How to Obtain Spanish Citizenship

Here we explain how a Russian citizen can obtain citizenship in Spain.

Spanish citizenship: key advantages

Spain is a developed, stable Western European country with a favorable climate and rich culture. It is part of the European Union, which grants its citizens additional opportunities. Citizenship in Spain is referred to as "nacionalidad española," but despite the name, the term does not point to any specific ethnicity.

According to data from Henley & Partners, the Spanish passport ranks first by number of countries offering visa-free entry.

A Spanish passport allows you to:

• live not only in Spain but in any other EU country, as well as Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland;
• visit more than 190 countries visa-free, including the United States and the United Kingdom;
• run a business or work for hire in Europe without needing a special permit. According to the already-mentioned Expat Explorer ranking, Spain is one of the most attractive countries for foreign professionals;
• study at universities in Spain and elsewhere in Europe on preferential terms;
• receive treatment at European clinics, which are well equipped and staffed by highly qualified doctors;
• keep money in European banks and take out loans on favorable terms.

Spanish citizenship provides access to a comfortable life, including in retirement. In 2021, the country ranked 12th in Europe for the wellbeing of older people, and the government is developing a program aimed at improving living conditions for retirees. Spain has many organizations that give older people the chance to learn a new skill or simply get acquainted with the current state of science, literature, and philosophy.

Second citizenship: Spain and Russia

Second citizenship in Spain is possible, but only under certain conditions.

Those who obtained Spanish citizen status by origin have the right to keep their Spanish citizenship. To do so, they must file the relevant application within 3 years of obtaining a foreign passport.

If a Spanish citizen obtained that status through marriage, naturalization, guardianship, investment, and so on, they are required to sign a declaration renouncing all other citizenships. This does not apply to citizens of:

• Ibero-American countries - Latin American states where Spanish or Portuguese is spoken;
• Andorra;
• France;
• Portugal;
• the Philippines;
• Equatorial Guinea.

Russia is not on this list. So formally, obtaining a Spanish passport requires renouncing Russian citizenship.

In practice, second citizenship in Spain does not conflict with local law. Spanish law contains no requirement to prove that renunciation actually took place, and government bodies do not notify other countries when granting citizenship. Also, Spain's ban on second citizenship has no legal force in Russia.

Spanish authorities have the right to strip a person of citizenship. But to do so, the person must have committed a serious crime against national security or the interests of society and the state.

A Russian citizen who obtains a Spanish passport must report this to Russia's Ministry of Internal Affairs within 60 calendar days of receiving the documents. If they are abroad at that time, they can notify the ministry through a consulate or embassy. But this is a right, not an obligation: for those who are abroad, the 60-day countdown begins upon their return to Russia.

Ways to obtain a Spanish passport

To obtain Spanish citizenship, you need to reside continuously in the country for 10 years. A foreigner first obtains a temporary residence permit, then earns the right to permanent residence.

There are several ways to obtain Spanish citizenship. In some cases, the procedure can be simplified and sped up.

Through investor residency

You cannot obtain a passport directly through investment. The core principle remains the same: 10 years of residence in the country, first as a temporary resident, then as a permanent one. You can choose not to live in the country and only come to Spain to renew the residence permit. But in that case, you should not count on permanent residence or citizenship.

For investors wishing to buy real estate or securities in Spain, there is a special residency program known as the "golden visa," which takes around 5 months to process.

• Ways to obtain the "golden visa" in Spain: buying real estate worth from €500,000 - this can be residential property, commercial property, or land; buying several properties is also allowed if their combined value is at least €500,000;
• buying securities of Spanish companies worth at least €1,000,000;
• investing at least €1,000,000 in units of investment or venture funds;
• opening an account at a Spanish bank and depositing at least €1,000,000;
• buying Spanish government bonds worth at least €2,000,000.

An additional option is financing a major business project, discussed individually with representatives of Spain's Ministry of Industry.

Most investors choose the first option - buying real estate. First, it requires the smallest investment amount. Second, real estate value tends to rise steadily, and it can eventually be sold at a profit. You can exit the investment and keep your resident status after 5 years of living in Spain.

To obtain the residence permit and permanent residence, you need to arrange medical insurance and confirm your income level and housing. To obtain citizenship, you will need to confirm 10 years of residence in the country and pass exams on knowledge of the Spanish language, history, and culture.

Through general naturalization

In this case, no investment conditions need to be met. But obtaining the residence permit will be more complex and will take longer.

Foreigners usually obtain a residence permit for starting their own business or for paid employment. It is first issued for 1 year, then renewed for 2 years. There is no limit on the number of renewals, but each time you will need to confirm the purpose of your stay in the country.

A student residence permit does not create grounds for permanent residence or citizenship.

If a foreigner obtains a residence permit, their family members apply for residence permits separately. In this case, the documents are processed on a different basis - through family reunification.

The process of obtaining citizenship typically takes 10 years: obtaining the residence permit and living in Spain for 5 years, then obtaining permanent residence, another 5 years of living in Spain, and only after that, citizenship. For those who officially hold refugee status, the process is shortened to 5 years. In certain cases, citizenship is granted immediately, by government decision, but this is only possible for special merit.

