Spain Citizenship by Descent: How to Claim Your Spanish Roots

What Is Spanish Citizenship by Descent?

Spanish citizenship by descent (also known as Ciudadanía por Descendencia) allows individuals to claim Spanish nationality through their parents, grandparents, or even great-grandparents, depending on the legal framework.

This path is ideal for people with Spanish ancestry who wish to reconnect with their heritage and live, work, or retire in Spain — or benefit from EU citizenship rights.

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👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Who Is Eligible?

You may qualify if:

✅ You were born to a Spanish parent

• Automatically Spanish, regardless of your place of birth.

• If your parent renounced or lost Spanish citizenship, timing matters.

✅ Your Spanish-born parent or grandparent emigrated

• You may apply if one or both grandparents were Spanish and retained citizenship when your parent was born.

✅ You qualify under the Democratic Memory Law (Ley de Memoria Democrática)

• Allows descendants of exiled Spaniards during the Spanish Civil War or Franco regime to apply.

✅ You’re a child of a Spanish mother or father born outside marriage

• Equal rights granted regardless of gender or marital status of the parents.

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📜 Required Documents

Prepare to gather:

• Your birth certificate (apostilled and translated)

• Parent or grandparent’s Spanish birth certificate

• Proof of uninterrupted Spanish citizenship (for your ancestor)

• Your passport, national ID, and recent photos

• Marriage and birth certificates to prove lineage

• Sworn declaration of intent to be Spanish (for some applicants)

Borderless Lawyers can help verify which documents you need based on your specific ancestry and whether they meet Registro Civil standards.

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🕰️ Application Timeline

1. Document preparation & legal analysis: 2–4 weeks

2. Submission at Civil Registry or Spanish consulate: Appointment required

3. Processing time: Typically 6–12 months, depending on the consulate or registry

4. Oath of allegiance & ID issuance

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🌍 Apply from Inside or Outside Spain

• Living abroad? Apply at the nearest Spanish consulate in your country.

• In Spain? Apply at the local Registro Civil.

We can coordinate the entire process remotely — no need to travel for every step.

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🧠 Important Legal Notes

• Dual nationality is allowed with many Latin American countries, Portugal, the Philippines, and others.

• Others may require renunciation of your current citizenship — depending on your country of origin.

• Adopted children may also qualify under specific conditions.

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⚖️ How Borderless Lawyers Can Help

🔍 Verify your family tree and legal eligibility
📝 Collect, apostille, and translate necessary documents
📆 Schedule and prepare for consular appointments
📨 Submit the application and follow up with Spanish authorities
👩‍⚖️ Represent you if legal complexities arise

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✨ Real Example

Ana, born in Argentina, had a Spanish grandfather who emigrated in the 1940s. We traced his birth record in Galicia, certified Ana’s lineage with civil documents, and submitted her application under the Democratic Memory Law. She received her Spanish passport 8 months later — and now lives in Barcelona with her own family.

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📞 Reclaim Your Spanish Heritage Today

If you have Spanish parents, grandparents, or ancestors, you could already be eligible for Spanish citizenship by descent.
Let us help you unlock your path to Spain — and Europe.