Spanish Citizenship By Marriage or Civil Union
APPLYING FOR SPANISH CITIZENSHIP THROUGH MARRIAGE
Congratulations on your marriage! You’ve tied the knot with a Spanish national and are now interested in becoming a citizen.
Luckily, there is a reasonably simple process to do that. And even before you qualify for full citizenship, you can easily gain residency status in Spain, making it easy to live together with your spouse in Spain.
Can I Become a Citizen if I Marry Someone in Spain?
Yes! But it takes some time.
It used to be automatic—so marrying a Spanish citizen granted you immediate citizenship status. But modifications to the Spanish civil code in 1975 ended that. Now, you’ll need to go through a few extra steps.
Still, this remains one of the easiest ways to become a citizen of Spain.
Steps for Spanish Citizenship Through Marriage
1. Get Your Residence Permit
Once married, you can apply for a residence permit at a nearby Foreigner’s Office, Immigration Office, or local police station. Being married to a Spanish citizen means you’ll easily obtain one of these—something that’s much more difficult in other situations.
You’ll have two options:
- Tarjeta communitaria: This is a card that family members of EU citizens apply for that gives them legal residence. You’ll need to prove you have the financial means to support yourself and any dependents.
- Family Arraigo: This is for odd situations where you don’t have economic means. You’ll need to have a clean criminal record, however.
Both of these let you live in Spain for 5 years. But if you take the steps below, you’ll be a citizen before this needs to be renewed. Just be aware that getting the card can take 3 to 5 months.
2. Live With Your Partner for 1 Year
You’ll need to live with your partner for at least a year—starting from the day you get your residency card. This last point is crucial. You won’t start working through this time requirement until you have the card in hand.
You’ll need to stay in Spain for most of your time, and you’ll need to cohabitate with your spouse. All of this will need to be proven through documentation (like cosigned leases, joint bank accounts, etc.).
3. Apply for Spanish Citizenship by Marriage
This is the big step. It’s been a year and now you will jump through the final hoops:
- Pass the CCSE exam: This tests your understanding of Spain, it’s history, culture, and laws. Register for the test at the Instituto Cervantes website.
- Pass the DELE test at the A2 level: This checks your understanding of the Spanish language. The A2 level is very basic, requiring you grasp common expressions and can carry on simple conversations about everyday things. Again, you’ll enroll at the Instituto Cervantes website.
- Documents: We’ll cover all the documents you need below.
- Complete the Application: This can be done online or in-person. It you complete it online, though, you will need to go into a Civil Registry office to deliver documents.
4. Wait for Approval
This can take 1 to 2 years. You’ll then swear an oath of allegiance to the King of Spain and to the country’s laws.
What Documents Do I Need for Spanish Citizenship Through Marriage?
The documentation you bring to your Spanish citizenship application appointment is critical. (Check here for our guide on documentation required for Spanish citizenship).
To apply, bring these to the Civil Registry office:
- Your residence card
- Your passport
- You and your spouse’s birth certificates
- Your marriage certificate (registered in Spain)
- DNI of your spouse
- Passing results for your DELE and CCSE exams
- Clear criminal background check
- Registration at the town hall
- Evidence of cohabitation
- Sufficient economic means (measured as €900 per month)
Note on Documentation
Any documents you have from other governments must be translated into Spanish by an officially recognized translator (unless they are already in Spanish). You will also need to apostille these documents to make everything official. We highly recommend taking these steps as early as you can while waiting for your one-year residency requirement to be completed.
How Long Does Spanish Citizenship Through Marriage Take?
At most, you are looking at about three and a half years from the moment you marry. Let’s breakdown that timeline:
- 3-5 months getting your residence card
- 1 year qualifying for residency
- 1-2 years processing your application
While it might seem like a lot, it’s worth appreciating that naturalization has a 10-year residency requirement. So in comparison this is a much faster way to become a Spanish national.
How Can I Get Help Becoming a Spanish Citizen by Marriage?
SDC offers comprehensive Spanish citizenship service packages that cover you whether you need an assist to get through the final steps or would like experts to handle your case from the moment you hear wedding bells to the day you are sworn in as a fully registered Spanish citizen.
Don’t be discouraged by the documentation required or let the timeline put a damper on your enthusiasm. Our Spanish citizenship experts are here to help.
It all begins with a free call.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I become a citizen if I marry a Spanish person?
Yes. Although it isn’t automatic the way it was before 1975. Now, you’ll need to obtain a residence permit and cohabitate with your spouse for a year.
What if we get divorced?
If you get a divorce before becoming a full citizen, you will not be able to continue your application.
What if my spouse is deceased?
You still qualify for Spanish citizenship. You’ll need to add your spouse’s death certificate to the list of documents required.
