Ways to Obtain Spanish Citizenship

A country with a rich history and culture, where - as in Russia - traditional values such as family, friendship, hospitality, and joie de vivre are cherished.

By GDP, Spain ranks fourth among EU countries and is one of the most favorable European countries in terms of quality of life for foreigners.

How do you obtain Spanish citizenship?

Getting a Spanish passport requires living in the country for at least 10 years. The process has two stages: first you obtain a residence permit and live in the country for 5 years, after which you obtain permanent residence and must meet the residence requirements for another 5 years. After 10 years of living in the country, you must pass an exam on knowledge of the Spanish language, history, and culture. Processing citizenship takes a certain amount of time and in some cases can stretch to 2-3 years, with applicants sometimes called in for additional interviews with the immigration service. The final decision is made by a court, so it is important for the applicant not to break the law and to pay taxes on time. Applicants are notified of the outcome by mail.

The 10-year period for obtaining citizenship can be shortened:

• for refugees - 5 years in the country is enough;
• for special merit to Spain - each case is reviewed individually, with the decision made by the government.

Spanish residency can be obtained in 2 ways - through investment or through naturalization.

Spanish residency through investment

Obtaining residency through investment is known as the "golden visa," since it requires investing money into the country's economy. Spain's golden visa program launched in 2013, and it remains available to Russian citizens today.

There are several investment options for obtaining Spanish residency:

• buying real estate worth at least €500,000. Most people choose this option, since compared to the others it requires a smaller investment and real estate tends to appreciate;
• buying shares in Spanish companies worth at least €1,000,000;
• buying units in Spanish investment or venture funds worth at least €1,000,000;
• depositing at least €1,000,000 into an account at a Spanish bank;
• buying government bonds worth at least €1,000,000.

Regardless of the investment method, applicants must confirm the legality of their income and demonstrate sufficient funds to support themselves and any family members included in the application for the duration of the Spanish residence permit.

Processing the temporary residence permit takes around 5 months and it is initially issued for three years. The investor residence permit can be renewed for 2-year periods an unlimited number of times.

Living in Spain is not required to keep the "golden visa" - it is enough to visit the country to renew the permit and maintain the investment. However, in that case there is no possibility of later obtaining Spanish citizenship.

What Spanish investor residency allows you to do

• stay up to 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen countries;
• after 5 years of continuous residence (with the possibility of leaving the country for up to 10 months in total), obtain permanent residence for 5 years, and afterward the possibility of obtaining Spanish citizenship through naturalization.

Investor residency does not grant the right to work or run a business - a separate permit is needed for that.

Spanish residency through naturalization

This route is cheaper but more difficult. A foreign national must obtain Spanish residency on the basis of paid employment or starting a business. Although Spain's Supreme Court ruled on June 20, 2023, that a restrictive rule requiring temporary residents to spend at least 6 months a year in the country was unacceptable, a foreigner must still comply with residence-duration requirements in order to later obtain permanent residence and citizenship.

Spanish citizenship through family reunification

Spouses, children, and parents of a Spanish citizen can obtain Spanish citizenship through family reunification. A birth certificate or marriage certificate is required to confirm the family relationship.

The process of obtaining citizenship for family members of a Spanish citizen also involves obtaining a residence permit, then permanent residence, and only afterward citizenship.

Advantages of Spanish citizenship

Spanish citizens have equal rights and obligations regardless of whether they obtained citizenship through naturalization or by origin.

The main advantages that citizenship provides are the ability to:

• live in a stable, economically developed Western European country with a hot Mediterranean climate known for a large number of sunny days per year;
• travel visa-free to practically the entire world - even with a residence permit you can visit Schengen countries, and with a passport more than 170 countries become accessible, including the United States and the United Kingdom;
• relocate permanently to any country in the European Union, as well as to Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Iceland;
• work at European companies or run a business without needing a special permit: according to the annually updated HSBC Expat ranking, Spain consistently ranks among the top five European countries for foreign professionals;
• study at European universities on preferential terms;
• receive treatment at clinics in Spain and elsewhere in Europe - according to WHO data, Spain is one of the world leaders in clinic infrastructure, physician qualifications, and affordability of services;
• keep money in European banks in insured accounts;
• obtain loans from EU banks on favorable terms.

In the Prosperity Index, which is compiled based on numerous criteria including safety, quality of governance, and personal freedom, Spain ranked 24th in 2023. On the "Living Conditions" criterion within that ranking, the country placed 11th out of 167.

Is second citizenship allowed in Spain

Spain does not recognize second citizenship. When applying for citizenship, applicants must renounce all other citizenships.