You can get citizenship in Spain by birth which is in most cases you are already an alien.
Another way to obtain citizenship is by marriage, where you’re legally married to a Spanish citizen however, a spousal relationship doesn’t count here.
There’s citizenship by option, citizenship where a child decides to become a Spanish citizen because their parents had their birth certificate included during their Naturalization process.
Citizenship by Naturalisation is obtaining Spanish citizenship after 10 years of uninterrupted residency in the EU also known as citizen by residency.
Kindly note that aside from being born to Spanish parents or being a citizen by marriage, other citizenship is achieved through the pathway of permanent residency which you’re eligible to apply for after 5 years of living in Spain.
In this article, we’ll talk about the benefits of being a Spanish citizen, also you’ll know How To Get Citizenship In Spain: 4 pathways to Spanish citizenship aside by birth and we’ll answer some of your pressing questions already.
Benefits of Becoming a Spanish Citizen
As a citizen of Spain, you’ll be exposed to all the rights and privileges of Spain and the EU at large. Here are 5 major privileges at your disposal:
#1. No Red Taping
When becoming a Spanish citizen, you will have easier access to the Spanish bureaucracy and not be delayed by the extra effort you are supposed to put in as an expat. This will save you precious time and even money.
#2. Adult Suffrage
As a citizen, you’re eligible for partisan democracy. You’ll have the right to vote and be voted for.
#3. Unrestricted Movement
You won’t only have freedom of movement in Spain but also, visa-free entry into 180 EU states. This wouldn’t be possible for permanent residents.
#4. Right to the EU Passport
Citizens are at liberty to work and base out any plan in the EU. The European Union passport permits that.
#5. All the European Union Benefits
Spain is part of the European Union as a citizen, you’re entitled to all the benefits that are in for Spanish citizens as members of the EU states. Spain isn’t exiting the EU any time soon.
How To Get Citizenship in Spain
Aside from obtaining a Spanish citizen by birth, you can become a citizen in any of the following ways:
- Citizenship by Naturalisation (By Residency)
- By Option
- By Marriage
- Citizenship by Descent
#1. Citizenship By Naturalisation
If you have stayed in Spain for at least 10 years, you’re eligible to start applying for Spanish citizenship. This is also known as citizenship by residence.
This process involves you meeting certain requirements presenting the required documents and passing a series of tests to prove your familiarity with the Spanish culture and laws.
Citizenship by residency entails that you first become a legal resident for at least 5 years, then a permanent resident for 10 years before applying for citizenship.
All you have to do is keep renewing your residency permit every 5 years and you’ll have citizenship notice once you’ve reached the benchmark.
However, the waiting period from permanent residency to citizenship varies depending on your condition and country of origin, as seen below:
- 10 years, general rule applicable for expats.
- 5 years for a refugee.
- For Latin America, Andorra, Equatorial Guinea, Philippines or Portugal it’s 2 years and you don’t have to worry about renouncing your former nationality for Spanish nationality.
- 1 if you’re married to a Spanish citizen or if you’re a child of or grandchild born in Spain.
Requirements to get citizenship in Spain by Naturalization
Here are some things to keep in mind if you wish to apply for citizenship in Spain by Naturalization:
- First, became a legal resident in Spain.
- Spend an interrupted 5 years in Spain.
- A show of good conduct with no criminal record in the last 10 years.
- Always renew your residency permit on time.
#2. Citizenship by Option
You can obtain citizenship by option AKA citizenship by origin if either of your parents had citizenship in Spain and included your birth certificate during the application for their Spanish citizenship, then you can become a citizen later on.
You’ll only have to live 2 years as a regular resident and then claim citizenship at 20.
Your claims are invalid if your parents added your certificate to their citizenship registration when you’re already 18 years of age.
However, as a stranger, if you give birth to your children in Spain, your children are already considered a citizen of Spain by assumption.
#3. Citizenship by Marriage
You can pass the wait time of 5 to 10 years and become a Spanish citizen by marriage. You’ll have to wait for an interrupted 1 year residency in Spain, only.
Keep in mind that a divorce or civil partnership doesn’t count in the process, you have to be in a marriage relationship with a Spanish citizen.
How it works is that first, get married to a Spanish citizen in Spain, and then you’ll get a work and residence permit through the EU visa.
12 months into your marriage, you’ll be eligible for citizenship.
#4. Citizenship by Descent
Earlier, children from Spanish parents got Spanish passports for citizenship but not their grandchildren. However, in recent years things have turned for the good of the grandchildren.
Now, as a grandchild to a Spanish citizen, you too can apply for Spanish citizenship if:
- You descended from parents who got their Spanish nationality through historical memory and not by option and they were older than 18 years when the law came to play.
- You’re a grandchild to a Spanish mother whose father wasn’t a Spanish citizen before the 1978 constitution.
- You’re a grandchild to Spanish parents who left Spain for another country before you were born.
- You lost the opportunity of citizenship by option because you were above 18 years old when your parents included your birth certificate in their citizenship registration process.
Required Documents for Getting Citizenship in Spain
Here are general documents when applying for any route to citizenship in Spain. Note, that the requirements may change due to the type of citizenship that you wish to apply for:
- Complete passport and NIE(Numero de Identidad de Extranjero) in Spanish for Identification.
- Current residential address.
- Birth certificate
- Police statements or criminal records.
- Marriage certificate- necessary for citizenship by marriage.
- Current census and historic (“padrón”)
- Sit and pass the 2 required exams, DELE A2 and CCSE
- The birth certificate of your children if you wish to grant them citizenship by option.
- Proof of application fee payment of 100€
- Proof of financial and economic buoyancy.
Step by Step How To Get Citizenship in Spain
Follow this simple steps to apply for the Spanish citizenship:
- Make ready the required documents plus the results from the 2 exams.
- Submit your application online
- Meet up the appointment for the pledge of allegiance.
- Use the document you’ll be given to visit the local police station for your passport and DNI.
- Request for a concordance certificate to validate your new ID information in all public and private institutions where you’ve registered your NIE.
FAQs
What is the fastest way to get the Spanish citizenship?
The fastest way to get Spanish citizenship is by birth, if you’ve already missed that and you’re not from Latin America which could have been 2 years wait time, then consider citizenship by marriage. An alternative is citizenship by residence because you’re not a refugee which is faster than naturalisation.
How much does it cost to get Spanish citizenship?
Here’s a breakdown of the pricing:
- Spanish nationality application: €104.05
- Spanish passport: €300
- Document translation: €60 – €100
- Work Visa: €60 – €160
- The cost of marriage plus residence permit for citizenship by marriage: €100.94 plus €16.40
Final Thoughts
How to get citizenship in Spain is straightforward. There is not much rigor in it, all it requires is that you must be prepared to make available the required documents and you must be financially ready.
When becoming a citizen of Spain, you stand a chance to experience and enjoy all the rights and privileges of the EU at large.
If you’re considering which is the best pathway to getting a Spanish citizen, you should consider any of the 5 routes mentioned in this article.
However, I’ll Speak loudly of citizenship by Naturalisation, or if you’re sincere about settling down already, feel free to get citizenship by marriage.
