Spanish Citizenship
Each year, over 200,000 foreign nationals are granted citizenship in Spain. This page outlines the various pathways US citizens can take to gain Spanish citizenship.
Obtaining Spanish citizenship can be a long and complicated process. At Total Law, we have a team of expert immigration lawyers waiting to advise and support you with your application for citizenship in Spain. Contact us online or call us on +1 844 290 6312.
Understanding the Citizenship in Spain
Gaining citizenship in a new country is the process by which a foreign national proclaims an allegiance to a new state, acquires legal status that grants them various rights in that country, and allows them to live and work as permanent residents and citizens of that country, without having to go through any form of immigration or legal process to do so once the citizenship is granted.
Gaining Spanish citizenship not only offers the applicant these rights in Spain, but as Spain is an EU member state, it also formally makes them a member of the European Union, allowing them to work and travel freely in 27 European states.
Please note that becoming a Spanish citizen as a US national will require you to renounce your US citizenship and passport. This is a big decision and so it is important that you explore all the pros and cons around the subject before deciding to apply.
In most cases, Spanish citizenship can only be obtained after the applicant has spent 10 years residing in Spain with an official residence permit (TIE).
Page Contents
- Understanding the Citizenship in Spain
- What Are the Benefits of Spanish Citizenship?
- Who is Eligible for Spanish Citizenship?
- Citizenship Routes for Spain
- Spanish Citizenship by Marriage
- Spanish Citizenship by Option (Under 18s)
- Spanish Citizenship by Descent
- Spanish Citizenship by Residency
- Do I Have to Lose My U.S. Citizenship if I Become a Spanish Citizen?
- How To Apply for Spanish Citizenship
- How Can Total Law Help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Benefits of Spanish Citizenship?
Spanish citizenship allows you to do the following without any form of immigration or travel restrictions:
- Spend unlimited time in Spain
- Access the Spanish healthcare, education, and social security systems
- Work any type of job of your choosing
- Start or conduct business
- Have immediate family members join you in Spain
- Partake in politics and vote in national and EU elections
- Move freely across 27 EU states
- Buy and rent property without restriction
- Offer the option of Spanish citizenship to your children, whether or not they were born in Spain
Who is Eligible for Spanish Citizenship?
The requirements for Spanish citizenship are dependent on which route you apply through in order to gain your citizenship status. The details of the four citizenship routes to Spain are outlined below.
Generally speaking, in order to gain citizenship, you must have a familial connection or be married to a Spanish citizen, or have lived permanently in Spain for a minimum of 5 consecutive years.
You will also need to show a sufficient understanding and fluency of the Spanish language and culture, as the citizenship application requires you to take a language test as well as a multiple choice exam testing your knowledge of constitutional and sociocultural aspects of the country and its people.
Being able to prove that you are integrated well in Spanish society and would be a productive member of Spanish society, and that you will not need to heavily rely on government support and benefits.
You may not be accepted for your Spanish citizenship application if you have a serious criminal conviction in Spain, the USA or another country, are considered harmful to other Spanish citizens, or if you have previously breached the terms of your visas or other immigration laws.
Citizenship Routes for Spain
In general, there are four key routes to gaining citizenship for Spain:
- Citizenship by Option
- Citizenship by Descent
- Citizenship by Residency
- Citizenship by Marriage
If you want to understand more about the best route to Spanish citizenship for your personal circumstances, call +1 844 290 6312 to speak to our friendly team of immigration law experts to discuss your options, or contact us online today.
Spanish Citizenship by Marriage
The Spanish citizenship by marriage route is usually the quickest way to become a Spanish national as a US citizen. Please note that it is only an official marriage that allows you to do this, and civil partnerships do not qualify as a viable route to citizenship.
Citizenship by marriage requires you to be legally married to a Spanish national.
