Spain — Citizenship Guide

Why Spain?

Spanish nationality gives you full EU citizenship and one of the world’s strongest passports (see the mobility panel). Two features stand out: a 2-year fast-track naturalisation for citizens of Latin America and a handful of other countries, and the Democratic Memory Law, which opens a descent route for descendants of Spanish exiles.

Citizenship by descent

Spain applies jus sanguinis:

• A child born to a Spanish father or mother is Spanish by origin, regardless of birthplace.
• Children born abroad to a Spanish parent can often acquire nationality by option within set time limits.
• Democratic Memory Law (2022): descendants of Spaniards who went into exile during the Civil War (1936-1939) and the Franco dictatorship can apply for Spanish nationality - effectively a grandparent-level descent route.

There is no general “any ancestor” programme; the exile route is the main exception.

Naturalisation

The standard residence requirement is 10 years of legal, continuous residence, plus proof of good civic conduct and integration.

It is reduced to 2 years for citizens of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, and Sephardic Jews. It drops to 1 year for people born in Spain, married to a Spanish national, or born abroad to a Spanish parent or grandparent.

Dual citizenship

Spain generally requires you to renounce your previous nationality when naturalising. The key exception: nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, and Portugal may keep their original citizenship.

Fees & timeline

The application fee is around €100 (plus document and translation costs). Processing typically takes one to three years depending on the route and caseload.