Spain (ES)
Spain is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy of 17 autonomous communities stretching from the sun-scorched Andalusian coast to the Pyrenean peaks, renowned for its passionate flamenco and football culture, world-famous gastronomy from tapas to Michelin-starred restaurants, 300+ days of sunshine on the Costa del Sol and the Balearic Islands, and a relaxed Mediterranean pace of life that consistently ranks it among Europe's most desirable destinations for expats.
Capital: Madrid
Region: Europe
Language: Spanish
Currency: EUR (€)
Cost of living: Affordable (index 55)
Emergency: 112
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Citizenship & Permanent Residency
Long-term settlement options in Spain.
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Permanent Residency
Name
Residencia de Larga Duración (Long-Term Resident EU)
Eligibility
Non-EU citizens who have lived legally in Spain continuously for 5 years. EU/EEA/Swiss citizens automatically gain permanent right of residence after 5 years (Certificado de Registro de Residencia Permanente).
Duration
Indefinite (TIE renewed every 5 years — administrative renewal only, residency itself is permanent)
Requirements
- ✓5 years of legal continuous residence (absences <6 consecutive months, total absence <10 months)
- ✓Proof of sufficient resources (no public assistance dependency)
- ✓No serious criminal record in Spain or country of origin
- ✓Apostilled criminal record from country of origin (for non-EU applicants with absences)
- ✓Valid health insurance coverage
- ✓TIE currently valid
Unlike Germany, Spain has no formal language test for permanent residency (only for naturalisation). Ley 14 May 2025 reform simplified renewals. Application at your Oficina de Extranjería using EX-11 form. Fee €21.44 + TIE €15.60.
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Citizenship
Name
Nacionalidad Española (Spanish Citizenship by Residence)
Eligibility
10 years of legal continuous residence (standard). DRAMATICALLY REDUCED periods for certain origins: 2 years for nationals of Iberoamerican countries (all Spanish-speaking Americas), Portugal, Andorra, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, and Sephardic Jewish descendants (2-year reduced-residence route still active — see notes). 5 years for refugees. 1 year for: those born in Spain, those married to Spanish citizens for 1+ years.
Duration
Permanent
Requirements
- ✓Required residence period (1/2/5/10 years depending on origin category)
- ✓DELE A2 Spanish certificate (basic conversational), from Instituto Cervantes
- ✓CCSE (Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de España) — 25-question test on Spanish constitution, history, culture (pass: 15/25). Exempt: under 18, adults with learning difficulties.
- ✓Penal record certificate from Spain + country of origin (<6 months old, apostilled, sworn-translated)
- ✓Proof of "integración suficiente" (payslips, contracts, children in Spanish schools, community engagement)
- ✓Book of Civil Registry of births (Libro de Familia) if married to Spanish spouse or has Spanish children
- ✓Filing via telematic procedure at portal del Ministerio de Justicia
Processing time 2–4 years after application — the longest bottleneck is the resolución at Ministerio de Justicia. Most applicants renounce their original nationality symbolically (except Latin American/Portuguese/Andorran/Filipino applicants who may retain it by bilateral treaty). The renunciation declaration is made at the civil registry on oath-taking day but most countries of origin do not enforce loss of passport — de facto dual citizenship is common.
Other Routes to Residency & Citizenship
Citizenship by Marriage to a Spanish Citizen
Eligibility
Non-EU or EU spouses of Spanish citizens after 1 year of legal residence in Spain + 1 year of marriage. Still requires DELE A2 + CCSE.
Duration / Outcome
Permanent
Requirements
- ✓1 year continuous legal residence in Spain
- ✓1 year of marriage to Spanish citizen
- ✓Marriage must still be intact at the time of application (separation/divorce invalidates)
- ✓DELE A2 + CCSE
- ✓Clean criminal record
- ✓Apostilled marriage certificate + translation if married abroad
- ✓Proof of integration (padrón, employment, children’s schooling)
Fastest path to Spanish citizenship for those married to Spaniards. Separate from visa/residence path (you still need a residence permit first — Reagrupación Familiar or Visado de Cónyuge).
Citizenship by Origin (Iberoamerican, Portuguese, Andorran, Filipino, Equatorial Guinean)
Eligibility
Nationals of Spanish-speaking Latin American countries, Portugal, Andorra, Philippines, or Equatorial Guinea. Reduced to 2 years continuous legal residence in Spain.
Duration / Outcome
Permanent
Requirements
- ✓2 years legal continuous residence in Spain
- ✓DELE A2 (if Portuguese or other non-Spanish-speaking origin) — often waived for native Spanish speakers
- ✓CCSE test
- ✓Clean criminal record (apostilled from country of origin)
- ✓Evidence of continuous residence (empadronamiento, contracts, bills)
One of Europe’s most generous naturalisation pathways. Nationals from: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, plus Portugal, Andorra, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea. Spanish-native applicants usually don’t need DELE A2. This is the primary reason Spain is so attractive for Latin American skilled workers.
Citizenship by Birth in Spain (Doble ius soli limited)
Eligibility
Children born in Spain to foreign parents qualify only under specific circumstances (Spain does not have general ius soli).
Duration / Outcome
From birth (if conditions met)
Requirements
- ✓Child born in Spain AND at least one parent also born in Spain (double ius soli), OR
- ✓Child born in Spain and would be stateless if not granted Spanish nationality, OR
- ✓Child of unknown parents found in Spain
Most foreign children born in Spain do NOT automatically get Spanish citizenship. They instead qualify for residence and then can apply for citizenship after 1 year (as "born in Spain"). Family regroupment and integration remain pathways for most foreign-born children.
Citizenship by Descent / Carta de Naturaleza
Eligibility
Discretionary granted by Real Decreto for "exceptional circumstances" — notable national contributions, certain descendants of Spanish exiles (Ley de Memoria Democrática 2022 grandparent route, closed October 2024).
Duration / Outcome
Permanent
Requirements
- ✓Documentation of family Spanish origin (birth/death certificates of Spanish ancestor) if under descent route
- ✓Specific application depending on route
The Ley de Memoria Democrática 2022 route for descendants of Spanish exiles (grandchildren/great-grandchildren) closed to new applications on 22 October 2025 — Spain extended the deadline by 1 year from the original October 2024 date. Pending applications submitted before that date continue to be processed through 2026. Sephardic note: Law 12/2015 (which allowed citizenship without any residence for Sephardic descendants) closed October 2019; however, Sephardic Jewish descendants may still apply under the standard 2-year reduced-residence naturalisation route. Carta de Naturaleza by Real Decreto remains as a discretionary path (very rare, requires personal petition to the Minister of Justice).
🌍 Dual Citizenship
✓
Dual citizenship is allowed — Spain officially recognises dual citizenship only with Iberoamerican countries (all Latin America + Andorra, Philippines, Portugal, Equatorial Guinea) by bilateral treaty. All OTHER nationalities are technically required to renounce their original citizenship upon oath-taking. In practice: (1) most countries do not enforce loss of their own citizenship even when you swear Spanish, so de facto dual citizenship is widespread; (2) the renunciation is verbal/declarative and Spain does not verify; (3) Spain will not strip your Spanish nationality if you continue to hold another passport post-naturalisation. EU citizens who become Spanish by residence typically keep their EU passport without issue.
Citizenship & Permanent Residency
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