Spanish Citizenship by Marriage
Non-EU nationals married to a Spanish citizen may obtain Spanish nationality through the marriage route. To be eligible, your marriage must be recognised and validated in Spain.
If you are seeking more information on Spanish citizenship by marriage, whether you are eligible, or how to apply, call us today on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 to speak with one of our expert immigration advisers.
Getting Citizenship Through Marriage in Spain
Spanish citizenship by marriage is a legal pathway for foreign nationals to apply for citizenship in Spain by virtue of having a Spanish spouse. It is often called the fast-track route to obtain Spanish citizenship as you are eligible to apply for citizenship after getting married to, and living with, your Spanish national spouse in the country for just one year. The marriage route has, in fact, the shortest residency requirement before obtaining Spanish citizenship.
Previously, citizenship in Spain used to be automatically conferred upon foreign nationals marrying Spanish citizens. However, the Spanish civil code was modified in 1975, making it impossible since then to get Spanish citizenship directly by marrying a Spaniard.
Article 22 of Spanish civil code specifies that for the purpose of granting citizenship, residency in Spain for one year shall be sufficient for “a person who, at the time of the [citizenship] application, has been married to a Spaniard for one year and is not separated de iure or de facto”.
The article also mentions that the widow or widower of a Spanish national may also be eligible for citizenship under this rule if the couple were not separated de jure or de facto before the death of the Spanish spouse.
Page Contents
- Getting Citizenship Through Marriage in Spain
- Benefits of Marrying a Spanish Citizen
- Eligibility Criteria for Spanish Citizenship by Marriage
- Supporting Documents for Spanish Citizenship by Marriage
- Spanish Language Proficiency and Citizenship Test Requirements
- Applying for Spanish Citizenship by Marriage
- Spanish Citizenship by Marriage Processing Time and Fees
- What Happens After You Get Spanish Citizenship by Marriage?
- What If Your Citizenship Application Is Rejected?
- How Can Total Law Help
- FAQ
Key facts: Spanish citizenship by marriage
| Item | Summary |
|---|---|
| Route name | Citizenship by marriage (acquisition by residence — Article 22 exception) |
| Minimum residence before applying | 1 year of legal residence in Spain while married and not legally/actually separated. |
| Marriage requirement | Legally married to a Spanish national; marriage must be registered/recognised in Spain. Civil partnership (pareja de hecho) does not qualify. |
| Language & civic tests | DELE A2 (Spanish language) and CCSE (constitutional & social knowledge), unless exempt/waived. |
| Financial requirement | Applicant (or spouse) normally needs minimum income ≈ 150% of IPREM (≈ €900/month when IPREM = €600). |
| Typical processing note | Ministry decision times vary; by law there are target deadlines but real waits can range (see timeline table). |
| Governing law | Spanish Civil Code (Article 22) and Reglamento / Ministry procedures. |
Benefits of Marrying a Spanish Citizen
A Spanish citizenship confers many rights and benefits on an individual not only in Spain but also in all of the EU Member States, including freedom to live, work and study anywhere in the area for an indefinite period.
A Spanish citizen will get additional rights (compared to legal residents) in the country, such as access to public healthcare, social security benefits, right to vote, and right to run for a public office. As a citizen, you can also apply for a Spanish passport and enjoy visa-free travel to 193 countries.
Obtaining citizenship in Spain following your marriage to a Spanish national may also prove beneficial for your continuous family life in Spain. Although there are no legal or administrative requirements to renounce your original nationality (and apply for Spanish citizenship) after marrying a Spanish national, becoming a Spanish citizen may be advantageous for yourself (and your children, if any) from the social, cultural and community perspectives.
Moreover, you will not ever have to worry about your visa/permit expiry or renewal in Spain as citizenship is a right for life. You will continue to have the same rights and privileges as enjoyed by Spanish citizens by birth.
Eligibility Criteria for Spanish Citizenship by Marriage
To be eligible to obtain citizenship in Spain via the marriage route, you will have to fulfil the following conditions:
- You are legally married to a Spanish national
- You have been living in Spain with your Spanish spouse for at least one year prior to your citizenship application
You may travel to Spain on a tourist visa to get married to your Spanish citizen spouse if you do not have residency in Spain. Alternatively, you may get married in your home country or any other country. In the latter case, your marriage will have to be recognised and valid in Spain.