In order to be eligible for citizenship by marriage, you must:
- Register your marriage officially with the Spanish authorities; this will be part of the process if you got married in Spain, however if you were married abroad you will need to actively register your marriage once you arrive in Spain
- Be able to prove you have legally resided in Spain with your Spanish spouse for at least 1 year by showing your visa status, residential permit, and if applicable, any rental agreements or utility bills
Spanish Citizenship by Option (Under 18s)
Citizenship by option is a Spanish citizenship route available to Spanish citizens. This route only applies to those who are under 18 and still in the care of the Spaniard parents, or under 20 if the parents gained Spanish residency whilst the child was still under 18.
This route includes adoptive children or those under the legal custody of Spanish parents, so long as the parents submitted the child’s birth certificate when applying for their residence permit. The child must then wait 2 years before they qualify for citizenship by option.
The Spanish parents do not need to currently be living in Spain and do not necessarily have to have spent any extended amount of their lives in Spain. The only condition is that they were born in Spain.
Spanish Citizenship by Descent
Spanish citizenship by descent is available to applicants who can prove a direct familial connection to Spain. This applies to the children and grandchildren (including adoptive relatives) of Spaniards.
Recently the Spanish government has opened up further opportunities for descendants of Spanish grandparents to obtain Spanish citizenship, in order for them to reclaim their Spanish heritage.
Grandchildren of Spanish Women
Grandchildren of Spanish Women will still qualify for citizenship by descent if:
- Their grandmother was born in Spain before the 1978 Constitution
- Their grandmother married a non-Spanish national and as a result lost her Spanish nationality due to the marriage
Children of Historical Memory Nationals
Children of historical memory nationals can be eligible for citizenship in Spain if their parents became a Spanish citizen via Law 52/007 (Law of Historical Memory) but at that time the applicant was unable to apply as they were over 18.
Descendants of Exiled Spaniards
The children or grandchildren of Spanish citizens who lost their citizenship due to being previously exiled (banished) from Spain as a result of their ideological, political and/or religious views, or due to their sexual orientation, are now eligible to apply for Spanish citizenship.
Spanish Citizenship by Residency
If you are a US citizen or foreign national from another country who does not have direct familial heritage and is not married to a Spanish citizen, then this route to citizenship is your best option.
Unlike some nations who only require you to live in the country for 5 years to become eligible for citizenship, Spain requires you to have resided in Spain for at least 10 years with a valid residence permit.
You will also be required to prove you have spent most of the duration of the decade in Spain, and that you are well integrated into the Spanish culture and are proficient in speaking Spanish.
You will not be eligible for citizenship through residency if:
- You have spent longer than 3 consecutive months outside of Spain throughout the 10 year period
- You are including time spent living in Spain on either a tourist or student visa as part of that 10 year period
- You have a criminal record or have breached Spanish immigration laws during the 10 year period of living in Spain
Do I Have to Lose My U.S. Citizenship if I Become a Spanish Citizen?
The Spanish government is reasonably restrictive with regards to dual nationality for foreign nationals who become Spanish citizens. If you are a US citizen applying to become a Spanish citizen, then you will be required to renounce your US citizenship and passport in order to do so.
Exceptions to this rule who are allowed to maintain a dual citizenship are applicants who meet the following criteria:
- Applicants with Sephardic Jewish heritage, or
- Applicants who have citizenship in one of the following nations:
- Andorra
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Equatorial Guinea
- Ecuador
- Philippines
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Portugal
- Puerto Rico
- El Salvador
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
- France
Renouncing your citizenship, especially as an American citizen, is not a simple decision and you may be feeling unsure whether or not obtaining Spanish citizenship is the right path for you as a result.
For advice and guidance on the best immigration decisions and options available to you for your personal circumstances, you can chat with one of our friendly immigration experts today by calling us on +1 844 290 6312 or getting in touch online.
How To Apply for Spanish Citizenship
The Application process for applying for Spanish citizenship will vary according to which of the four routes you apply for, as the type of documentation and proof of identity will vary from route to route.
