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Get Spanish Citizenship
Expert legal consultation on how to get Spanish citizenship from a team of English-speaking immigration lawyers in Spain.
There are several ways to get Spanish citizenship. Our immigration lawyers in Spain will guide you through the process step-by-step.
How can a lawyer help me become a Spanish citizen?
Becoming a Spanish citizen can be a complex and tedious process. But don’t worry, having an immigration lawyer by your side can make all the difference. So what can we do for you?
Collect the right documents: Every case is different. We will let you know exactly which documents you need, so you’re not left guessing.
Direct line to Justice: Have a tricky question? We can communicate with the Ministry of Justice directly to sort it out. No middleman is necessary.
Digital Submission: We can handle the digital submission on your behalf and follow up on the status of the application process.
Extra Insight: We know the ins and outs of the practice of the Spanish Administration. Sometimes there are unwritten rules and requirements – we have that covered too.
Service in Your Language: Whether it’s English, French, Greek, Portuguese, Spanish, or Italian – we can assist you in whatever language you’re most comfortable with.
Spain Citizenship Requirements
Spanish Citizenship by Option
Requesting Spanish citizenship by option does not require the applicant to live or have ever lived in Spain. However, it only applies to specific cases, such as:
- Individuals who are or have been under the parental guardianship of a Spaniard.
- Individuals whose father or mother was born in Spain.
- Individuals whose parentage or birth in Spain occurs after the age of eighteen. In this case, the period to opt for citizenship is two years after the parentage or birth is determined.
- Those who are adopted by a Spanish citizen after the age of eighteen. In this case, the right to opt exists until two years have elapsed from the establishment of the adoption.
- Additionally, the Democratic Memory Law may have relevance in certain cases.
Spanish Citizenship by Residence
Spanish citizenship by residence requires that the applicant has lived in Spain for at least 10 years in most cases. However, some exceptions require shorter periods including:
- 5 years of residency for individuals with refugee status.
- 2 years of residency for nationals of Latin American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, or individuals of Sephardic ancestry.
- 1 year of residency for those born in Spain, married to a Spanish citizen, or with a Spanish parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent.
Additionally, the applicant must demonstrate good civic conduct and a satisfactory level of integration into Spanish society by passing the necessary language and/or culture exams required for foreigners to obtain Spanish citizenship.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can apply for Spanish nationality after one year of legal residence in Spain if your grandparents were Spaniards.
Generally, you must give up your original nationality and passport. But there are exceptions.
You can qualify for an exemption and keep both nationalities if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: Chile; Peru; Paraguay; Nicaragua; Guatemala; Bolivia; Ecuador; Costa Rica; Honduras; Dominican Republic; Argentina; Colombia; Equatorial Guinea; Philippines; Andorra; Portugal; Brazil; Cuba; Mexico; Panama; Puerto Rico; El Salvador; Uruguay; Venezuela and France.
Once you get Spanish citizenship, it lasts forever.
However, since Spain generally doesn’t recognize dual citizenship, you will need to renounce your Spanish nationality if you go after citizenship in another country.
The one loophole? If you apply for citizenship in a country where Spain recognizes dual citizenship, you get to keep both passports.
Yes, there is a difference between Spanish nationality and permanent residence.
With permanent residence, you can keep your original nationality and passport while having the right to live and work in Spain as a resident.
With Spanish nationality, you are granted all the rights and freedoms of a Spanish citizen. For exmaple, you can move freely around the EU and have the right to vote in national and EU elections
OUR WORK
We are a department formed by qualified legal experts who have been trained in the field of immigration law. We work on these requests every day and it’s our passion. For us, Lexidy is a way of life and what excites us the most is to be able to deliver the happiness and satisfaction of a successful immigration process. We want to help you achieve your goals and dreams.
How Can We help you?
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