Spanish Citizenship
Spain is a European country which boasts a strong economy, a warm climate, and numerous professional and educational opportunities. What is more, many people from around the world have strong cultural and familial ties to Spain. As such, many individuals choose to apply for Spanish citizenship.
However, applying for Spanish citizenship can be complicated, and picking the route which is right for you is essential. At Total Law, our legal experts are adept at guiding applicants through the citizenship process, and can assist you at every step of the way. Contact us today on +34 919015010 or message us online, to learn more.
What is Spanish Citizenship?
Spanish citizens enjoy a number of rights on account of their Spanish nationality. Being a Spanish citizen grants the right to hold a Spanish passport and to vote in Spanish elections. It also provides citizenship of the European Union (EU), meaning that the holder is authorised to live, work, and study without a visa in the other EU countries.
There are a number of routes through which you can acquire Spanish nationality. One is through naturalisation, if you have lived legally and consistently in Spain for a sufficient amount of time, under eligible visas. Another is through marriage, if you marry a Spanish national. Alternatively, you may be eligible for citizenship if you have certain familial links to Spain, such as Spanish parents, adopted parents, or grandparents.
While Spain does not generally allow dual citizenship, there are a number of exceptions to this rule, as outlined later in this article. As such, it is sometimes possible for Spanish citizens to also hold citizenship of another country.
Page Contents
- What is Spanish Citizenship?
- Ways to Acquire Spanish Nationality
- Dual Citizenship Spain
- Required Documents for Spanish Citizenship
- How to Get Spanish Citizenship?
- What are the CCSE and DELE Exams?
- Spanish Nationality Processing Time and Cost
- Benefits of Spanish Citizenship
- How Can Total Law Help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
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Ways to Acquire Spanish Nationality
There are a number of different routes to Spanish nationality. In order to maximise your chances of a successful application, you should make sure to pick the route which is right for you.
The main routes are as follows:
Spanish citizenship by residency
In many cases, citizenship by residency is the best route for those looking to obtain Spanish nationality. This is because it provides a route to Spanish citizenship by naturalisation for those who have lived in Spain for a sufficient amount of time but do not have a Spanish spouse or familial ties to Spain.
In order to be eligible under this route, you will generally need to have lived in Spain legally and continuously for at least 10 years. As such, if you have spent periods of over 3 months outside of Spain during this 10-year period, you may not be eligible.
Note that, if you have spent time in Spain on either a Tourist visa or a Student visa, these periods of time will not count towards the 10-year minimum.
Spanish citizenship by marriage
If you are married to a Spanish citizen, you may be eligible for Spanish citizenship. This route is generally faster than citizenship through naturalisation, as it does not require the applicant to live on Spanish territory for at least 10 years before they are eligible to apply.
In order to be eligible under this route, you will need to satisfy the following eligibility criteria:
- Provide your marriage certificate. Note that your marriage will need to be registered and valid in Spain
- Prove that you have been living in Spain for at least a year with your spouse. As part of this requirement, you will be expected to provide a valid Residence permit. If your permit is close to expiring, you should renew it before submitting your citizenship application. You will also need to prove that you and your spouse live together at the same address, which will be verified through your registered address(es) at your local City Hall
- Provide the birth certificates of both you and your partner
- Pass the DELE language exam by achieving at least the A2 level. You will also need to pass the CCSE exam on Spanish law and culture, scoring at least 15 out of 25
- Prove that you are able to support yourself financially while living in Spain. If you have already been living and working in Spain, you can do so via the Public Multiple Effects Indicator (IPREM), in which you will need to score at least 150%
Spanish citizenship by descent
In some cases, you may be eligible for citizenship by descent if you have Spanish grandparents.
You will need to satisfy one of the following eligibility criteria:
- Have a Spanish-born grandmother who was married to a non-Spanish citizen and was born before the 1978 Spanish Constitution
- Have a Spanish grandparent who left Spain before having their child(ren) and so who was unable to obtain Spanish citizenship for the child(ren) at the time of birth
- Have a parent or grandparent who gained Spanish citizenship via historical memory, but who was ineligible for citizenship by option at that point
As such, there are only limited situations in which citizenship by descent is an option. Contact Total Law today on +34 919015010 to learn more about whether this route is a good fit for your own circumstances.
Spanish citizenship by option
Citizenship by option allows you to gain Spanish citizenship if you have familial ties to Spain. In order to be eligible, you will need to provide sufficient evidence of your familial relationship to the Spanish citizen in question.
If you are the child of a Spanish citizen, this is likely to be the best route for you. If you have been under the parental authority of a Spanish citizen, you may also be eligible.
If you were adopted by Spanish parents, you may also be eligible under this route.
Additionally, if you were born in Spain to foreign parents and your parents are from a country which does not grant citizenship to those born abroad, you may also be eligible for Spanish citizenship under this route.
Spanish citizenship by birth
If you are born in Spain to Spanish parents, you are automatically entitled to Spanish citizenship. However, being born in Spain does not necessarily make you a Spanish citizen.
If at least one parent is a legal resident in Spain, the child is likely to be eligible for Spanish citizenship. If both parents are stateless, the child will also be entitled to Spanish citizenship. Additionally, if both parents are non-residents but the child lives legally in Spain for at least one year, the child may also be entitled to Spanish citizenship.
It is important to note that the nationality laws of the parents’ country of origin will also play a role in whether the child is eligible for Spanish citizenship, as some countries do not grant citizenship to children who are born abroad. In such instances, the child is also likely to be eligible for Spanish citizenship.
Dual Citizenship Spain
In general, Spain does not allow dual citizenship.
If you are a citizen of a different country and wish to obtain Spanish citizenship, it is likely that you will need to renounce your original citizenship.
