Spanish citizenship in 2026 can be obtained through naturalization, through a legal marriage to a Spanish citizen, by birth, on the basis of a special connection with the country, or by holding refugee status. Each route has its own timeframes, conditions, and costs. The standard naturalization period is 10 years of legal residence in the country, although it may be reduced for certain categories of applicants. At the same time, it is important to understand that you cannot simply buy a passport — the process always involves meeting legal requirements.

A Spanish passport allows you to live and work in the EU, receive a European education, use high-quality medical services, open and run a business, and purchase real estate together with land plots on favorable terms. In this article, we explain how to obtain Spanish citizenship in 2026, who is eligible, what requirements applicants must meet, and which documents are needed.

Legal Framework for Obtaining Spanish Citizenship

To obtain citizenship, you must meet a number of requirements:

• reside in the country for the required period on a legal basis;
• hold a valid residence permit;
• have no serious problems with the law;
• know the Spanish language and the basics of the country’s culture;
• demonstrate integration into society.

Dual citizenship is not recognized in Spain. When obtaining a Spanish passport, the applicant is required to renounce their existing citizenship.

Spanish citizenship provides certain rights and obligations. After obtaining it, a person can reside permanently in the country, work officially and conduct business, receive social and medical support, participate in elections, move freely and reside in other European Union countries. The citizen must not only comply with the laws of the country, but also participate in its public life and pay taxes.

At the same time, there are ways to obtain citizenship in other EU countries more easily, faster, and at lower cost. After obtaining a passport of one of the European Union countries, you can freely move to Spain and enjoy the same residence and employment rights. Our lawyers will help you select the optimal citizenship program taking into account your goals, timeframes, and grounds for relocation.

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Advantages of a Spanish Passport

A Spanish passport provides a broad range of rights, freedoms, and benefits both within the country and abroad. By becoming a Spanish citizen, a foreign national receives the following advantages:

• visa-free travel to more than 170 countries worldwide;
• freedom of movement and residence in any chosen European Union country;
• social protection and pension benefits;
• the opportunity to use the Spanish healthcare system and receive medical services free of charge or at relatively low cost;
• education at public educational institutions and participation in European educational programs;
• assistance in obtaining consular protection;
• the opportunity to freely establish companies, conduct business, and invest in the EU economy.

Repatriation as a Route to Spanish Citizenship

Repatriation in Spain is not legally designated as a separate state citizenship program. However, Spanish legislation provides simplified passport procedures for certain categories of foreigners who have a historical or family connection with the country. This most often concerns people of Spanish origin, descendants of emigrants, and former Spanish citizens.

Citizenship by origin may be obtained by people whose parents, grandparents were Spanish citizens or previously held Spanish citizenship. In certain cases, the right to apply arises for applicants born outside the country if their relatives left Spain for political reasons, because of war, or due to emigration.

Additional opportunities emerged after the adoption of the Democratic Memory Law. It allows certain descendants of Spaniards to use a simplified procedure without having to go through the lengthy naturalization route. Each case is considered individually, and the list of documents depends on the family history and the grounds for submitting the application.

Naturalization

Naturalization in Spain is a common way of obtaining citizenship for those who have lived in the country for 10 years on a legal basis. The applicant must demonstrate integration into society by passing examinations in the official language at no lower than A2 level (DELE) and in the fundamentals of the country’s sociocultural system (CCSE). Exemptions are possible for certain categories, for example minors or foreigners who received their education in Spain.

While naturalization in Spain requires at least 10 years of legal residence in the country, several EU countries have simplified procedures that make it possible to obtain citizenship in as little as 1 year where the relevant grounds exist. If you want to choose the fastest and most suitable option specifically for your situation, contact our specialists for a consultation. Lawyers will help assess your options and select the optimal application strategy.

Simplified Naturalization

A simplified procedure for obtaining Spanish citizenship applies to several categories of foreigners and makes it possible to obtain a passport more quickly. For example, citizenship through marriage in Spain can be obtained after one year of official cohabitation with a spouse who holds a Spanish passport, provided the marital relationship is still in force at the time of application. The same period applies to persons closely connected with the country, including children born in Spain or those who have been under the guardianship of Spanish citizens.

Persons with refugee status may apply for Spanish citizenship after living in the country for more than 5 years.

It should be noted that Spanish citizenship cannot be obtained directly through investment. Spain previously operated an investor residence program, commonly known as the Golden Visa, which was introduced under Law 14/2013 and allowed qualifying non-EU investors to obtain residence through significant investments, including the purchase of real estate worth at least €500,000. However, this program did not grant Spanish citizenship directly.

Moreover, Spain abolished the investor residence scheme for new applicants effective April 3, 2025. Organic Law 1/2025 removed Articles 63–67 of Law 14/2013, which regulated investor visas and residence permits. Applications submitted before April 3, 2025, as well as certain existing permits and their renewals, remain subject to transitional provisions. Therefore, in 2026, making an investment or purchasing property in Spain does not provide a new independent route to either Spanish residence under the former Golden Visa program or Spanish citizenship.

