La máxima expresión jurídica de la integración de una persona en una comunidad estatal
Citizenship is the highest legal expression of an individual’s integration into a community, it is more than a residence and work authorization.
If you reside in Spain, you are married to a Spaniard, you have a Spanish son or you are a descendant of Sephardic, you have the possibility to apply for Spanish citizenship.
1) BY RESIDENCE
This kind of application requires a residence in Spain for at least ten years.
The residence has to be legal, continuoed and immediately prior the application.
Cases in which the required period of residence is reduced:
⦁ Five years: for those who have obtained refugee status.
⦁ Two years: for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal or for descendants of Sephardic.
⦁ One year for:
– Persons born in Spanish territory.
– Persons who have not exercised their right to Spanish nationality “by option”
– Persons who have been legally subject to the guardianship or foster care of a Spanish citizen or institution for two consecutive years.
– Persons who, at the time of the application, have been married for one year to a Spanish national and are not legally separated nor they have a common-law separation.
– The widower or widow of a Spanish national, if, at the time of the death of the spouse, they were not separated in fact or legally.
– For those born outside of Spain but as a father or mother, grandfather or non-Spanish originally.
It shall be granted, or not, at the discretion of the Government by Royal Decree, after an evaluation of the exceptional circumstances. It is not subject to the general rules of administrative procedure.
It is a benefit offered to foreigners subjects to certain conditions.
They shall have the right to acquire Spanish nationality by this method:
– Those persons who are or have been subject to the parental authority of a Spanish national.
– Those people whose father or mother was Spanish or born in Spain.
– Persons whose parentage or birth determination in Spain is made after reaching the age of eighteen.
– Those people whose adoption by Spanish nationals occurs after reaching eighteen years of age. In this case, the right to opt is valid for two years after the legalisation of the adoption.
Those of Spanish origin are:
– Those born to a Spanish father or mother
– Those born in Spain of foreign parents if at least one of the parents was born in Spain.
– Those born in Spain of non-Spanish parents, if both have no nationality (stateless persons) or if the legislation of neither grants nationality to the child.
– Children born in Spain whose parents’ identity is unknown.
– Children under 18 years of age adopted by a Spanish citizen.
– Persons who have possessed or used Spanish nationality for ten years, on a continued basis and in good faith, on the basis of a record held by the Civil Registry.
Depending on your country of origin, you shall need to demonstrate your years of residence in Spain to obtain Spanish citizenship:
⦁ 10 years if you come from a country other than those mentioned in the following points.
⦁ 5 years if you have refugee status.
⦁ 2 years if your country of origin is: some Ibero-American countries, Andorra, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal or if you are of Sephardic origin.
⦁ 1 year for children of residents of Spain, spouses of Spanish citizens, widows of Spanish and / or grandchildren of persons of Spanish origin.
⦁ Certification of absence of criminal/police records or certificate of good conduct issued by the consulate. The homologation must be carried out on all documents that come from a foreign country.
⦁ Passport and NIE (original and copy).
⦁ Marriage certificate (it is advisable, even if it is not mandatory).
⦁ Birth certificate of Spanish spouse (required in case of applicant married to a Spanish citizen).
⦁ Homologated birth certificate for minor children.
⦁ Documentation proving that you have sufficient resources for yourself and your relatives to reside in Spain (employment contract, payroll, etc.).
The resolution of the dossier to obtain Spanish nationality generally requires about 2 years. That is why it is very important to keep in mind the obligation to notify changes in residence.
Once Spanish nationality is granted, you will have to take the oath of allegiance (“Jura” or “Promesa“).
Later, you shall to make an appointment to get your identity card and passport.
To do this, you shall need a birth certificate, a document provided by the Registro Civil
We have a great deal of experience in citizenship acquisition procedures, our specialists will manage the whole procedure to help you obtain the Spanish nationality.
With us you will be informed and guided at all times, from the beginning to the end of your procedure.
We do not provide assistance at the Spanish Consulates in the applicant’s country of origin. We provide personal assistance in our offices in Madrid, Barcelona and Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic.
In all other cases, we can offer professional legal advice online.
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Un abogado especializado y experto en extranjería e inmigración le informará sobre cómo realizar su solicitud de nacionalidad. Para asesoramiento más amplio, podemos atenderle por Skype o en nuestro despacho en Madrid. Solicite cita previa llamando al +34 918 272 222.
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