However, there are some exceptions. If you are a Sephardic Jew or are a citizen of a Spanish-American country, for example, you may be eligible for Spanish dual citizenship.
If you are a citizen of countries such as Andorra, Portugal, Cuba, Peru, Honduras, Mexico, or Uruguay, for instance, you may be eligible for dual citizenship.
In such instances, it may be possible for you to be both a Spanish citizen and a citizen of another country.
Required Documents for Spanish Citizenship
Whilst the exact documents which are required for your application will vary based on the route in question, you will generally require a combination of the following:
- Passport
- CCSE and DELE test results (you will need to demonstrate that you can speak Spanish to a sufficient extent and that you have a sufficient grasp on Spanish culture and society)
- Evidence of your finances
- Clean criminal check
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Birth certificate (if applicable)
- Any additional family records (if applicable)
- Residence permit (if applicable)
- Current visa (if applicable)
Note that these documents will need to be translated into Spanish by an authorised translation service.
How to Get Spanish Citizenship?
The exact application process when applying for Spanish citizenship will vary depending on your specific route. In general, however, you will need to fill out the relevant application form and submit it either online or to your local civil registry office. Once your application form has been submitted, you can check on your application’s progress online.
Note that the application process for citizenship by option tends to be more simple than the other routes. If you already live in Spain, you can apply via your local civil registry. However, if you do not live in Spain, you will still need to apply via your local Spanish embassy or consulate.
Once citizenship has been granted, you will gain access to the rights associated with Spanish citizenship. For example, you will now be able to vote in Spanish elections. You can also apply for a Spanish passport, which allows visa-free travel to the other countries in the EU.
What are the CCSE and DELE Exams?
For some routes to citizenship, it will be necessary for applicants to pass the CCSE (Constitutional and Sociocultural Aspects of Spain) and the DELE (Diploma of Spanish) exams.
Of the two tests, the CCSE is the shortest. You will be asked 25 questions, which are a mix of multiple choice and true or false. The test lasts for 45 minutes. During the test, you will be expected to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of Spanish culture and society, including Spain’s politics, geography, and history. In order to pass the exam, you will need to score at least 60%.
The DELE is focused instead on testing Spanish language proficiency. You will be tested on your writing, speaking, reading comprehension, and listening comprehension. You will need to demonstrate that your Spanish is at least at the A2 level.
However, in some circumstances, you may be exempt from the test, for example if you attended a Spanish-speaking school or university or if you are a native of a Latin American country.
Spanish Nationality Processing Time and Cost
There are a number of factors which can influence how long it takes to obtain Spanish nationality. In general, the process can take 1-2 years. Note that applying online tends to be quicker, with processing times of approximately a year.
In order to make sure that your application is processed as quickly as possible, make sure to apply via the route which is the best fit for you, to provide all of the necessary documentation, and to promptly provide any additional information which is requested.
The application fee for applying for Spanish citizenship is generally around €104. However, there may be a number of additional costs associated with your application.
For example, applying for a Spanish passport costs approximately €300. Additionally, as your documents will need to be submitted in Spanish, there may be associated translation fees. Note that the exact cost will depend on the translation service which you use, though using an authorised translation service is essential.
Applicants may also face the additional cost of paying for a Spanish language course in order to pass the language requirement of Spanish citizenship.
In some cases, applicants also choose to pay for legal assistance in order to make their application process as smooth as possible. To learn more about our own services and how we can help you to streamline the application process, contact Total Law today on +34 919015010.
Benefits of Spanish Citizenship
Being a Spanish national comes with many benefits. For one, Spanish nationals are protected from deportation and from the need to renew their visa or Residence permit.
This means that, upon acquiring Spanish nationality, you are free to settle permanently in Spain, where you can work, live, and study without restrictions or the need to worry about renewing your legal status. Spanish citizenship gives you the right to settle in a beautiful country with numerous professional opportunities, strong schools, and fantastic opportunities for travel.
As a Spanish citizen, you will be eligible to vote in Spanish elections. You will also be authorised to apply for a Spanish passport, which means that you will be able to engage in visa-free travel throughout the EU. You will also be free to live, work, and study in the other EU countries, and to engage in visa-free travel to a number of additional countries.
However, whilst Spanish citizenship comes with a number of benefits, it is worth noting that you may first need to relinquish your original citizenship.
How Can Total Law Help?
Spanish citizenship comes with many advantages. It provides the right to live, work, and study in a country with a strong economy, rich culture, and excellent schools. It also comes with EU citizenship, which grants the right to live, work, and study in the rest of the EU without needing a visa. As such, pursuing Spanish citizenship is a popular choice, and there are many routes through which it can be obtained.
However, whilst Spanish citizenship does offer many advantages, the process of getting citizenship in the first place can often be long and complicated. At Total Law, our legal experts are adept at offering bespoke immigration advice on cases exactly like this, and can help to make your application process as smooth as possible. If you are interested in learning more about how Total Law can help you on your own citizenship journey, message us online or call us today on +34 919015010.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long you will need to live in Spain before being eligible for citizenship will generally depend on the route in question. In the case of citizenship by marriage, you will generally need to live in Spain with your partner for at least a year before being eligible.
In the case of citizenship by residency, this period generally increases to 10 years. To learn the exact period of Spanish residency which is required in your own case, contact Total Law today on +34 919015010.
In general, Spain does not allow dual citizenship. If you hold a different nationality but are entitled to Spanish citizenship then it is likely that you will first need to renounce your current citizenship. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, as outlined in the article.
There are a number of reasons why your application for Spanish citizenship may be denied, such as applying via the incorrect route or failure to provide sufficient evidence. At Total Law, we offer an Appeals Package for cases like this and will represent you during your appeal process. Contact us today on +34 919015010 to learn more.
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