Spanish Citizenship for Canadians
Canadians may qualify for Spanish citizenship after living in the country for at least ten years on a viable national visa or if they have Spanish relatives.
If you have met your residential requirements or if you are taking the first steps towards establishing residence in Spain, you will need to understand the nuances of Spanish citizenship applications. Our team of immigration lawyers at Total Law can help you navigate the application process. You can contact us online or call us today at +1 844 290 6312 for immediate support.
What to Know About Spanish Citizenship
Spanish citizenship is the final step for many Canadian nationals who wish to establish unlimited residence in the country.
It offers benefits such as full social and political integration, giving you the right to vote and to travel in the EU and EEA without a visa.
Citizenship may be available to individuals who have family members with Spanish nationality, or to foreigners who have established a significant duration of legal residence in the country.
Page Contents
- What to Know About Spanish Citizenship
- Different Pathways to Obtain Spanish Citizenship
- Requirements for Spanish Citizenship
- Exceptions or Special Considerations
- How to Get Spanish Citizenship as a Canadian
- Documents Requirements
- Tracking Your Citizenship Application
- Application Fees
- Processing Times Citizenship Application
- Nationality Test Requirements
- How Can Total Law Help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Different Pathways to Obtain Spanish Citizenship
Canadian nationals who have no previous ties to Spain will usually need to apply for citizenship through the naturalization pathway which requires ten years of residence under normal circumstances. However, there are four main application pathways.
At a glance, citizenship may be obtained through:
- Residence
- Marriage
- Option
- Descent
Spanish Citizenship by Residency
Foreigners who do not have a family connection to Spain will most commonly qualify for citizenship through the traditional residential immigration pathway. To do so, you will first need to obtain a qualifying national or long-stay visa, which will permit you to live in Spain and is usually renewable for up to five years.
After five years, foreigners on a national visa are eligible to apply for permanent residence, allowing for continued residence without the need for additional visa renewals.
Once you have lived in Spain for another five years on a permanent residence permit (making this ten years of continuous residence in total), you may apply for Spanish citizenship.
Spanish Citizenship by Marriage
Canadian nationals who marry their Spanish partner may qualify for citizenship by marriage. You will need to prove that you are in a real and ongoing relationship with your spouse, as marriages just for visa purposes are strictly forbidden and will lead to serious legal consequences with the Spanish authorities.
Spanish citizenship by marriage will usually be available a lot sooner than waiting to meet the general residential requirements. In general, you will be able to apply after living with your spouse in Spain for at least one year after the marriage.
Spanish Citizenship by Option
If one or both of your parents were born in Spain, you may be eligible for Spanish citizenship by option.
Your parents do not need to live in Spain anymore when you are applying, but you should note that they should have registered you with the Spanish birth register for you to be eligible.
Citizenship by option is generally only available to children who are still less than 18 years old, but under some circumstances, you may apply up to the age of 20. Children who are over 14 years of age will need to apply themselves with the support of a legal representative while parents must apply for any children who are still younger than 14.
You should note that children whose adoptive parents were Spanish citizens or who were otherwise cared for by a custodian with a Spanish background may also qualify.
Spanish Citizenship by Descent
Spanish Citizenship by descent is usually the alternative for individuals whose parents or grandparents were Spanish nationals but who are not eligible to apply for citizenship by option, usually because they are too old.
This citizenship option is open to foreigners whose grandparents were born in Spain, but you will need to show that this grandparent meets the particular requirements.
At a glance, one of the following must be true of your grandparent:
- Your grandmother was a Spanish national by birth but lost her status by marrying a foreign national before the changes in the 1978 constitution came into effect
- Your grandparent was a Spanish national who left the country before your parent was born which is why your parents didn’t acquire Spanish nationality
- Your grandparent (or alternatively your parent) were granted Spanish nationality out of historical memory but you no longer qualify for citizenship by option due to your age
Requirements for Spanish Citizenship
Spanish citizenship comes with certain requirements that you must meet and adhere to in order to qualify. Specific details vary based on the application path through which you wish to qualify, as well as your personal circumstances.
In general, you will need to meet any residential requirements that may be associated with your application path, meaning that you must have maintained continuous legal residence while complying with any conditions that may have been specified as part of your visa. Alternatively, you will need to prove that you have a qualifying relationship with a Spanish national such as through marriage or by ancestry.
Spanish citizenship applications also require that you show proof that you have the financial means to support yourself and that you pose no risk to the general public either through misconduct or through health conditions, meaning that you will need to submit a criminal record check certificate and a medical certificate when applying.
Finally, citizenship applications will evaluate how suitable you are for full integration into Spanish society, meaning that you will need to pass the two citizenship tests which assess your ability to speak the Spanish language and your knowledge of Spanish culture and law.
Exceptions or Special Considerations
Spanish citizenship may occasionally be granted without some of the original requirements.
As such, there may be occasions where refugees and asylum seekers qualify for citizenship by residence after only five years, while nationals from certain Spanish-American regions may qualify after only 2 years of living in Spain.
Eligible countries include:
- Andorra
- Cuba
- Equatorial Guinea
- France
- Honduras
- Mexico
- Peru
- The Philippines
- Portugal
- Uruguay
Additionally, children of Spanish parents may be eligible for Citizenship by option even past the normal age requirements if they suffer from a disability that means that they continue being dependent on their parent’s care.
