Citizenship is the legal bond that unites a person and a state and has two natures, on the one hand, that of being a fundamental right and on the other hand, constituting a legal relationship.
Through this relationship, the individual enjoys rights that they can demand from the country to which they belong and, as a counterpart, said country can impose the fulfilment of a series of obligations and duties.
There are different ways to obtain Spanish citizenship depending on a variety of factors. The most common way is by residence. This generally means that a person has to have resided in Spain continuously and legally for 10 years in order to apply for Spanish citizenship, but there are exceptions that allow shorter residence periods. Furthermore, there are circumstances where a person can opt for Spanish citizenship without having to live here for a certain amount of time.
A person can apply for Spanish citizenship after having resided in Spain for a certain amount of years.
TEN years of continuous and legal residence are the general rule of what is required.
FIVE years are sufficient for those who have obtained refugee status and
TWO years in case of nationals of origin from Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea or Portugal, or Sephardic jews (depending on renovation of the corresponding law).
ONE year in the following cases:
In all cases, the residence must be legal, continuous and immediately prior to the request.
Original Spaniards
The most common way to obtain Spanish citizenship is to be of Spanish origin:
You can also get Spanish citizenship by use. This is the case when a person has used the Spanish nationality for ten years, on a continuous basis, in good faith (without being aware of the actual situation, that is, they are not actually Spanish). Anyone in that situation is entitled to Spanish nationality, based on a title registered in the Civil Registry.
To opt for Spanish citizenship means that someone can choose it and it is a benefit offered to foreigners who comply with certain conditions:
In this case, they have to apply within two years from the time the filiation or place of birth is determined. If they do not do so within two years, they can go on to reside in Spain for one year and apply for citizenship then.
right to opt for the Spanish nationality exists until two years have passed since the adoption was established. If they do not do so within two years, they can go on to reside in Spain for one year and apply for citizenship then.
There is a lot of movement in this regard and a new law on the rules for descendants of Spaniards is already in the Senate. We will keep you updated!