Under accelerated naturalization, the relevant basis must be confirmed:

• spouses of Spanish citizens provide a marriage certificate and proof of cohabitation;
• refugees — a decision granting international protection;
• other categories — documents confirming a connection with Spain (birth in the country, guardianship, etc.).

A shorter qualifying period does not mean that citizenship will be easier to obtain. Even where an applicant is eligible for simplified naturalization, they must meet the basic requirements, including holding a valid residence permit, passing a language test, and undergoing checks of knowledge of the culture and laws.

Citizenship by Birth

Children with at least one Spanish parent automatically receive citizenship by birth. If both parents are foreigners, a child may obtain status if the child has no other citizenship, in order to prevent statelessness. In other situations, children of foreigners may obtain Spanish citizenship under a simplified procedure after one year of residence in Spain.

Step-by-Step Guide to Obtaining Spanish Citizenship

1. Obtaining a Spanish residence permit.
   The grounds may vary: employment, study, family reunification, entrepreneurship, and others. It is important that residence is legal and continuous, because this is the period that will be taken into account when the citizenship application is submitted.
2. Residence and renewal of the residence permit.
   The period depends on the applicant category. During this time, it is necessary to maintain resident status and avoid prolonged absences from the country (more than 6 consecutive months). After living in the country for 5 years, a foreigner may obtain permanent residence, which gives the right to remain in the country permanently without the need to renew temporary status regularly.
3. Passing the DELE and CCSE examinations.
   Before submitting the application, the foreign national must pass the DELE language proficiency examination and the CCSE examination on Spain’s constitutional and sociocultural system.
4. Preparing documents and submitting the application.
   After successfully passing the examinations, the applicant prepares the full package of documents and submits the application online through the Ministry of Justice website.
5. Consideration of the application.
   The Ministry of Justice verifies compliance with the residence periods, the applicant’s level of integration, and good conduct. The officially established processing period is up to 1 year, although in practice the procedure may take longer.
6. Taking the oath and obtaining documents.
   After the application is approved, the foreign national must complete the oath procedure at the Registro Civil within 180 days, confirming loyalty to the country’s Constitution. After that, a citizenship certificate, Spanish passport, and identity card (DNI) can be obtained.

The time required to obtain citizenship directly depends on the basis and may range from 2–3 years in simplified cases to 10 years or more under standard naturalization.

If standard naturalization in Spain seems too lengthy, simplified citizenship programs in other EU countries may be considered. In some cases, they make it possible to obtain a second passport without lengthy residence, complex examinations, or renunciation of current citizenship. Our specialists will help select a suitable option and avoid mistakes when preparing documents.

Documents Required for Spanish Citizenship

Regardless of the basis on which a Spanish passport is to be obtained, the applicant must submit a standard package of documents for consideration:

• application (a template is available on the Ministry of Justice portal);
• valid passport;
• residence permit or other proof of legal stay in Spain;
• birth certificate;
• certificates confirming the absence of legal problems (from the country of origin and Spain);
• document confirming the availability of accommodation in the country;
• receipt confirming payment of the state fee — EUR 104.5;
• certificates confirming successful completion of the examinations (CCSE and DELE certificates).

Additionally, a marriage certificate, refugee identification document, or other documents may be required. For minors, a certificate from an educational institution confirming integration must be provided. Children over 14 years of age also participate in the application procedure together with their parents. All foreign documents must be translated into Spanish, legalized, or apostilled.

Professional Assistance and Migrant Reviews

Immigration lawyers play an important role in the citizenship process because they help develop the correct strategy from the outset and support the applicant at every stage. They analyze the initial information, determine the most appropriate basis for submitting the application, and identify possible risks that could lead to refusal or delays. Specialists handle the preparation and review of documents, monitor compliance with translation and legalization requirements, and interact with government authorities. With their assistance, the applicant avoids typical mistakes, completes the procedure faster, and obtains a more predictable result.

Assistance from specialized professionals may be useful if the case involves non-standard grounds for obtaining citizenship or requires additional document preparation. Lawyers help take the requirements of Spanish authorities into account and reduce the risk of delays caused by an incorrectly prepared file or insufficient supporting evidence.

Migrant reviews show that the process of obtaining Spanish citizenship can differ significantly in terms of duration and complexity. For example, consideration may take around 2 years even with a standard application, while the final formalities may take several additional months. It is also noted that timeframes depend heavily on the region, the workload of the authorities, and the applicant’s individual circumstances. In some cases, decisions arrive faster; in others, the process is delayed for no obvious reason.

If you do not want to deal with all the legal nuances independently and risk the timeframe or result, it is reasonable to contact specialists from the outset. Competent support helps avoid mistakes, build the strategy correctly, choose the fastest route to citizenship, and complete it more easily. Lawyers will handle document preparation, deadline monitoring, and interaction with the migration service, while you will be able to go through the entire process calmly and without unnecessary stress, with a clear forecast at every stage.