However, if you choose to form a civil partnership (pareja de hecho) with a Spanish citizen instead of legally marrying them, you will not be eligible for Spanish citizenship by marriage. In that case, you will have to fulfil the usual 10-year residency requirement before you are eligible to apply for Spanish citizenship (or two years in case of certain third-country nationals)
Who qualifies to apply?
| Requirement | Is it a necessary? | Evidence to provide with application |
|---|---|---|
| Married to a Spanish national (valid legal marriage) | Yes. | Marriage certificate registered in Spain or recognised as valid in Spain. |
| Lived in Spain for at least 1 year immediately before application | Yes. | Continuous legal residence with valid residence permit for the 12 months before applying. |
| Not separated (de jure or de facto) at time of application | Yes. | Proof of cohabitation: joint empadronamiento, lease, joint bills, joint bank accounts, official registrations. |
| Civil partnership (pareja de hecho) — Does NOT qualify for 1-year route | Yes . | If pareja de hecho → standard residency timelines apply (usually 10 years or exceptions). |
| No serious criminal record | Yes. | Certificate of criminal records from Spain and other countries of residence (last 5 years). |
Supporting Documents for Spanish Citizenship by Marriage
You will need to submit the following supporting documents while applying for Spanish citizenship by marriage:
- Your current, valid passport
- Your marriage certificate (your marriage must be registered in Spain, or must be recognised and valid in Spain in case you were married outside the country)
- Your valid resident permit in Spain as a family member of an EU citizen (i.e. your Spanish spouse)
- Proof of sufficient financial means
- Certificates confirming that you have passed the DELE A2 and CCSE exams, or a waiver (total or partial) thereof if applicable
- Birth certificates of both you and your Spanish spouse
- Your criminal background check certificate (both from Spain and from any other country you have resided in the past five years)
- Document(s) proving your continuous cohabitation status with your Spanish spouse in Spain for at least one year prior to the application (to prove this, both of you must be living at the same address in Spain and be jointly registered at this address in your local town hall)
- The Documento Nacional de Identidad (DNI), which is the national identity document of your spouse in Spain
- Death certificate of your deceased spouse, if applicable, as well as a registered certificate of historical coexistence in Spain
- Application fee payment receipt
To prove that you have sufficient economic means in Spain, your IPREM score should be at least 150%. IPREM (Indicador Público de Renta de Efectos Múltiples) or Public Multiple Effects Income Indicator is a figure which is the minimum monthly income threshold for each person in Spain.
If you are applying for citizenship in Spain via the marriage route, you must have an income of €900 per month or more (or your spouse must be able to provide that amount monthly to sponsor you in Spain).
Spanish Language Proficiency and Citizenship Test Requirements
To apply for Spanish citizenship by marriage, you must pass a Spanish language test called a DELE test. You will have to achieve a CEFR A2 level proficiency in Spanish language to pass this test. People from Latin American countries or who have attended a school or high school in Spain, are exempted from the DELE test.
In addition, you will need to pass the ‘Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de España’ (CCSE) test, which is a Spanish citizenship examination testing your knowledge of the Spanish constitution and the country’s social and cultural practices.
There are accredited centres in Spain for both tests. It takes approximately three months to receive the test results. Please plan accordingly so that you have your test results with you in time to make your Spanish citizenship by marriage application.
Document Checklist
| Document | Purpose / Notes | Typical additional detail |
|---|---|---|
| Valid passport | ID & nationality evidence | Full passport pages; translations if not in Spanish. |
| Marriage certificate (registered or recognised in Spain) | Proof of marriage to Spanish national | If married abroad: legalisation/Apostille + Spanish translation + registration with Spanish Civil Registry. |
| Spanish spouse’s DNI (national ID) | Proof spouse’s Spanish nationality | Copy of DNI (front/back). |
| Residence permit (applicant) | Proof legal residence in Spain (past year) | Tarjeta de residencia; renewal receipts if applicable. |
| Empadronamiento (joint) or official proof of cohabitation | Proof of one year living together | Joint empadronamiento certificate(s), joint lease, utility bills, joint bank statements. |
| Birth certificates (applicant & spouse) | Identity and family links | Legalised/Apostille + Spanish translation if issued abroad. |
| Criminal records (Spain & other countries of residence in last 5 years) | Public order / good conduct checks | Certificates must be legalised and translated as required. |
| DELE A2 and CCSE certificates (or exemption documentation) | Evidence of language & civic knowledge | Test certificates from Instituto Cervantes (keep payment/registration receipts). |
| Evidence of sufficient financial means | Show applicant/spouse meets IPREM multiple (see income table) | Employment contracts, pay slips, spouse’s tax returns, bank statements. |
| Application payment receipt | Proof application fee was paid | Keep receipt / proof of payment. |
| Death certificate & proof of cohabitation (if widowed) | For widower/widow cases | If spouse deceased, must show not separated prior to death. |
Applying for Spanish Citizenship by Marriage
Following your marriage to a Spanish national, you will first need to apply for a residency card in Spain as a family member of an EU citizen. This card is usually valid for five years, and it allows you to live and work in Spain.
