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Become a Spanish National

Get Spanish nationality through residence or through ancestry.

There are several ways to obtain Spanish Citizenship. Our immigration lawyers will guide you through the process step-by-step.

How can a lawyer help with the Spanish nationality?

We can communicate with the Ministry of Justice directly, if necessary, to ask questions that may occur during the process.

Each specific case will require different documents and we will let you know which ones you need.

We help with the digital submission on your behalf and follow-up on the status of the application process.

Knowledge of the practice of the Spanish Administration and the requirements that are usually demanded beyond those provided by law.

We deliver full assistance in English, French or Italian.

¨We will be with you each step of the journey.¨

What is Spanish citizenship?

Citizenship is the legal bond that unites the person with the state that confers both fundamental rights and individual legal status. This relationship gives individuals certain rights that they are entitled to from the state as well as being obliged to fulfil specific requirements and duties requested by the state.

How to obtain Spanish citizenship in Spain?

Once you have obtained all the necessary documentation, you can apply online through a digital certificate or in person, with legal assistance, at the Civil Registry.

Your application can take up to a year and, if you receive a favourable outcome, you have six months to take an oath with the Civil Registry. You must make an appointment for this step.

Afterwards, you’ll be given a document which needs to be taken to a local police station and then you can apply for a Spanish passport and National Identity Card.

Process of getting Citizenship Through Residence

1. Test and exams

As a first step you must study for and pass some mandatory tests. These courses offered by the Cervantes Institute can be taken in Spain or in the Cervantes Institutes abroad

DELE (language): for non-Iberoamerican nationals
CCSE (culture)

2. Wait for test results

Your results will be communicated about 20 days after the test is performed.

3. Gathering of documentation

It takes between two weeks to two months to get the necessary paperwork.

4. Submission of the application

It takes just a day to file online. For presential appointments you will need to schedule an appointment.

5. Resolution of the application for citizenship

It can take between a year and two and a half years to your citizenship to be approved.

6. Oath of the nationality before the Civil Registry

This step can take from two to ten months to be finalised.

7. Spanish passport and DNI application

It takes around two weeks to get an appointment with a police station to complete this step.

Requirements for Spanish Citizenship

Spanish Citizenship through Residence

This approach to nationality typically requires a person to reside in Spain for ten years. There are cases where the period can be reduced to one, two or five years.

Spanish citizenship by marriage

The applicant must have been married to a Spaniard for at least a year.

Spanish citizenship by birth

You must have been born to a Spanish father or mother and it can be requested at the Spanish Consulate or Embassy abroad.

Spanish Citizenship by Option

For those whose father or mother was originally a Spanish citizen born in Spain, they can choose this path and it can be requested from the Spanish Consulate or Embassy abroad.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you take the citizenship test in Spanish?

To apply for Spanish nationality by residence you must pass the culture exam (CCSE) and the language exam (DELE). Nationals of Latin American countries are exempt from the language exam.

Can I get Spanish citizenship through my grandparents?

You can apply for Spanish nationality after one year of legal residence in Spain if your grandparents were Spaniards.

Can Spanish citizens have dual citizenship?

If you become a Spanish citizen, you must release your original nationality and passport, unless you qualify for an exemption or 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.

How can I prove Sephardic ancestry for Spanish citizenship?

You must obtain a certificate showing your Sephardic ancestry.

How to apply for Spanish citizenship as a Sephardic jew

Since 2019, it is no longer possible to apply for Spanish nationality by Sephardic descent. However, you will be able to obtain the nationality after having resided legally in Spain for only two years.

Can Mexican nationals claim Spanish citizenship?

Mexican citizens may apply for Spanish nationality after only two years of legal residence in Spain.

How long does it take to obtain Spanish residency?

Currently, the Ministry is taking between two and three years to resolve Spanish citizenship applications.

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.

Laura Fuste — Laura Fusté
Head of Immigration Europe

Mónica Isern López
Lawyer, Head of Immigration Spain

Lexidy Legal Tech

4.8

Based on 451 reviews

Kabeer Vohra

15:33 22 Mar 23

Cristina is the person you need if you have any immigration inquiries. She has honestly been phenomenal, answering each and every question so promptly, we had an issue with the immigration office and she took care of everything with extreme empathy and professionalism. Thank you for all you have done for me.

Marieke Ayoub

11:20 09 Feb 23

We've only had an initial consultation with Wessel from Lexidy, to explore our planned move to Spain and all the paperwork that is involved. Lexidy do not charge for this initial consultation, unlike quite a few other firms. Wessel was extremely helpful and gave us very clear information both during our video call and in the follow-up email. The only reason why we have chosen not to go ahead with Lexidy, is the fact that we found a firm in the province that we will be moving to, which is an important benefit for us.

