Dual Nationality – Spanish Citizenship

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To get Spanish citizenship you must swear faithfulness to the King and swear to comply with the Spanish Constitution and laws. Information about the different ways of becoming a Spanish subject, how to apply for Spanish nationality, and issues with respect to double nationality are stated below.

DIFFERENT WAYS TO GAIN SPANISH CITIZENSHIP

Do you want to be a Spanish subject with a Spanish international ID and an entrancing nation to call your perpetual home? You might be qualified for Spanish citizenship in light of your family ties, nationality, or lawful home in Spain:

1) Residence as a Means to Spanish Citizenship

o You have legally been a Spanish resident for at least 10 years.

o You are a citizen of a Latin American nation, Andorra, Portugal, the Philippines, or Equatorial Guinea, and you have legally been a Spanish resident for no less than two years.

o You have acquired the status of outcast in Spain and have been a legal resident  for at least five years.

o You can prove one of the following conditions: you were conceived in a Spanish region, you have been married to a Spanish subject for at least one year, you were conceived abroad to Spanish parents and/or grandparents, you haven’t accepted the Spanish nationality when given the chance beforehand, you are a dowager or a widower of a Spanish resident understanding that you were together upon your life partner’s passing, or you were a ward of the Spanish state for no less than two sequential years. Furthermore, you have legally been a Spanish resident for no less than one year.

2) Opting to Become a Spanish Citizen

o Your parental guardian is a Spanish citizen.

o One or both of your parents was or were Spanish and conceived in Spain.

o You are a grandchild of a Spanish native who lost or was forced to deny their Spanish citizenship as a consequence of outcasting.

o You are of Sephardic heritage and can prove it.

o After the age of 18 you were adopted by Spanish guardians. (Should you wish to become a Spanish subject, you have up to two years from the date of adoption to do so)

o If after the age of 18 and you discover that at least one of your parents was a Spanish citizen or you were conceived in Spain. (If you wish to become a Spanish citizen, you have up to two years from the date that it is officially recognized to do so.)

How to apply for Spanish Citizenship

You can apply for Spanish citizenship at the Spanish Civil Registry (Registro Civil) nearest to your home. If you live abroad, you can apply at your closest Spanish embassy.

You should hand in your papers enclosed with the following documentos:

A filled-out application form.

o Your travel permit.

o The Empadronamiento (if you live in Spain).

o Foreigners Identification Card, EU-Family Member Residence Card, or Foreigners Certificate from the Central Registry (if you live in Spain).

o Your birth certificate, translated into Spanish (assuming it is not already) and legitimized.

o The birth certificate of any underage children (only it you have any), translated into Spanish and legitimized.

o A Certificate of Criminal Record (Certificado de Antecedentes Penales) from the competent authorities of your birth place translated into Spanish and legitimized.

o Proof of the necessary monetary assets needed to live in Spain.

As indicated by your particular circumstances you will likewise need to give in these documents:

o Born in Spanish region: Your birth certificate  given by the Spanish Civil Registry.

o Born to Spanish guardians: Your birth certificate, this must show that your mother and/or father was Spanish.

o Spanish relative: Your mothers and/or fathers Spanish birth certificate and either of your Spanish grandparents birth certificate.

o Sephardic root: A testament from an Israelite association based in Spain that certifies your Jewish-Sephardic roots; a proof of your Sephardic social ties by using the dialect, last names, or any other legal proof; and a defense with respect to your coveted incorporation in the registry of Spanish Sephardic families.

o Married to a Spanish national: Your marriage certificate issued by the Spanish Civil Registry and additionally a joint empadronamiento authentication or dwelling together endorsement.

o Widow or widower of a Spaniard: Your partners birth certificate issued by the Spanish Civil Registry; your upgraded marriage authentication issued by the Spanish Civil Registry; your partners death certificate; and a joint empadronamiento testament or dwelling together authentication to prove that you lived together when your partner passed away.

o Refugee: A certificate confirming your outcast status issued by the Ministry of the Interior’s Asylum and Refugee Office.

Keeping in mind that the end goal is to achieve Spanish citizenship you will likewise need to swear unwaveringness to the King and swear to comply with the Spanish Constitution and laws. Unless you are allowed to keep the nationality you had before turning into a Spanish native as a double nationality (talked about beneath), you will likewise need to pronounce that you have repudiated your previous citizenship.

Where possible, you ought to use the travel permit of the country you’re entering.

DOUBLE NATIONALITY

In turning into a Spanish native, you may be able to ask for double nationality or you may have to discard your current citizenship. Residents of Latin American nations, Andorra, Portugal, the Philippines, or Equatorial Guinea are not required to repudiate their citizenship, and their double nationality is legally accepted.

In different cases things can turn in an unexpected way. For instance, UK natives, while turning into a Spanish citizen, are required to deny their past citizenship, yet this is not allowed according to the British law. This implies that you would then have two nationalities (yet not double nationality) as Spain will not accept the British nationality.

US citizens, should they not want to give up their US citizenship, may repudiate their US citizenship to the Spanish government as this is required to gain the Spanish citizenship, yet at the same time hold on to their US citizenship. Obviously, Spain would not accept the US nationality.

On account of subjects of different nations, it is possible you may lose your previous citizenship after getting the Spanish one.

When in doubt, in the event that you are not a subject of a Latin American nation, Andorra, Portugal, the Philippines, or Equatorial Guinea and you wish to hold your previous citizenship and in addition secure a Spanish citizenship, you ought to see a law expert for the most recent arrangements with respect to Spain and your nation of previous citizenship.

Where possible, you should use the visa of the nation you’re entering. For example, should you have US and Spanish citizenship, use your Spanish identification when landing in Spain and your US travel permit when landing in the US.