After living in Spain for at least a year together with your Spanish national spouse, you may start applying for citizenship. The Spanish citizenship by marriage application has to be made in person. You will have to submit your application to the Central Civil Registry.
It is advisable to get in touch with your local civil registry to get a comprehensive list of all supporting documents required in your circumstances. Foreign public documents must be legalised and apostilled. Any documents not in Spanish must be translated by an accredited translator.
Spanish Citizenship by Marriage Processing Time and Fees
The Spanish government can lawfully take up to a year to process a Spanish citizenship by marriage application. However, this timeline often stretches to two to three years.
You will have to pay a non-refundable processing fee while submitting your citizenship application. The cost may vary between €60-100 depending on your nationality.
Application process steps & rough timeline (what to expect)
| Step | What happens | Typical time (indicative) |
|---|---|---|
| Document preparation | Collect, legalise/Apostille & translate docs | 1–3 months (depends on foreign authorities) |
| Submit application (online / registry) | Electronic submission or at Registro Civil as applicable | Day 0 |
| Administrative checks & background reports | Criminal record checks, registry checks, reports from different bodies | Weeks → months |
| Ministry decision (by law) | There is a statutory processing framework, but real waits vary | By law: decision within 1 year; in practice currently many applications take 6–24+ months depending on file complexity and backlog. |
| Oath / registration in Civil Registry | If approved: formal oath/pledge, then registration & DNI/passport | 1–8 weeks after approval |
What Happens After You Get Spanish Citizenship by Marriage?
If your Spanish citizenship by marriage application is approved, you will need to take an oath of obedience to the Spanish constitution and laws at the Civil Registry or before a notary. During this oath-taking ceremony, you will also have to swear your loyalty to the King of Spain. You can apply for a Spanish passport after becoming a citizen.
If you are allowed to keep dual citizenship in Spain, please make sure to use your Spanish passport if you travel abroad within three years of becoming a citizen in Spain. Your nearest Spanish consulate may begin a passport withdrawal process otherwise.
What If Your Citizenship Application Is Rejected?
In case you do not get to hear from the concerned authorities for over a year after submitting your citizenship by marriage application, it may be that your application has been rejected due to administrative inaction.
You can lodge an appeal with the Spanish Ministry of Justice in such a scenario. Usually, you will receive a response within three to four months from the date of filing your appeal.
Outcomes and next steps
| Outcome | What it means | Typical next steps |
|---|---|---|
| Approved | Nationality granted | Attend oath/pledge at Registro Civil, register nationality, apply for DNI & passport. |
| Approved with conditions | Rare — e.g., missing small document, administrative rectification | Submit missing doc(s) within deadline indicated. |
| Refused / Denied | Application rejected | Administrative appeal within timeframe (recurso) or judicial challenge — seek legal advice. |
| Abandoned or incomplete | Application not processed due to missing docs | File may be closed; applicant usually notified to correct/complete. |
How Can Total Law Help
The marriage pathway is the least time-consuming route to obtain citizenship in Spain, provided you fulfil the criteria. However, the Spanish authorities tend to scrutinise every citizenship by marriage application rigorously so as to rule out fraudulent marriages (i.e. where two parties enter into matrimony with the sole purpose of making the third-country national spouse eligible for Spanish citizenship).
Given that, arranging for sufficient documentary evidence supporting your citizenship by marriage claim can prove to be a challenging and time-consuming process. It is, therefore, highly recommended to consult an expert immigration lawyer if you are planning to apply for citizenship in Spain through marriage.
If you are seeking expert advice on how to proceed with your Spanish citizenship by marriage application, or what other options you may explore to obtain citizenship in Spain, our Total Law team of immigration advisers can guide you throughout the process. Call us today on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 to understand how our Total Law team can help you.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
FAQ
No. Citizenship is, generally speaking, a right for life. Once you obtain citizenship in Spain through marriage, your citizenship will not be revoked if you subsequently get divorced from your Spanish spouse. Your citizenship could, however, be revoked if it is later discovered that your marriage was fraudulent.
You may be allowed to keep your previous nationality after becoming a Spanish citizen by marriage if you are from any of the Latin American countries or from a country that has historical and cultural ties with Spain (e.g. France, Portugal or The Philippines), or if you belong to the Sephardic Jewish sect.
Yes. Spain legalised same-sex marriages in 2005. You can get married to your Spanish partner in Spain even if your home country does not recognise same-sex marriages.
