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marriage or divorce certificate or other papers relating to your marital status (translated into Spanish if required).
When you have this permit, you can work freely and enjoy
social services and benefits in Spain. You can generally
move between other EU member states for up to three
months, and longer for certain purposes if youre granted
a permit to do so.
If you hold a Blue Card from another EU-member state,
and have lived elsewhere in the EU for the same period,
this also permits you to long-term residence in Spain as
long as you have lived for two years in Spain beforehand.
If you hold an EU long-term residence permit granted by
another EU member state and want to stay on in Spain,
you will have to relinquish your long-term residence status
in the other country and apply for an EU long-term
residence permit from the Foreigners Office (Oficina de
Extranjeros) in Spain. Click here
(http://www.seap.minhap.gob.es/web/servicios/extranjeria
/extranjeria_ddgg.html) to find your local office.
How to get Spanish citizenship
You can apply for Spanish nationality
(http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Portal
/en/ServiciosAlCiudadano/InformacionParaExtranjeros
/Paginas/Nacionalidad.aspx) after 10 years of residence in
Spain. You can also acquire Spanish nationality through
marriage or birth, even if you or your Spanish parents
were born outside Spain.
You will also be required to prove you are a good citizen
financially stable with no criminal record and be
deemed by the authorities to have a sufficient degree of
integration into Spanish society, for example, being able to
speak Spanish and taking part in social activities that are
part of the Spanish way of life.
You have to apply at the Civil Registry
(http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Portal
/es/ServiciosAlCiudadano/SiEstasEnElExtranjero/Paginas
/RegistroCivil.aspx) where you live in Spain. You will need
to take along the required supporting documents for your
Spanish citizenship application (listed here)
(http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/MANILA
/en/ServiciosConsulares/Pages/SolicitudRenovaci
%C3%B3n-de-Pasaporte-en-el-Consulado-Generalen-Manila.aspx) plus a completed Spanish citizenship
application form (http://www.mjusticia.gob.es/cs/Satellite
/Portal/1292427708144?blobheader=application%2Fpdf&
blobheadername1=Content-Disposition&
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blobheadervalue1=attachment%3B+filename%3DSpanish_Citizenship_by_Residence_Ap
You can apply for Spanish citizenship if you are 18 or
older, 14 or older with legal assistance, or the legal
guardian of a person under 14.
Exemptions to the 10-year rules
Refugees only wait five years and nationals from SpanishAmerican countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial
Guinea, Portugal and those of Sephardic origin only have
to wait two years. The Spanish government currently has
a bill going through parliament that aims to change the law
regarding those of Sephardic origin so that any applicant,
Jewish or not, who can fulfil certain criteria such as having
links to Sephardic culture or even knowledge of Ladino,
the Judeo-Spanish language, may be offered instant
naturalisation so watch for updates.
The required period of residence for citizenship is just one
year if you are born in Spain to legal foreign residents,
married to a Spaniard, widowed from a Spaniard, or the
child or grandchild (even if born outside Spain) of a
Spanish national by birth or residence.
Descendents of expelled Sephardic Jews from Spain can
also apply for Spanish citizenship without residing in
Spain if they can prove special connections to Spain and
pass tests on the Spanish language and history;
applications must be submitted before 1 October 2018.
Spanish citizenship by origin or birth
You are considered Spanish by origin and can apply for
Spanish citizenship by 'Option' (no residency period is
required) if you:
have a Spanish mother or father.
were born in Spain to foreign parents, if at least one parent was also born in Spain (except children of diplomats
and consuls accredited in Spain).
adopted by a Spaniard and under 18, or are over 18 and have been adopted within the last two years;
were born in Spain to foreign parents whose identity is unknown or country of origin is undetermined (stateless or
refugee status), or if neither parents nationality could be legally passed onto you.