Documents Required
The documents needed for your citizenship application will differ based on the route you take, however most applicants will be required to submit the following documents:
- A fully completed Spanish citizenship form
- A valid passport
- A Spanish language certificate (proof that you passed the DELE A2 exam)
- Financial statements to prove you have the appropriate resources to support yourself in Spain
- Proof of payment for the application
- A clean criminal background from your country of origin or any countries you have lived in within the past 5 years
- Your Spanish resident permit registration (empadronamiento)
- Your own, a family member’s, or your spouse’s birth, marriage, divorce or death certificates, where applicable
- Your previous work history, if applicable
You must ensure all documents have been translated into Spanish, otherwise your application may be rejected or take longer to process.
Application Process
In order to apply for Spanish citizenship, it is recommended that you take the following steps through the application process:
- Decide which citizenship route is the most appropriate for your circumstances (we recommend you discuss this with a professional if you are eligible for more than one route).
- Ensure you have all the relevant documentation, which may take time to obtain if you are applying through familial ties and gaining access to official documents to prove your heritage is difficult.
- Have any non-Spanish documents translated correctly into Spanish
- Book, take and pass the CCSE (Constitutional and Sociocultural Aspects of Spain) and DELE 2 (Diploma of Spanish) exams, and obtain the relevant proof of certification.
- Complete the Spanish citizenship application form in full, and either submit this online or in person at your local Civil Registry Office.
Processing Time and Fees
The processing time for obtaining Spanish citizenship is approximately 1 year. You will be able to track your application status using the Spanish Ministry of Justice tool.
As of early 2025, the costs of becoming a Spanish citizen are as follows:
- DELE 2 (Spanish language) exam €134
- CCSE (Spanish culture and heritage test) €85
- Document translation fee approximately €60-€100
- Application processing fee €104.05
- Any costs associated with documentation retrieval, printing, and travel to take the exams or to submit your application
Application Approval and Citizenship Ceremony
Once your application has been processed and approved, you will officially be granted citizenship in Spain.
You will be required to book a citizenship ceremony at the Civil Registry in your area before a notary, and make an oath of obedience to the Spanish government, its constitution and laws, as well as swear loyalty to the Spanish King Felipe VI.
Once the above is completed, you will then be eligible to apply for a Spanish passport. This will cost €300.
This is not an essential requirement, but as you must renounce your US citizenship by becoming a citizen of Spain, it is highly recommended that you obtain a Spanish passport in order to travel abroad.
How Can Total Law Help?
Applying for Spanish citizenship is a very exciting prospect for many US nationals who wish to settle in Spain permanently. It is a beautiful country full of rich history and cultural heritage, offers an exceptional quality of life, and offers you the freedom to travel, live and work in the European Union with ease.
We appreciate how important it is that your application is successful. Given the complications that can arise when applying for citizenship, particularly if it is difficult for you to obtain family documents or clear evidence of your right to citizenship in Spain, seeking immigration advice from a team of expert lawyers can be a great asset in supporting you so that your application for citizenship is simple and smooth.
Total Law can help. We offer general advice and guidance, can work with you to submit your application, and can provide legal representation if and when required.
You can get in touch with us online, or call us today on +1 844 290 6312.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
In order to gain citizenship in Spain, there are not necessarily any ‘quick fix’ options available in order to improve your chances of being approved for citizenship.
However, you will be required to take two language tests called CCSE and DELE A2. These are taken in order for you to prove that you meet a reasonable level of language fluency in Spanish and that you understand the culture and heritage of Spain in order to get by as a citizen in Spain.
If you are uneasy with regards to your Spanish fluency levels, preparing rigorously for these exams will improve your chances of passing the tests and reduce your chances of having your application rejected.
Ensuring your application is 100% complete and accurately translated is also crucial to avoid rejection. If you are concerned about your application, seeking advice from a professional immigration team is a good idea to avoid any mistakes. We can help.
If you have reason to believe that your application was unfairly rejected (and not due to a clear error or missing document in your submission), then you are entitled to appeal the decision to the Ministry of Justice in Spain, or to your nearest Spanish consulate.
Please note that you may require legal advice, guidance or representation if you intend to take your application rejection forward. We recommend chatting to one of our team to receive expert advice on the steps you need to take next.
