Your Guide to Becoming a Spanish Citizen
Spanish citizenship grants you full rights to live, work, and travel across Spain and the EU. Whether you’re an expat, long-term resident, or descendant of Spaniards, the path to citizenship depends on your personal background.
At Borderless Lawyers, we guide foreign nationals through each legal step, ensuring full compliance and success.
🛤️ Main Pathways to Spanish Citizenship
1. 📅 Citizenship by Residency
This is the most common route for expats:
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General requirement: 10 years of legal residency
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Must be continuous and uninterrupted
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Requires proof of integration (language, culture, no criminal record)
📝 Reduced residency periods:
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2 years for citizens of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, and Sephardic Jews
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1 year for:
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Spouses or widows of Spanish nationals
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Children or grandchildren of Spaniards born in Spain
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2. 👶 Citizenship by Birth or Descent
You may acquire Spanish nationality:
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If born in Spain to foreign parents under certain conditions
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If you have Spanish parents or grandparents
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If your parent is Spanish but you were born abroad and registered within a year
🧾 Documentation proving lineage is required.
3. 💍 Citizenship by Marriage
After 1 year of legal residence as a spouse of a Spanish citizen, you may apply—provided the marriage remains valid and registered in Spain.
💡 Cohabitation and official registration must be proven.
4. 🗃️ Citizenship by Option
Available to those with a legal or historical connection to Spain:
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Children of Spanish nationals (even if born abroad)
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Adults who were adopted by Spanish citizens before age 18
Option-based applications are generally faster and simpler.
📑 Spanish Citizenship Application Requirements
✅ General documents include:
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Valid residence permit or EU citizen registration
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Criminal background check
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DELE A2 Spanish language certificate
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CCSE exam certificate (constitutional and cultural knowledge)
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Birth certificate and proof of residence duration
🛡️ All documents must be officially translated and apostilled (if foreign).
⚖️ Spanish Citizenship Process: Step-by-Step
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Meet the residency/time criteria
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Pass required exams (DELE and CCSE)
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Gather documents and translations
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Submit application online via the Ministry of Justice portal
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Attend an interview, if requested
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Wait for decision (processing may take 1–2 years)
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Take oath of allegiance before a Civil Registry judge
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Apply for a Spanish passport and DNI
💡 We recommend submitting your file with legal guidance to avoid delays or rejections.
🔄 Can I Keep Dual Citizenship?
Spain allows dual nationality only with select countries (mainly Latin America, Portugal, Andorra, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, and France).
📌 If your home country isn’t on the list, you’ll likely need to renounce your previous nationality.
💬 Client Example
Case: An Indian IT professional married to a Spanish citizen for 1.5 years
Action: We helped him obtain residency, complete his CCSE and DELE exams, and apply for nationality by marriage
Outcome: Spanish citizenship granted in under 14 months with no issues
🌍 Why Choose Borderless Lawyers?
✅ Multilingual support (English, Spanish, French, Russian)
✅ Full legal representation before the Civil Registry
✅ Help with exams, translations, apostilles, and appeals
✅ Decades of experience in Spanish immigration law
📲 Ready to Become a Spanish Citizen?
Start your journey today with expert legal guidance. Whether you’re applying through residency, descent, or marriage, Borderless Lawyers is your trusted partner.