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Read more
The complete guide to Spanish visas and permits
(/es/visas-and-permits/Moving-to-Spain-Guideto-Spanish-visas-and-permits_102354.html)
Work in Spain: Guide to Spanish work visas and permits
(/es/visas-and-permits/Work-in-Spain-Guide-to-Spanishwork-visas_103258.html)
5 of 18
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(/es/visas-and-permits/Studying-in-Spain-Spanishstudent-visas-and-permits_422590.html)
A guide to EU/EEA/Swiss nationals moving to Spain
(/es/visas-and-permits/A-guide-for-EU-EEA-Swisscitizens-moving-to-Spain_422591.html)
Expatica
Note: This information is for guidance only and you should
seek specific advice from the Spanish embassy or
consulate in your home country.
Need advice? Post your question on Expatica's Ask
the Expert (/es/ask-expert) free service to see if we can
help.
Updated 2016.
Comment here on the article, or if you have a suggestion to improve this article, please
click here.
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13/08/2016, 07:09
Martin posted:
http://www.expatica.com/es/visas-and-permits/How-to-get-Spanis...
Deola posted:
13/08/2016, 07:09
http://www.expatica.com/es/visas-and-permits/How-to-get-Spanis...
9 of 18
13/08/2016, 07:09
Naqash001 posted:
http://www.expatica.com/es/visas-and-permits/How-to-get-Spanis...
Erik posted:
on 25th June 2015, 07:54:44 - Reply
MY grandmother had a mother who was born in Spain but
moved to Cuba, she is dead now and my gran now lives in
the US. but can my grandmother still claim Spanish
citizenship automatically from her mother? And if my
grandmother is able to get Spanish nationality does this
mean I can get spanish citizenship within just one year of
living in Spain as the article says since my grandmother
became a Spanish citizen?
[Moderator's note: Please post questions on our Ask the
Expert (http://www1.expatica.com
/es/ask_expert.html) service]
ashar posted:
on 14th May 2015, 16:28:02 - Reply
can u please describe be the process of spain imigration? i want to go spain and start some small business like
cafee, shope etc.. , how is the process?
My wife have Spanish residency and live in Pakistan with me but my wife residency expire on June 2016 and i have
one 8 months baba, i m graduate in compute science BCS (Hons), also i have MCSA certified. Now i m working as a
NOC support engineer. my date of birth 2 June 1981.
please provide me the required information.
waiting your response.
Regards,
Ashar
KASHIF posted:
on 17th May 2015, 20:17:08 - Reply
sir i recidence card 5 year i stay in spain 10 year i apply
for nationality in spain .but what law officer first intrew or
test ??
this is a law of spain?
i see the information no intrew and test .u send the
information for full detail for nationality of spain.
[Moderator's note: Please post questions on our Ask the
Expert (http://www1.expatica.com
/es/ask_expert.html) service]
Inaki posted:
10 of 18
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====================================================================
PS.: All advices are welcome, as well as, I'm looking for
help even paying fee for it (in case of advocacy
consultants). If you're a advocacy consultant, please reply
me in private through my email jbjares@gmail.com.
[Moderator's note: You can also post questions on our Ask
the Expert (http://www1.expatica.com/es/ask_expert.html)
service]
Hussain posted:
on 12th February 2015, 19:40:25 - Reply
11 of 18
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Morgan posted:
on 3rd September 2014, 12:52:38 - Reply
For those of you asking about obtaining perminant residency with a student visa it's not possible until you can prove
you have lived in Spain for three years. Furthermore, by proof they mean specifically being empadronado
(registering your residence with the town hall). On top of that you must also have official fingerprints from your
country of former residence/citizenship sent to Spain, show proof of health insurance in Spain, proof that you can
support yourself and a job contract (which means you need to find a place to work and have them contract you
before you can even start working). In addition to all of this, AFTER you have the appointment to submit the
documents (which can be over a month away from the moment you try to get it) the entire process to just get the ok
letter takes at least two months. To be clear this type of residency is called ARIAGO. Residency is not so easy to get
if you are a nonEU citizen. I am an American and from experience of myself and others I know the process takes
anywhere from 6 months to a year after living for three years officially empadronado.