Through family reunification

This route is available to spouses, children, and parents of Spanish citizens. It doesn't matter how the Spanish citizenship in question was obtained. For citizenship through family reunification as well, you need to live in the country for 10 years.

You need to provide documents confirming the family relationship. This can be a birth certificate or a marriage certificate. If the residence permit application is filed by parents, documents confirming their financial dependence on the Spanish citizen they are moving to join will be needed.

If a child is born in Spain, their citizenship depends on the status of the parents:

• if at least one parent is a Spanish citizen, the child automatically obtains citizenship by origin;
• if both parents are foreigners, the child can obtain Spanish citizenship by naturalization after living in the country for a year.

By origin

Spanish law recognizes the principle of "jus sanguinis" (right of blood). Under this principle, a child obtains citizenship if one of three conditions is met:

• at least one parent is a Spanish citizen;
• at least one parent was born in Spain;
• the child was adopted by a Spanish citizen.

If at least one of the conditions above is met, citizenship can be obtained even after the age of 18. Legally, this is known as citizenship by option.

"Jus soli" (right of soil) is applied only rarely. Under this principle, a child born on Spanish territory can obtain citizenship if their parents are unknown or stateless.

Through marriage

Spouses of Spanish citizens do not need to live in the country for 10 years to obtain citizenship. They receive a long-term visa or residence permit, and after one year of living in Spain, citizenship. It is also possible to apply for citizenship even if the Spanish-citizen spouse has since passed away.

Because this route opens up considerable room for fraud, the authenticity of the marriage must be confirmed.

By option (optación)

The principle of "optación," set out in the Spanish Civil Code, allows citizenship to be obtained on the basis of adoption or guardianship. A person can become a Spanish citizen if they were under the guardianship of Spanish citizens or organizations for at least 2 years before filing the application and have lived in the country for at least a year. This right is available not only to minors but to adults as well.

Required documents and the procedure for obtaining Spanish citizenship

Obtaining Spanish citizenship requires submitting the following documents:

• an application;
• a passport - the original and copies of all pages;
• a Russian internal passport;
• the foreigner ID card (residence permit or permanent residence);
• a birth certificate;
• criminal record certificates from Spain and Russia;
• a certificate of health issued by a Spanish medical institution;
• a certificate of registered residence in Spain;
• proof of a certain income level - a bank account, salary, income from investments or renting out property, etc.

Additional documents will also be needed. The list depends on the route chosen for obtaining citizenship:

• through investment - documents confirming the purchase of real estate, shares, fund units, government bonds, or the opening of a bank deposit for the required amount;
• through marriage - a marriage certificate and documents confirming cohabitation; if the application is filed by the widow or widower of a Spanish citizen, a death certificate is required;
• by option - a court decision appointing a guardian;
• by origin - birth certificates of parents or other ascendant relatives.

In most cases, citizenship is obtained after 10 years of residence in Spain. This period is split into two stages:

• 5 years of residence in the country on the basis of a residence permit - you can leave Spain, but total time spent abroad during this period must not exceed 10 months, of which no more than 6 months consecutively;
• obtaining permanent residence and living in the country for another 5 years under the same conditions.

Submission and review procedure for Spanish citizenship documents

Documents for citizenship are submitted within Spain, at your place of registration. They need to be submitted to the civil registry office - the Registro Civil. You must book an appointment in advance, by phone or online. In some cases, an additional interview with a judge is scheduled, held on the same day.

You then need to pass exams:

• on language proficiency;
• on knowledge of history and culture.

If you fail, the exams can be retaken.

If a candidate has already taken the language exam and received a certificate confirming level A2 or higher, they can attach that document instead.

Once the exams are passed, the applicant's case is reviewed by the relevant authorities. This process typically takes about a year. Notification of the outcome is sent by mail. If a year has passed with no notification received, this should be treated as a refusal.

A favorable decision is more likely if all conditions are met, including lawful and continuous residence, no legal issues, and sufficient income. If citizenship is granted, the applicant must:

• sign a renunciation of any other citizenships they hold;
• swear an oath of allegiance to the Spanish Crown in court.

Why Spanish citizenship applications can be refused

A Spanish citizenship application can be refused. The main reasons authorities issue a negative decision include:

• submitting an incomplete set of documents;
• errors when filling out the application;
• failure to meet the required residence periods in the country;
• criminal records or serious offenses in Russia or Spain;
• insufficient financial standing;
• providing false information.

If the refusal is due to inaccuracies in the documents or missing paperwork, you can correct the errors, obtain the required documents, and reapply. The same applies to issues with financial standing: if the applicant's income has since increased, they can reapply.

Breaking the law or knowingly providing false information are more serious problems. Under Spanish law, offenders in such cases can be fined and even deported from the country.

Our team consists of experienced specialists and highly qualified lawyers well versed in citizenship matters for other countries. We provide the guidance you need, help you choose the citizenship route best suited to your specific situation, and help you put together the required documents.