Andy Kreek

10:14 07 Feb 23

I've worked with Lexidy with various tax and immigration related inquiries, which they have handled well.However, I did have a negative experience regarding obtaining a digital certificate. I engaged Lexidy to obtain a digital certificate, for which they charged 250EUR. As it turns out, the certificate was valid for just one year, which they did not inform me of when they delivered it to me.After I discovered it had expired, I wrote to Lexidy expressing my surprise, but I never received any reply.I then proceeded to follow the process myself to obtain a new digital certificate per the website of the Fabrica Nacional de Mondeda y Timbre to obtain a digital certificate. The process is, in fact, free and (if you speak Spanish) only marginally more complex on my end than engaging Lexidy.On top of it all, the digital certificate I received from the FMNT is valid for 3 years, not 1.

Radostin Denev

09:47 27 Oct 22

Comment from Radostin and Kaloyan Bulgaria:We could recommend working with Lexidy and especially with Juan Diego Muñoz to everyone. Our assessment is defenitely 10 out of 10!Strict professional who cover full end-to-end journey in buying real estate and successful relocation to Spain in our case. We highly appreciate efficient and effective approach and providing us and supporting us in each step of the journey in buying property in Spain. Without support of Juan Diego we would be lost, he provides us with daily support in most critical days before finalization of the deal and also there was not even a single question to which he could not provide us details in most structured way.Thank you Juan Diego Muñoz, thank you Lexidy we will be happy working together in the future.We wish you lots of success in your innovative and trustful approach in supporting your customers in a holistic way.Radostin and Kaloyan

D Par

23:43 25 Oct 22

My experience was optimal. Each time I sent an email, the response was prompt, the information thorough, and the exchange pleasant. The complimentary consultation was informative, friendly, and professional. My immigration services will be addressed by none other than Lexidy Law Boutique. I thank you for the detailed information, your authenticity, most of all, for making me feel at ease in discussing such a private matter.

Symon Blomfield

10:18 26 Aug 22

Lexidy Law - sucessful Non Lucrative Visa assistanceI employed Lexidy Law to assist with applying for my Non-Lucrative Visa, now granted. I also used them to check my property rental contract.Cristina Vizoso was my legal contact and was highly responsive and reassuring.In the future, I will certainly be using Lexidy to assist with my TIE and to apply for an autonomous Visa. I highly recommend them for all your immigration to Spain needs

Rick Estrada-Stone

15:05 16 Jul 22

We are working with Lexidy for our immigration and real estate needs. Our real estate lawyer, Juan Diego Muñoz, has been amazing to work with throughout the entire process. His diligent communication during the real estate purchase has not only kept us informed every step of the way, but helped us to understand the differences and intricacies of purchasing property in Spain. We can't say enough great things about Juan Diego and the team at Lexidy.

Duncan Casemore

08:57 01 Jul 22

My wife, 2 children, and I wanted to move to Spain on a non-lucrative visa to experience something new following a stressful covid period. I had the privilege of working with Max and Gabriela, who were outstanding: Fluent English, nurturing us the whole way from initial sales contact through to landing in Spain, refreshingly responsive (usually within minutes, unlike many legal firms which work in units of days!), deeply knowledgable (added so much more value beyond paperwork), professional, experienced, and couldn't do enough for us. Top marks -- and that's from a customer with high expectations! Thank you for the quality experience and for helping us realise our dreams 🙂

RICHARD BRITTON

21:46 29 Jun 22

We contacted Lexidy Law boutique when we recently moved from Cyprus to open a new chapter in our lives to move into a house in Brittany that we had bought 12 years previously. We had underestimated the twists and turns involved in obtaining residency in France - so we contacted Lexidy Law Boutique and were assigned Eleonore, an immigration lawyer well acquainted with French immigration laws. From the very beginning we realised she was determined that we should have a successful outcome and she guided us expertly to avoid all the pitfalls in the process of applying for residency. She even accompanied us to the prefecture and ensured that everything went smoothly - without her presence we might well have not succeeded.We thank and highly recommend Eleonore and Lexidy Law Boutique.

Ornela Xhelili

16:43 14 Jun 22

Extremely helpful and professional law firm. My lawyer, David Pilar Planes, managed my immigration process that involved the conversion of an EU Permit from another member country into a Spanish residence permit, in a smooth, reliable and dedicated way. Highly recommended for anyone in need of immigration assistance in Spain.

Leah Tarran

09:20 02 Dec 21

Amazing experience! Mónica Isern López for immigration and residency, her communication was excellent, she responded to every email in a timely manner, spoke to me on the phone whenever I requested, and provided extremely clear instructions. I was very impressed that if Monica was out of office, someone else would respond that had knowledge of my specific situation.The information she provided was always accurate and she followed through with every document and appointment laid out in the contract. If I had a question, she found the answer and provided supporting documentation. Even though it was a long process due to the pandemic, I felt confident with her help and received a favorable resolution without any issues.

Emilie Naples

19:10 20 Sep 21

This is the ONLY law firm I recommend to handle whatever immigration needs you may have. They not only give free consultations, but respond to literally every single one of your questions. They were the most informative, responsive, polite, and professional lawyers I have ever been in contact with, and provided peace of mind throughout the entire process I need handled. I highly recommend Cristina who is splendid at her job for all of these reasons. This firm is 100% dependable, reliable, and truly interested in helping. Thank you Lexidy Law!!