How to Get Spanish Citizenship as a Canadian
Canadians who wish to apply for Spanish citizenship will first need to decide which application option may be the most suitable. If you have a right to citizenship by descent or option, you may gather your documents and apply right away. If you are applying through marriage or based on residence, you will need to make sure that you have met all of the extra requirements such as your residential minimum.
Once you are ready to apply, you should make sure that you have all of the required documents and additional evidence. Keep in mind that you might need to provide authorized translations of documents that are not originally in Spanish.
Depending on where you are applying from you may submit your citizenship application form and evidence online or by attending your local Civil Registry office if you are already in Spain. You should note that submitting this online will often result in a faster processing time.
Documents Requirements
When applying for Spanish citizenship, you will need to provide the following documents:
- Your citizenship application form
- Your valid passport
- Payment details of your application fee
- Your DELE and CCSE test certificates
- Your criminal record
- Your health certificate
- Financial details showing that you have the means to support yourself
- Details of your work history in Spain, where relevant
- Your residential register, where relevant
- Your marriage certificate, where relevant
- Birth records or other details about your Spanish parent or grandparent
Tracking Your Citizenship Application
Once you have submitted your application, you will be able to track its progress online with the proof or receipt code that you will have been given after submitting. You will also be able to see if there are any additional documents that you have been asked to provide.
Application Fees
Application fees for Spanish citizenship can vary based on the currency status and your personal circumstances. In general, your application is likely to cost about €80, but you should remember that there may be additional fees outside of the application itself such as the cost of applying for a Spanish passport.
Processing Times Citizenship Application
Spanish citizenship applications can have a notoriously long wait time before a decision is made. In general, this often takes between one and two years when filed in person, whereas online applications tend to take about one year.
You should really make sure that your application is as strong as it can be when you are submitting it as you don’t want to risk additional delays due to missing information. Seeking the support of an experienced legal professional can help ensure that your application will get processed without any undue delays.
Our immigration experts at Total Law will be happy to check your application for you and can advise you on any other parts of the process. You can call us today at +1 844 290 6312 to discuss how we may be of help.
Nationality Test Requirements
When applying to obtain Spanish nationality, you will need to show that you are ready to fully integrate yourself within Spanish society.
As such, you will need to complete and pass two special assessments called the Diploma of Spanish test, or DELE, and the Constitutional and Sociocultural Aspects of Spain test, which is also called the CCSE. You will need to achieve passing scores on both tests to qualify for Spanish citizenship.
To take these tests you will need to pay around €85, which will give you two attempts to pass the test. If you fail, you may try again, but after the second attempt, you will need to pay the fee again.
The DELE Test
The Diploma of Spanish test is also referred to as the DELE test or the DELE A2 test. It assesses how well you speak and understand the Spanish language.
As part of this assessment, you will be asked to complete a section on reading comprehension abilities as well as a section that tests your writing and interaction. While the exact time may vary for you, it is estimated to take about two and a half hours to finish the full test.
The CCSE Test
The Constitutional and Sociocultural Aspects of Spain test is also called the CCSE test or the Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de España.
It is a test about Spanish culture, history, and society, as well as the Spanish constitution and laws. Completion of the full test should take around 45 minutes but your individual time may vary.
How Can Total Law Help?
The path to Spanish citizenship can be confusing and with the considerable processing times, it is essential that you avoid any unnecessary delays due to mistakes in your application.
Our team of Spain citizenship experts can help you with every step of the application process, from your first visa to the final citizenship application. You can call us today at +1 844 290 6312 or fill out the online contact form, and we will be happy to discuss your individual needs and advice you on the best path forward.
Advice Package
Comprehensive immigration advice tailored to your circumstances and goals.
Application Package
Designed to make your visa application as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Fast Track Package
Premium application service that ensures your visa application is submitted to meet your deadline.
Appeal Package
Ensure you have the greatest chance of a successful appeal. We will represent you in any case.
The Advice Package
During this untimed Advice Session with our professional immigration lawyers in London, you will receive our comprehensive advice, completely tailored to your needs and your situation.
The Application Package
With our Application Package, your dedicated immigration lawyer will advise you on your application process and eligibility. Your caseworker will then complete and submit your forms to the Home Office on your behalf.
The Fast Track Package
Our Fast-Track Application Package is a premium service for those who need to submit their application in time with their deadlines. Your case will become a top priority for our lawyers and you will benefit from our highest-quality services.
The Appeal Package
By choosing our Appeal Package, you can rely on our lawyers’ legal knowledge and experience to ensure you have the highest chance of a successful appeal. We will also fully represent you in any hearings/tribunals.
Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unfortunately, Spain doesn’t usually grant dual citizenship to foreigners who apply for Spanish citizen status. As such, you will have to give up your Canadian citizenship if you become a Spanish citizen.
While there isn’t a straightforward answer without looking at the specific details of your application, common rejection reasons are mistakes or inaccuracies in the application itself, which either fail to confirm your eligibility or raise concerns about fraud or malpractice.
You will need to clearly document why and how you qualify for your chosen application path and it is essential that you provide authentic and recent documents.
If your application was rejected and you think it was a mistake, you may be able to appeal this decision, but it is recommended that you seek adequate legal advice before you do so.
Spanish citizenship for Canadian nationals who do not have pre-existing family ties to the country will usually need to establish legal residence in Spain before eventually qualifying for citizenship.
Depending on your circumstances the minimum time for this residence requirement may vary, but for foreigners with no other exceptional circumstances, it tends to be ten years at a minimum.
