners living with a residence permit or permanent residence can apply for residency in Spain. The receiving party must have suitable living space and sufficient financial resources (300–600 EUR per person) to provide for the relative. - Other reasons .
Obtaining a Spanish residence permit is possible for interns, volunteers, journalists, representatives of church organizations, artists, members of international scientific missions, and other persons performing special activities. An applicant can also apply for a residence permit in the kingdom for humanitarian reasons – for example, as part of settlement or as an applicant for international protection.
As part of accelerated naturalization
An applicant who meets the conditions for naturalization and has lived in the country for the following period can apply for Spanish citizenship:
- 1 year – for spouses or widows/widowers of Spaniards, as well as persons who were born in the kingdom in a foreign family;
- 2 years – for Sephardim, citizens from Ibero-American countries, Andorra, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea or Portugal;
- 5 years – for refugees.
How to obtain Spanish citizenship
To obtain a passport of a Spanish citizen by naturalization, the applicant must move to the kingdom (with an entry permit or without a visa, depending on the situation) and obtain resident status, live in the state for the period established by law in accordance with the reason, and not violate local rules. The applicant will also need to promptly renew the residence permit and obtain permanent residence (if applicable), integrate into society and confirm this with the results of independent testing.
Registration of a residence permit
A foreigner has the right to apply for a Spanish residence permit in the country of residence by submitting a complete dossier according to the grounds to the diplomatic mission of the kingdom. For persons already in Spain, it is possible to obtain residency through the Mercurio Initiales immigration platform or by appointment at the nearest branch of the Ministry of Territorial Policy. The residence permit can be extended if necessary and while maintaining the grounds for staying in the kingdom. After 5 years of residence with a residence permit, a foreigner can obtain permanent residence in Spain, and after the same period – apply for citizenship in the general naturalization procedure.
Passing the test
An applicant for Spanish citizenship by naturalization must pass a language proficiency test – DELE (Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera). Applicants from countries where Spanish is also the official language are exempt from the exam. An alternative to DELE testing is an interview with a representative of the Ministry of Justice or the availability of official language certificates accredited by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports. Also, those wishing to obtain a Spanish passport take an exam on knowledge of the constitutional and sociocultural norms of the kingdom – CCSE (Constitutional and Sociocultural Aspects of Spain).
Collection and preparation of documents
The basic dossier for those wishing to obtain Spanish citizenship by naturalization is as follows:
- a completed application in Spanish on Form 790-026, which can be found on the official website of the Ministry of Justice;
- international passport or its equivalent with photocopies of all pages;
- valid Spanish resident ID;
- translated and legalized police clearance certificate from the applicant’s home country;
- results of successfully completed integration and language tests;
- receipt for payment of state duty.
Applicants for citizenship through accelerated naturalization additionally provide a document confirming the basis, for example:
- birth certificate in the kingdom;
- refugee certificate;
- confirmation of the presence of Spanish roots;
- Sephardic ID;
- marriage certificate with a local citizen.
Applying for citizenship
A person who wishes to become a Spanish citizen submits a request through the electronic headquarters of the Ministry of Justice by filling out the uniform form provided on the page according to the sample and attaching scanned copies of the necessary documents. It is also possible to submit a dossier in person through the nearest civil registry office in Spain. The legislation does not establish the exact time frame for consideration of a request, but on average each of them is considered up to 12 months. The applicant can check the progress of the case at any time on the official website of the Ministry of Justice.
Terms and cost of obtaining Spanish citizenship
Registration of Spanish citizenship from the moment of submitting a request for a residence permit until the applicant receives a passport can take from 2 to 12 years, depending on the basis. Initially, the immigrant applies for temporary resident status, which can be renewed annually or as needed. The replacement of a residence permit with a permanent residence permit occurs after 5 years of legal stay in the kingdom, but this stage may be missed as part of accelerated naturalization.
| Expense item | Cost, € |
|---|---|
| National visa | 80 |
| Resident card | 10–38 |
| Extension of residence permit | 17 |
| Application for citizenship | 104 |
| Translator and notary services | from 12 per page |
The cost of obtaining status also includes the purchase of tickets and rental housing for trips to migration services, ensuring residence in the country for the period required for naturalization, fees for requesting documents, and legal support services. Amounts vary depending on the basis for obtaining citizenship, the course of the process and its duration.
Spanish citizen passport: how to get it after obtaining citizenship
After acquiring citizenship, a foreigner has the right to apply for an internal Spanish passport – DNI (Documento Nacional de Identidad), which is a national identity card with the biometric data of the owner. The request is submitted by the applicant to the nearest representative office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs by appointment – online on the website of the Main Police Department or by calling 060 (calls are made within the kingdom). The applicant provides the following documents:
- birth certificate;
- color photo size 3.2 by 3.6 cm;
- registration at place of residence;
- foreigner’s identity card.
The first DNI is issued to the applicant free of charge; subsequent renewal or reissue will cost 12 EUR. Document validity period:
- 2 years for children under five years of age;
- 5 years for persons aged 5 to 30;
- 10 years for applicants aged 30–70 years;
- for life – for citizens over 70 years of age.
In addition to the internal ID, a Spanish citizen can request a passport for traveling abroad. The document looks like a 32-page rectangular book with a burgundy cover and an RFID chip that can identify the owner without the need for contact with readers. The applicant also contacts the representative office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and provides the following dossier:
- DNI;
- check for payment of state duty;
- recent color photo 32 x 36 mm.
The price of a Spanish passport is 30 EUR. The document is valid:
- 2 years for children under five years of age;
- 5 years for persons under 30 years of age;
- 10 years – for applicants over 30 years of age.
There is no provision for checking the document production status.
Dual citizenship of Spain: is it possible to get a second passport?
An applicant for Spanish citizenship by naturalization or by choice must sign a statement renouncing the first status. Persons who draw up a document based on origin are entitled to have a second passport – for example, born into a family of a Spaniard and a foreigner. For each country, the applicant will be considered a local citizen with a corresponding list of rights and obligations of the first and second citizenship.
Spain and a number of countries have concluded agreements on dual citizenship, which allows applicants from the relevant countries to legally hold two passports. This list includes France, Portugal, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, and Latin American states. The individuals concerned can enjoy the full legal status of citizens of both countries – for example, they can choose where they perform military service and pay taxes.
Refusal and deprivation of Spanish citizenship
A person wishing to obtain Spanish citizenship may be denied in the following situations:
- submission of false information, incomplete or forged documents;
- identifying facts of violation of royal legislation;
- poor results in integration and language tests.
Already registered citizenship for any reason (except origin) is subject to cancellation if:
- the applicant has continued to use exclusively the previous passport for the last 3 years;
- a fact of falsification of data was revealed that could influence the decision to grant the requested citizenship;
- the applicant voluntarily enters military service or holds political positions in a foreign country, contrary to the direct prohibition of the Spanish authorities.
A foreigner can challenge the received decision in court, but such cases are rarely resolved in favor of the plaintiffs. In order not to face the refusal or revocation of Spanish citizenship, the applicant can use the services of experienced lawyers who thoroughly understand the migration legislation of European countries and minimize the risk of such problems.