Spanish Citizenship by Descent
Spanish citizenship by descent is the process of becoming a citizen of Spain through your familial heritage. You may be eligible if you have Spanish parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, or were adopted by a Spanish family. The process can also apply in certain cases where Spanish citizenship was lost due to historical circumstances.
We understand how important and sometimes complicated the citizenship application process is, especially when navigating legal requirements and gathering necessary documents. We at Total Law are here to help. Call our team to speak to an expert legal representative today on +44 (0) 333 305 9375, or get in touch with us online.
What is Spanish Citizenship by Descent?
Spanish citizenship by descent is an immigration option that allows the children or grandchildren of Spanish citizens to gain Spanish citizenship through their family lineage.
Spanish citizenship grants the applicant the right to both a Spanish national and also grants them with EU citizenship. This allows you to:
- Gain permanent residence in Spain
- Live and work freely in Spain and the European Union
- Vote in national and EU elections
- Access public welfare benefits and healthcare in Spain and the wider EU
You can enjoy these benefits without having to apply for visas, a residence permit or work permits. It makes living in Spain and travelling around the wider European Union easy and flexible.
In 2022, the Spanish government enacted the ‘Grandchildren’s Law’, which offers citizenship by descent not only to children of Spanish parents, but also to the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Spanish nationals.
The purpose of the Grandchildren Law is to address historical injustices that disrupted Spanish heritage and lineage during the Spanish Civil War and Franco Dictatorship.
This new law ensures that those with Spanish heritage can continue the family line and pass down Spanish citizenship to future generations.
Page Contents
- What is Spanish Citizenship by Descent?
- What Are the Eligibility Criteria for Citizenship by Spanish Descent?
- What Are the Benefits of Gaining Spain Citizenship?
- Can I Have Dual Citizenship (Spanish and British?)
- What Documents Do I Need to Apply for Spanish Citizenship by Descent?
- How To Apply for Citizenship by Descent in Spain?
- How Long Does it Take to Get Spanish Citizenship by Descent?
- How Much Does Spanish Citizenship by Descent Application Cost?
- How Can Total Law Help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Eligibility Criteria for Citizenship by Spanish Descent?
The eligibility criteria for Spanish citizenship by descent is based on the Spanish principle of ‘jus sanguinis’ (right of blood).
You should be eligible for Spanish citizenship if:
- You area a child born to a Spanish parent
- You were adopted by a Spanish national parent as a child (before 18)
- Both of your parents were born in Spain
- You have Spanish grandparents
- You are from Latin America and have Spanish ancestry
Due to historical political turmoil, many Spanish citizens were at one point exiled from Spain and lost their right to Spanish nationality.
Since 2022, the Spanish government now allows:
- Children or grandchildren of Spanish exiles to apply for Spanish citizenship
- The same is true for those descendants of a Spanish mother or Spanish grandmother who lost their citizenship by marrying non-Spaniards before the 1978 Constitution
Applying for Spanish nationality is also available for those who live in Spain for at least 1 year and:
- Were born in Spain, or
- They are the child or grandchild of a Spanish national
Finally, individuals who are of:
- Sephardic origin
- Ibero-American countries
Can apply for Spanish citizenship after residing in Spain for 2 years, so long as they do not spend longer than 3 consecutive months outside of Spain during this time. You will need a TIE (Spanish residency permit) and proof of travels to confirm this during your application.
Below is a list of the Latin American countries/Ibero-American countries that are eligible for Spanish Citizenship by Descent:
- Andorra
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Chile
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Portugal
- Puerto Rico (U.S. Commonwealth)
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
You will also need to prove that you will be well-integrated into Spanish life and society, by proving your language fluency by taking the DELE A2 (Diploma of Spanish) exam and the CCSE (Constitutional and Sociocultural Aspects of Spain) Spanish citizenship test. You must take these tests within 3 months before submitting an application.
Blood Tests To Prove Your Spanish Origin
As part of your application for Spanish citizenship, you will need to take a genetic blood test to prove your Spanish genetic heritage. You must submit your blood test results to prove your Spanish heritage.
What Are the Benefits of Gaining Spain Citizenship?
Obtaining Spanish nationality is a valuable citizenship, Spain is an EU member state and therefore becoming a Spanish citizen automatically grants you EU citizenship too.
Some of the many benefits of becoming a Spanish citizen include:
- Permission to reside in Spain without time limits or any visa or immigration restrictions
- Access to Spain’s education, healthcare, and social security systems
- Freedom to work in Spain and any other EU member state
- Freedom to start or manage a business in Spain and EU
- Vote in national and EU elections
- Ability to travel and work across the EU
- Ability to buy and rent property without restrictions
- Ability to pass on Spanish and EU citizenship onto your children
Can I Have Dual Citizenship (Spanish and British?)
Obtaining a Spanish passport will require you to renounce your British citizenship. This is because Spain has fairly strict rules in terms of allowing foreign nationals who apply for Spanish citizenship to maintain their citizenship in another country.
However, if you are a British national but are already a dual national of an Ibero-American country (for example, you have Portuguese nationality and British nationality), then your Portuguese citizenship will allow you to hold dual nationality with Spain. This is because the Spanish government allows dual nationality for citizens of Ibero-American states.
