How to get Spanish citizenship: A step-by-step guide

Difference between citizenship and residency 

First things first, it’s important to note the difference between citizenship and residency if you’re thinking of moving abroad: 

Residency 

You retain your current passport and nationality, but are recognised as a resident of Spain, and entitled to reside in Spain and find employment. EU nationals do not have to take any extra steps to gain the right to live and work in Spain. Non-EU members can, after five years of continuous residency in Spain, apply for permanent residency.  

While Brexit means that the UK is no longer a member of the EU, special measures may be put in place to grant residency to Brits already living in Spain in the near future. For those looking to emigrate now, it is still perfectly possible, but the conditions of applying for residency in Spain may be stricter than pre-Brexit. This may include showing valid healthcare cover, proof of income and savings, and proof of marital status.  

Citizenship 

Citizenship is when you give up your original nationality and passport in order to become a Spanish citizen, and enjoy all the same rights as a person native to Spain. As a member of the EU, having a Spanish passport will also allow you to travel freely within the EU and vote in European elections.   

How to become a Spanish citizen 

There are several ways you can achieve Spanish citizenship: 

The 10-year rule 

If you have been living in Spain for a decade, then you will be able to apply for Spanish citizenship. For refugees, this is reduced to five years, and for nationals of the following countries, the wait is two years: 

• Philippines  
• Portugal
• Equatorial Guinea 

Individuals with Sephardic origins, meaning Jewish people with Spanish ancestry, may also apply after two years. 

For children born in Spain to foreign nationals, a foreign national married to a Spanish citizen, or the child or grandchild of a Spanish citizen, the wait is one year before they can apply for citizenship. 

Spanish citizenship by birth 

Naturally, people born in Spain to Spanish parents will be Spanish citizens, but if you were born abroad to a Spanish mother or father, you are also eligible for Spanish citizenship. While most people who have a birth connection to Spain will most likely have had their citizenship issues sorted by their parents when they were younger, if you are considering moving to Spain, it might be well worth checking your family’s heritage.  

Spanish citizenship by marriage 

If you have been living in Spain for one year and are married to a Spanish citizen, you can apply for citizenship. If you were married to a Spanish citizen and they have passed away, leaving you a widow or widower, you can still apply for citizenship so long as you were not separated at the time of their passing. 

How to apply for Spanish citizenship 

To apply for Spanish citizenship you will need to apply at the Civil Registry most local to your Spanish address. You will need a completed application form and may also be asked for the following to ensure you are a ‘good citizen’: 

• Proof that you are financially stable 
• A clean criminal record 
• Evidence of Spanish language ability or proof you will be able to integrate well into Spanish society 

The cost of application varies between 60-100 euros and will not be refunded if your application is rejected. You may also need to pay further fees to have certain legal documents translated into Spanish.  

Spanish dual citizenship: Is it possible as UK national?   

Only a select number of countries allow for Spanish dual citizenship, these include: 

• Andorra 
• Spanish-American countries 
• Philippines 
• Equatorial Guinea 
• Portugal 

If you are not from these states, then you will have to give up your current nationality and passport in order to be granted Spanish citizenship. It is also worth noting that staying for longer than three years in another country under a different nationality will result in your Spanish citizenship being revoked. A UK national, for example, cannot return to the UK as a British citizen for three years, and then return to Spain as a Spanish citizen. 

Does Spain allow dual citizenship with UK?  

No, Spain doesn’t, but the UK does. You cannot be a dual citizen of both the UK and Spain within Spain. That means that if you become a Spanish citizen, you will need to revoke your UK passport and British citizenship. However, the act of revoking your British citizenship in front of a judge in Spain in order to be made a citizen is only recognised in Spain.  

Dual citizenship in the UK is accepted, so the government will not acknowledge your act of revoking your citizenship (unless you complete the process of rejecting it on the government site and pay the required fee). Your British passport will not have to be sent anywhere or handed over, so you will always be able to use it and always be recognised as a British citizen by the UK government. You will also be able to renew your British passport when it expires. Using both is not without risk, though, if you live as UK citizen for three years after gaining Spanish citizenship, the latter will be revoked. 

Moving to Spain 

Spain remains a massively popular destination for British people looking to live abroad. While there are plenty of reasons to move to Spain, it’s important to know the rules that surround becoming a Spanish citizen. It can be a lengthy and costly process, plus having to revoke your birth nationality may be off-putting for some. In many cases, seeking residency may be the more suitable choice, as it allows you to retain your UK passport should you have plans to one day return home.  

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