How to apply for Spanish citizenship through marriage

Marriage to a Spanish national creates the entitlement of becoming a Spanish citizen yourself. Obtaining Spanish citizenship brings with it a wide range of opportunities for your career, your lifestyle, and the education of your children. Once you are married you can embark on the process of obtaining Spanish citizenship. As the process can be complex is preferable to seek the guidance of an expert immigration lawyer who can advise you as to the steps you must take and ensure that your application will proceed without any problems.

We will explain in this guide the benefits of obtaining Spanish citizenship, how to qualify, the documents you will need and step-by-step directions through the procedure.

Click on a link to jump to that section:

• The benefits of obtaining Spanish citizenship
• How do I qualify for Spanish citizenship through marriage?
• What documents do I need to qualify for Spanish citizenship through marriage?
• Applying for Spanish citizenship through marriage – a step-by-step guide
• How long does the application process take?
• How much does the application cost?
• How Giambrone can help

The benefits of obtaining Spanish citizenship

Obtaining Spanish citizenship is an excellent decision for many reasons. You can enjoy a wide range of benefits if you decide to take the option of permanent residency in Spain when you acquire Spanish nationality. You will be able to work freely in Spain and all the countries that are members of the EU. You will also gain full residency, which means you can live in Spain unhindered for as long as you would like to. A Spanish passport will also make travelling in and out of Spain much easier.

You will additionally have the right to vote in Spanish elections and have a say in how your adopted country is run; your new nationality will enable you to support decisions that could shape the future of Spain.

How do I qualify for Spanish citizenship through marriage?

Following your marriage to a Spanish citizen, you will need to have been resident in Spain with your partner for a minimum of one year from the date a residence permit was granted. You will need to have a residence permit as a family member of an EU citizen.

The other qualifications required for Spanish citizenship are academic – you will need to pass the CCSE (Constitutional and Sociocultural Aspects of Spain) and DELE (Diploma of Spanish) exams. These prove that you have a good level of knowledge of both the legal and cultural aspects of Spain and that you have an intermediate grasp of the Spanish language. Once you have these, integrating into your local community will be much easier.

What documents do I need to qualify for Spanish citizenship through marriage?

An application for Spanish citizenship through marriage requires identity documents, including a full passport and a birth certificate for both your spouse and you, as the principal applicant. You will also need your marriage/civil registry certificate and proof of registration of both yourself and your spouse at the town hall showing your presence on the local census.

It is also necessary for you to prove that you have integrated with the Spanish culture and that you are in possession of sufficient economic means to support yourself.

In addition to this, it is necessary for you to demonstrate that you have sufficient economic means to support yourself.

You will also need to undergo a criminal background check, which must come up unblemished.

A step-by-step guide to the process

Once you have lived in Spain with your spouse for at least one year you will then be able to start the process and submit your application online together with the supporting documents previously mentioned, and translated copies. This will include the documents previously mentioned, as well as the required translated copies. The Ministry of Justice will evaluate your application and inform you of whether or not you have been successful. Should your application be accepted, you will then be granted permanent residence and receive your residence permit, passport and ID card, and you will then be able to work without a visa.

Once you have obtained your Spanish citizenship, you will lose your citizenship to your country of origin as Spain does not allow dual citizenship except for those from Spanish-American countries, the Philippines, Portugal, Andorra or Equatorial Guinea. Sephardic Jews are also able to retain dual nationality. You can find out more about obtaining Spanish citizenship through Sephardic ancestry here.

How long does the application process take?

While obtaining citizenship through marriage is one of the more straightforward ways to gain citizenship, this process can still take up to two years. This timeframe can be dependent on which region of Spain you reside in.

How much does the application cost?

Initially, you will need to pay €60 to €100 to the relevant authority at the beginning of the application process – this is non-refundable whether or not your application is successful. There will be some other fees related to obtaining certain documents required to begin the process. Your documents must be legally valid in Spain.

How Giambrone can help

When going through the process of applying for Spanish citizenship, the right support can make a considerable difference between struggling and success. Giambrone can help you at every step of the way when completing your application.

Giambrone’s immigration lawyers will guide you on completing the various forms without errors that may slow the process down. If you aren’t sure which documents you will need, or which may require translated copies, our expert immigration lawyers can make this clear, as well as providing any legal advice you may need along the way.

Are you ready to start the process of applying for your Spanish citizenship? Get in touch to see how we can help you.