Renouncing your British citizenship and passport is a very big decision, and you may be unsure whether gaining citizenship by descent is the best immigration option for you to reside in Spain. Total Law can help. To discuss your personal circumstances and receive advice on the best immigration decisions for you, contact us online or call us on +44 (0) 333 305 9375.
What Documents Do I Need to Apply for Spanish Citizenship by Descent?
The required documents for your Spanish citizenship application will vary depending on your particular circumstances and your heritage line.
Depending on your family history, some documents may be difficult for you to obtain – for advice and guidance on this matter, you can get in touch with one of our immigration experts who can help you trace your lineage and provide accurate documents for your application.
Contact us online or call us today on +44 (0) 333 305 9375.
In general, applicants will need the following documents, all of which must be translated into Spanish:
- A completed Spanish citizenship application form
- A valid passport
- Proof that you have passed the DELE A2 Spanish language exam
- Proof that you have passed the CCSE test
- Proof of financial stability and that you will be able to sustain yourself and any dependent family members in Spain
- A clean criminal record certificate from your country of origin or any other countries you have lived in for the past 5 years (your family members will require this too)
- Your Spanish TIE card or permanent legal residence permit, if you have one
- The relevant birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce or death certificate to prove your identity and Spanish lineage with the eligible common ancestor(s)
- Your previous work history, if applicable
- Document proving exiled status of your Spanish parent, or Spanish grandfather or Spanish grandmother
Please note this list is not exhaustive and the Spanish consulate reserves the right to request any further documentation related to your application to clarify your circumstances and eligibility.
How To Apply for Citizenship by Descent in Spain?
To apply for your Spanish citizenship, you will need to travel to your nearest Spanish consulate to apply.
Before you make an appointment to submit your application, you will need to ensure you have done the following within 3 months of applying:
- Obtained a certificate proving you have passed your CCSE Spanish culture test
- Obtained a certificate proving you have passed your DELE 2 exam
- Taken a medical test to prove you do not have a condition deemed harmful to public health
- Completed a criminal record check to prove you have a clean criminal record for the past 5 years
- Have taken a blood test to prove your Spanish lineage
- Have gathered all the relevant documents, including any that prove your heritage
After this, you must:
- Translate all documents into Spanish
When you have completed all of the above steps, you can then make an appointment with your nearest Spanish consulate or Spanish embassy.
If you are in the UK, you can visit one of the addressed below:
BLS Spain Visa Application Centre London
Ground Floor,
20 St Andrew’s Street
London
EC4A 3AG
BLS Spain Visa Application Centre Manchester
55 Brown Street
Manchester
M2 1YB
Spain Visa Application Centre Edinburgh
1a
6 Dock Pl
Leith
Edinburgh
EH6 6LU
How Long Does it Take to Get Spanish Citizenship by Descent?
The Spanish authorities have up to one year to process your application. This means that you should plan to wait at least 12 months for your application to be processed.
Please note, it is not unusual for applicants of obtaining citizenship by descent to wait two or three years for a response – so you should not make any drastic changes based on the assumption of citizenship until you receive a response.
How Much Does Spanish Citizenship by Descent Application Cost?
Generally, the application fee for citizenship by descent is approximately €60-100 (approx £55-£85)
Costs that you should factor into the total process include:
- Translation fees (approximately €60-100)
- Travel costs to and from your consular appointment
- Printing costs or any costs related to obtaining relevant marriage, birth and death certificates to prove your lineage
- Medical costs to prove your health is in order and for the blood test
- Criminal record check costs (approximately £18)
Once your application is approved and you have obtained citizenship, you can make the necessary arrangements to obtain a Spanish passport, if you choose (€30).
How Can Total Law Help?
The process to obtain Spanish citizenship by descent can sometimes be a challenging one, as it can sometimes be difficult to obtain the relevant certificates and documents to prove your blood heritage, particularly if your common ancestors were exiled from Spain and proof of their being Spaniards is difficult to access. For those with Sephardic Jewish ancestry, this can be particularly challenging.
We also appreciate that some of the terms for eligibility are complicated, and you may be unsure whether or not you would be considered an eligible applicant to acquire Spanish nationality.
That’s why Total Law is here. We have a team of expert immigration lawyers who can guide you through the full Spanish citizenship application process and guide you through Spanish law. To speak to one of our team today, contact us online or call us on +44 (0) 333 305 9375.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Due to historical injustices that caused a disruption in many Spanish families’ ability to pass down their citizenship and lineage during the Spanish Civil War and the Franco Dictatorship, the Spanish authorities have allowed descendants of exiled or disenfranchised Spaniards to obtain citizenship through the new ‘Grandchildren’s Law’.
The Grandchildren Law allows the following group of people to apply for citizenship by descent:
- The grandchildren of originally Spanish grandfather, father, grandmother or mother
- Those whose mother or grandmother lost their citizenship due to being Spanish women who married non-Spanish individuals before the 1978 Constitution
- Jews of Sephardic origin who have prior connections to Spain
It depends. Obtaining Spanish citizenship through a Spanish parent born abroad is a potential route to becoming a Spanish citizen if one or both of your parents are, for example:
- Latin American, South American or come from an Iberian country and have dual Spanish citizenship
- Lost their Spanish citizenship due to political issues during the Franco Dictatorship or Civil War
- Your mother married a non-Spanish individual before the 1978 constitution
Other more niche routes may also apply.
