Spain Dual Citizenship

Overview

Spanish dual citizenship is possible only for citizens of certain countries. The Spanish civil code overall rejects dual nationality for foreign citizens who wish to obtain Spanish dual citizenship, because it only allows dual citizenship in the following circumstances:

• Spanish citizens by birth can acquire citizenship in a second country
• People from Spanish speaking countries or who have Spanish or Portuguese origins due to the historical ties of the nation with Spain or Portugal: You will likely be eligible if you come from:
  • A Latin American Country
  • A South American Country
  • An Iberian country.

Spanish Citizens by Birth

Spanish nationals by birth are the Spanish population who were born in the country of Spain or one of its territories, most often to a Spanish mother and father.

Spanish law accepts Spanish citizens seeking dual nationality in another nation, and they will not be required to lose Spanish nationality as a result. Spanish nationals can choose to renounce their Spanish citizenship in favour of the other country if they so choose, but this would overall be unnecessary unless the secondary country they are applying for citizenship in does not have a dual citizenship agreement.

For example, a person of Spanish origins can apply to become a citizen of the United Kingdom, and will be able to hold dual citizenship in both Spain and the UK so long as they make a declaration to the Spanish authorities that they wish to maintain their Spanish citizenship.

However, British-born nationals who wish to acquire Spanish nationality are not able to acquire dual citizenship in Spain, but would instead have to be willing to renounce their British citizenship status in favour of becoming a Spanish citizen. This must be viewed as a permanent decision, because if an individual chooses this route, they will very unlikely be able to reacquire citizenship in the UK or other country of origin after renouncing citizenship status.

If a British national becomes a Spanish citizen, and then has children that are born in Spain, the child will be eligible for dual British and Spanish citizenship as they would then meet the criteria of being Spanish-born.

Citizens of Ibero-American Countries

Due to the historical Spanish Empire, Spain maintains close diplomatic and political ties to many former colonies and territories of Spain located most notably in the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America and South America.

As a result, Spain allows foreign nationals from these countries to gain double citizenship in Spain.

Citizens of the following countries are allowed to maintain their citizenship from their country of origin and also acquire Spanish citizenship:

Iberian countries:

• Andorra
• France
• Portugal.

Latin American countries:

• Costa Rica
• Cuba
• Dominican Republic
• Guatemala
• Honduras
• Mexico
• Nicaragua
• Panama
• Puerto Rico
• El Salvador.

South American Countries:

• Argentina
• Bolivia
• Brazil
• Chile
• Colombia
• Equatorial Guinea
• Ecuador
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Uruguay
• Venezuela.

South East Asia:

• Philippines.

Can I Get Dual Citizenship as a Sephardic Jew?

In 2015, a specific Spanish law was passed that opened up applications for Spanish citizenship by descent to individuals from Sephardic Jewish backgrounds, and in turn allowing double citizenship agreements with their country of origin.

The decision to grant Spanish citizenship to those with Sephardic Jewish Spanish ancestry was rooted in Spain’s historical connection with this community, and is aimed at addressing the injustices caused by the Alhambra Decree of 1492, which expelled Sephardic Jews from the country. This move symbolises Spain’s commitment to repairing the wrongs of historical Spanish governance and offering reconciliation to the descendants of those exiled.

The dual citizenship application process for Sephardic Jews included having to provide proof of Sephardic Ancestry, which then needs to be confirmed by the Spanish government. A language proficiency exam must also have been taken (DELE 2) and the CCSE test exploring the applicant’s understanding of Spanish culture and heritage.

Unfortunately, being able to gain citizenship or become a dual citizen through Sephardic Jewish heritage alone is no longer an available route to holding dual citizenship in Spain. However, Sephardic Jews may apply for citizenship through the usual routes.

Citizenship by Option (Under 18s)

Citizenship by option is a citizenship route for children and minors under 20 years old.

Citizenship by option is available to young people whose parents gained Spanish residency whilst the young person was under 20 years old. This route includes those who are adopted or under legal guardianship of the Spanish citizens.

In order to be eligible, the following must apply:

• The Spanish parents submitted the minor’s birth certificate when they applied for a residence permit
• The minor resides in Spain for 2 years before they apply for citizenship
• The Spanish parents were born in Spain.

The Spanish parents do not need to have been living in Spain for a significant time, as they are already citizens by birth; however, the family/child must have lived in the country for 2 years before the minor is eligible to apply for Spanish citizenship.

Spanish Citizenship by Descent

Spanish citizenship by descent is a citizenship route available to those who can prove direct family lineage in Spain (including those adopted by Spaniards). Since 2022, the Spanish government has expanded its legislation for citizenship by descent routes to support those who wish to reclaim their Spanish roots.

• Children of Historical Memory Nationals: These are the children of parents who gained Spanish citizenship through Law 52/007 (Law of Historical Memory) – these are individuals who were previously ineligible for citizenship as they were above 18 and were restricted at the initial time of application.
• Descendants of Exiled Spaniards: These are the children or grandchildren of Spanish exiles who were banished from Spain during the Franco Dictatorship and Spanish civil war due to persecution based on their political, religious, or ideological views, or due to their sexual orientation.
• Grandchildren of Spanish Women: These are grandchildren of a Spanish grandmother who was born in Spain before the 1978 Constitution, and lost her citizenship due to marrying a non-Spanish man.

Spanish Citizenship by Marriage

Spanish Citizenship by marriage is considered the quickest route to Spanish citizenship. Please know that legal marriages are the only eligible type of partnership – civil partnerships do not qualify for a citizenship pathway.

To be eligible for citizenship through marriage, the applicant must:

• Be legally married to someone with Spanish nationality
• Register their marriage officially at the Spanish civil registry – this is done automatically if your marriage takes place in Spain, but if you are married abroad you must register your marriage when you arrive in Spain
• Reside in Spain for at least one year with your Spanish spouse – you can prove this by submitting your visa status, residence permit, and/or rental agreement and utility bills.

Citizenship by Residency

For those who do not have a Spanish parent or Spanish ancestry, and are not married to a Spaniard, the best way to obtain Spanish citizenship or to obtain dual nationality (if applicable) is with the citizenship through residency option.

To become a citizen through residency, the Spanish authorities require a minimum of 10 years of legal residence in Spanish territories. You will be required to prove that during the decade spent residing in Spain, you have spent most of your time in the country, with no more than 3 consecutive months spent outside of Spain at any given point in the 10 year period.

Time spent living in the country on a Spain visa for tourists (Schengen visa) or student visa will not be counted as part of that 10 years.