HOW TO GET SPANISH CITIZENSHIP
How to become a Spanish citizen: Your 4 PATHS TO SPANISH CITIZENSHIP
Spain offers more than one way to become a citizen. There are 3 primary paths to get Spanish citizenship. The first step when learning how to get Spanish citizenship is identifying the best path for you and your unique situation.
You will need to review the legal and financial requirements for each path to find the one that you may qualify for. Identifying the correct path for how to become a Spanish citizen is the first step on the road to becoming a Spanish national.
Below, we outline the 4 primary ways you can acquire Spanish citizenship . We also provide a brief overview of the eligibility requirements you’ll need to meet in relation to each individual path to obtain Spanish citizenship.
How to Get Spanish Citizenship at a Glance
| Route | Eligibility Requirements | Additional Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Citizenship by Naturalization (including Golden Visa Program) | ● Residency in Spain for 10 years. ● Reduced residency requirements: ○ 5 years: Refugees. ○ 2 years: Citizens of Ibero-American countries, Portugal, the Philippines, France, Andorra, and Equatorial Guinea. | Residency can be achieved through programs like the Golden Visa for investors. |
| Citizenship by Descent | ● Parent or grandparent was a Spanish citizen at your time of birth. ● Parent was born in Spain. ● Under parental authority of a Spanish citizen. ● Adopted by a Spanish citizen (adoption after age 18 qualifies). | Includes provisions for descendants of exiled Spanish nationals under the Historical Memory and Democratic Memory laws. |
| Citizenship by Marriage | ● Married to a Spanish citizen for at least 1 year. ● Lived together in Spain with spouse for at least 1 year. | Requires proof of marriage and cohabitation. |
| Requirements for All Routes | ● Swear allegiance to the King and Constitution. ● Renounce previous citizenship (exceptions: Ibero-American countries, Portugal, the Philippines, etc.). ● Register at the Spanish Civil Registrar. ● Pass the DELE (Spanish language test) at A2 level. ● Pass the CCSE (Spanish citizenship test). ● Clear criminal record certificate. | Language and cultural tests may not be required for citizens of Ibero-American countries. |
How to Become a Spanish Citizen: 3 Primary Paths
Getting Spanish citizenship almost always comes through the following 3 paths.
It should be noted that, in extremely rare cases, the government has the ability deem you fit to become a citizen and grand you Spanish citizenship.
PATH 1: Spanish Citizenship by Naturalization
Naturalization is open to basically all people, making it the single most popular option for getting Spanish citizenship. Like naturalization in other countries, it requires meeting residency requirements and making deep ties to the country.
Spain has a long residency requirement—10 years. But they shorten that requirement for certain circumstances:
- Refugees: 5-year residency requirement
- Citizens of Ibero-American countries, Portugal, the Philippines, France, Andorra, and Equatorial Guinea: 2-year residency requirement
Ibero-American countries are any countries in North or South America that predominately speak Spanish or Portuguese.
To meet the residency requirement will require more than simply staying in Spain. You’ll need official residency status—which can be a bit tricky, depending on your circumstances. This is what makes the Golden Visa program popular. This grants residency status to people who make a large investment in Spain, and you can learn more about the Spain Golden Visa program.
There are extremely rare exceptions where someone who has lived in Spain for 10 years and has the sincere desire to become a Spanish citizen will be granted it, even if they aren’t an official resident. It is highly recommended that you do not pursue this path, as it is rarely successful.
Above and beyond time spent here, naturalization will require you to form ties with Spain, learn its language, and understand the culture and history that make this country the amazing place it is today.
PATH 2: Spanish Citizenship by Descent
This route is rooted in close family connections with Spanish citizens. It’s accessible to:
- Those with a parent or grandparent who was a Spanish citizen at the time of birth
Special provisions exist under laws like the Historical Memory Law (2007) and the Democratic Memory Law (2022). These allow descendants of Spanish nationals exiled during the Spanish Civil War or dictatorship to claim citizenship. They also include descendants of Spanish women who lost nationality through marriage to foreigners before Spain’s 1978 Constitution.
Note that your qualifying ancestor cannot be more than two generations back (grandparents).
There was a brief period when ancestors of Sephardi Jews expelled in the 15th century could gain citizenship by descent despite the many generations in between, but this program has now ended.
Unlike in other countries Spanish citizenship by descent still requires that you have some ties to Spain—especially if you qualify through a grandparent.
If Spanish Citizenship by Descent sounds like your best route, check out our full guide for Spanish Citizenship by descent here.
PATH 3: Spanish Citizenship by Marriage Residence
Marrying a Spanish national often stokes a desire to unite your family under a single citizenship—and so the country has made this option easy for you.
Family reunification grants you a residence permit. If you live together in Spain with your spouse for at least a year, you can begin becoming a citizen by marriage.
To learn more about this process, view our Spanish citizenship through marriage.
How to Acquire Spanish Citizenship- Requirements for Every Path
No matter how to acquire Spanish citizenship, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:
- Swear an oath of allegiance to the King of Spain, to the Spanish Constitution, and to all of Spain’s laws
- Register at the Spanish Civil Registrar
For most routes, you’ll need to meet these requirements when learning how to get Spain citizenship:
- Pass a Spanish language test (DELE) at the basic, A2 level
- Pass the Spanish citizenship test CCSE (Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de España)
- Certificate of clear criminal record
Get Support to Become a Spanish Citizen
The pathways above for how to get Spanish nationality should give you a clear idea of how you might like to proceed. No matter which path you take for how to become a Spanish citizen, there are often unforeseen issues and documentation complications.
That’s why so many people seek out SDC for our team of legal and genealogical experts who can track down the needed documentation, walk you through every step of the application process to expedite your submission in getting Spanish citizenship.
Ready to get started?
Book a free consultation call with us, and we’ll look over the details of your situation and find out the best next step for you to obtain Spanish citizenship.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a Spanish citizen?
There are three main ways: naturalization requires officially permitted residency for up to 10 years, citizenship by descent requires a parent or grandparent who was a Spanish citizen at birth, and citizenship by marriage requires marrying a Spanish citizen. All three routes require meeting other specific eligibility requirements.
Can I get dual citizenship in Spain?
Spain does not allow dual citizenship with most countries. The only avenues for dual citizenship are for citizens of: Ibero-American countries, Portugal, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, France, and Andorra.
Ibero-American countries include all countries in North and South America that predominately speak Spanish or Portuguese.
How to obtain Spanish citizenship?
You must fill out an application and submit proper documentation to your local Spanish Embassy or Consulate (for all those living abroad) or at the Civil Registry Office near you (if you live in Spain).
This page was last updated with help by Marco Permunian
Do You Qualify?
Trying to learn if you qualify to apply for Spanish citizenship? Contact our team for a free consultation to help determine your eligibility for Spanish dual citizenship.