Steph posted:
on 7th August 2014, 09:58:10 - Reply
Hi
I am a British national and my husband is non eu national
I would like to know how and when he can apply for a Spanish citizenship
thanks
ryan posted:
on 28th July 2014, 16:15:33 - Reply
I am an Australian married to a spanish citizen and have obtained my residency card and lived in Spain for one year
with it. My questions are; can I now apply for citizenship?, is there a speaking test? How long can it take? Do I lose
my Australian citizenship if accepted? Can I leave Spain whilst my application is pending?
Any help here would be appreciated
Daniel posted:
on 2nd July 2014, 10:10:53 - Reply
My query would be the same as what Douglas V stated. Somebody please answer to clarify if one can apply for
Spanish citizenship after being in Spain for 2 years as a student with student residency permit/card. Thanks!
Gini posted:
on 13th June 2014, 01:09:48 - Reply
I am interested in getting Spain citizenship/passport for my sons. I was born in Spain to American parents but have
never claimed my citizenship. I live in the States and am having a hard time finding someone who can help me with
this paper work. Do you have any suggestions who to contact for assistance other than the Spanish Embassy who
have not returned my calls.
Douglas V. posted:
on 27th May 2014, 18:53:26 - Reply
I have both Mexican and American citizenship however I would like to apply for Spanish citizenship. I was wondering
how difficult it would be to do that? If I enter the country as a student for 2 years could I apply for citizenship after that
time period? Thank you in advance for any advice.
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Victor posted:
http://www.expatica.com/es/visas-and-permits/How-to-get-Spanis...
Albert posted:
on 17th April 2014, 20:18:12 - Reply
Where do you find this list of surnames?
miguel posted:
on 28th March 2014, 22:24:20 - Reply
@joey, you must be a JEWISH SEPHARDIC first to be eligible.The surname list only applies for those who are with
the blood of sephardic jew. Filipinos are welcome to be a citizen of spain as long as you are legally residing on spain
for at least 2 years.
Joey posted:
on 28th March 2014, 04:08:30 - Reply
I am from the Philippines. With the passing of the
Sephardic Jew Law, and since i decended from the
surname in the list, i think am eligible to apply for a
Spanish citizenship. What are the guidelines to start the
process? Am excited with this development. Thank u
Spain!
[Moderator's note: For expert help, please direct your
question to our 'Ask the Expert (/es/ask-expert)' service]
Rose posted:
on 27th March 2014, 11:54:51 - Reply
I am from Philippines and currently living and working in
Madrid Spain for 5 years. I would like to obtain the
spanish citizenship, I am on going of completing my
requirements. I just would like to ask what are the possible
questions in the interview in obtaining a citizenship? That
would be nice if you can help:)
[Moderator's note: For expert help, please direct your
question to our 'Ask the Expert (/es/ask-expert)' service]
JR posted:
on 25th March 2014, 09:30:01 - Reply
I am from the Philippines and currently working in the middle east. My family name is Rojas. I am interested in in
becoming Spanish citizen is it possible?
Dennis posted:
on 22nd March 2014, 16:58:46 - Reply
One of my Dads grandparent was from Spain , can I
obtain citizenship thru them? I am an American
[Moderator's note: For expert help, please direct your
question to our 'Ask the Expert (/es/ask-expert)' service]
rima posted:
on 20th March 2014, 20:21:39 - Reply
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Lucas posted:
on 26th September 2013, 23:24:24 - Reply
Hola! my name is Lucas, i have submitted the documents and paperwork at the ministry of justice. Now how long
does it usually take to procure the Spanish Passport. Prior receiving it do i have to undergo any interview and any
other formalities that needs to be followed.
David posted:
on 14th August 2013, 12:08:54 - Reply
Thanks for the article. Getting ready to submit my documents but concerned about the 'test'. Your article suggests
this is performed later by a judge during an interview. Is this correct or should I expect an evaluation during
submission of documents?
Do you know an internet site where I can I find information about the infamous 30 questions that will be asked?
Regards
Denise posted:
on 14th November 2012, 18:10:56 - Reply
My son would like to work for the National Police here in
Spain, and has been told many times that you must be a
Spanish citizen, or renounce your British citizenship.
Having read your article, this now seems to not be the
case.
[Moderator's note: For expert help, please direct your
question to our 'Ask the Expert (/es/ask-expert)' service]
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