Matt Pavlovich

11:18 15 Sep 21

A great group of very knowledgable lawyers. They've been very helpful in matters of immigration, international taxation, and real estate. Very highly recommended!

Don Ellis

15:16 08 Sep 21

Great full service firm that provided our family professional legal services surrounding our move to Spain. Included assistance with both Visa application and real estate purchase. Highly recommend

Benjamin Colchester

16:43 01 Sep 21

We have been working with Lexidy Law Boutique since 2019 on matters ranging from accountancy to immigration and are absolutely delighted with all aspects of the service they provide. Highly professional, supremely knowledgable, diligent, efficient and courteous, we would not hesitate to recommend them.

Robert Webber

12:32 31 May 21

One of, if not, the best firms in Spain. Look no further these are your guys. Everything from immigration to Real Estate to Wills. We have never been let down. Highly recommended!

Tatiana Quadros

15:52 12 May 21

I highly recommend Lexidy. They have been extremely professional from start to finish; their attention to detail is extraordinary and this means that applications and processes run smoothly without surprises. Cristina, Diego and all the team are very prompt to help, clarify, advise. Professionally helped me with all my enquiries and efficiently helped me in my immigration process. I will go to them for any legal matter now, I have every confidence in their service. A very happy customer.

Sam Dale

11:16 29 Jan 21

Lexidy have been a godsend. As a British freelancer in Spain, I felt uncertain about the wealth of complicated paperwork, especially as my Spanish still needs improvement. Lexidy have been helpful with setting up my status as a freelance, organising my tax information, as well as guiding me on immigration issues due to Brexit. The team has been brilliant, if I ever have an issue or need know something, they will be patient and responsive (very quick) with accurate and useful information. For the services and professionalism they offer, it is very well valued. I plan on using Lexidy for all my legal needs. Highly recommended.

Dan Centinello

14:26 19 Nov 20

Let me start by saying that I normally do not write reviews - and I am often skeptical of the authenticity of the ones that are left. However, I feel like this law team has earned it and here's why...I am the type of person who will do endless research & contact several people before making a decision. I did the same when looking for a Spanish law firm that would be able to quickly handle my immigration matters and, most recently, help me with my leasing agreement for my apartment.They are extremely responsive (replying within a couple of hours of my messages) and even after office hours.Maximiliano, in particular, has been exceptional. He put a lot of effort to understand all the details of my situation so he can find the best solution.It was quickly evident that he understands that not all people have the same immigration situation and was going to tailor a solution specific to me.What impressed me most though was how he was thoughtful enough to make sure that his immigration solution did not impact my tax or business situation adversely. His focus on the big picture, while not missing the important small details is one of the main reasons why I felt compelled to write a review.Lastly, Max even made himself available during the time I was crossing the border, just in case I had any issues.With all this being said, I have worked with many lawyers in the past - many simply look for "a solution", but the great lawyers look for the "best solution". Everyone I have interacted with thus far at Lexidy seems to understand the latter. I feel very fortunate to have come across them in my research.I know how stressful it can be, especially when dealing with immigration issues. So, I hope this helps others out there that might be in the same situation I was in.

Reg Reg

12:19 14 Nov 20

From the first day I contacted Lexidy Barcelona ,They have been very extraordinary helpful . Especially Max and the team who was dealing with my case .Max was available all the time even in hard times covid to assist with my queries effeciently ,effectively plus guidelines that resulted to a very positive results on my immigration status. Awesome !The team is overwhelmingly wonderful and they are good at their job . If you have any legal or immigration problems , I advise to look no where ,just contact Lexidy : Stress free legal problems solving company and believe me you will smile in the end !Thank very much Max and the the team of Lexidy Barcelona for making it super easy for me.Will always choose you !

Daniel Zuckerman

15:04 10 Nov 20

I couldn’t be happier with my experience with Lexidy and their excellent attorneys. After months of trying unsuccessfully to navigate the maze of Spanish bureaucracy, I finally got the help I needed. Max Agazzi Paulet and his team were extremely professional and knowledgeable and were able to quickly give me the information I needed to successfully move forward with my application. Without hesitation, I would recommend Lexidy to anyone dealing with Spanish immigration law and/or real estate issues.

Seung-Hee Han

10:03 30 Oct 20

Lexidy has been helping both of us with everything that requires to settle in our dream-life in Spain. Each advocate at Lexidy is extremely professional and excellent at their job. We can't recommend them enough! If any of our friends and families abroad moves to Spain, we will take them to Lexidy. Thank you so much for your supreme service!

Khoa Le

11:07 28 Aug 20

Lexidy made my relocation from Vietnam to Ibiza, Spain smooth and easy!With proper guidelines provided I was able to get long-term visas for me and my family (my wife, my kid and my newborn). I am very happy and grateful to have them as my legal service. The clear communication and readiness from Max and David are very helpful to foreigners with no knowledge in Spanish like me. I can't say enough thanks for this amazing experience. Thumbs up!

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