Spanish citizenship: all methods of obtaining

Many Russians are wondering how to get a Spanish passport. Some of them have already received a residence permit (RP) in the kingdom, planning to become Spanish subjects. And someone else is just thinking about leaving permanently for this European country, looking for a more prosperous life.

Spanish passport

There are several ways to obtain Spanish citizenship, but those wishing to do so must meet certain criteria. It is much easier for Russians to obtain a passport from this country than from others in the European Union. You can also get acquainted with available vacancies and the standard of living in Spain.

Method I. Spanish passport through residence permit for investment

Who is it suitable for? Any wealthy people with or without a family who have decided to move to Spain now. Let's start with the most difficult situation... Is it possible to obtain a Spanish passport for a person who has not previously had any connection with the country?

Yes, it is possible, and the procedure is quite simple and only requires the availability of certain financial resources. The main “but” is that if you do not have relatives/ancestors/guardians/spouse in Spain, that is, you are actually starting your relationship with the country “from scratch,” then you will have to wait 10 years for citizenship. This rule applies to absolutely all foreigners, with the exception of those cases that we will discuss below.

Stage I. Residence permit in Spain

The easiest way to start the path to citizenship “from scratch” is by taking part in the state migration program for investors. It gives the right to obtain a residence permit in Spain in just 1-2 months (an investor’s “golden visa”). What is needed for this? The Spanish government offers several options to choose from.

Buy residential, commercial real estate or land in the amount of 500 thousand euros
Purchase government bonds in the amount of EUR 2 million or more
Investments in the assets of Spanish companies of at least 1 million euros
Open a deposit in a Spanish bank in the amount of 1 million euros
Create a business in Spain with a certain number of jobs

The most popular option is purchasing real estate - it is the most understandable, transparent and convenient. After all, real estate can be actively used and sold after 5 years. In general, all options for obtaining a Spanish residence permit involve a return on investment over time, but real estate is the least risky path.

Stage II. Permanent residence in Spain

If you, having received a Spanish residence permit, decided to stay in the country with your entire family, then the next step will be to obtain permanent residence in Spain after 5 years. Mandatory condition: during this period, you and your family must live in the country for at least 6 months a year. At the same time, you must demonstrate gradual integration into the Spanish economy, society, and social sphere. That is, pay taxes, educate children at school, use medical services, improve the language, etc.

Permanent residence in Spain gives you almost the same rights as citizenship, with the exception of the ability to move to any country in the European Union. You can work in Spain, do business

Stage III. Spanish citizenship

After another 5 years (and in general 10 years after receiving a residence permit), you will be able to apply for Spanish passports for all members of your family. To do this, again, you need to spend at least 6 months a year in the country and demonstrate a desire to become a citizen.

If you have complied with all living conditions for 10 years, then the government will satisfy your application without any problems.

Pros and cons of Spanish citizenship by investment

pros

Minuses

– State guarantees for obtaining a residence permit/permanent residence permit/citizenship. – Quick registration of a residence permit with the right to reside in the country for an unlimited time. – The whole family participates in the program. – Simple conditions, a basic package of documents, no exams/tests. – You immediately get the opportunity to travel around Schengen without visas, educate children at European universities, use the social sphere, take out profitable loans, and store money in reliable banks. – Return on investment. – In 5 years you can work and do business in Spain.

– The need to live in the country for 10 years without leaving it for more than 6 months. – For the first 5 years, having an investor residence permit, you will not be able to work in Spain. – If you invest in real estate, you can sell it only after 5 years.

What are the grounds for obtaining Spanish citizenship?

Foreigners who have a residence permit and have lived in Spain for a certain number of years can submit an application to the nacionalidad española. Time spent on a student permit or residence permit does not count toward the required years. The basis for applying for citizenship must coincide with the basis for issuing a residence permit card (tarjeta de residencia).

In addition to a residence permit, the Spanish Civil Code provides for the granting of citizenship in the process of naturalization, on the basis of option, by origin or at state discretion. Let's look at the most popular and accessible grounds for obtaining Spanish citizenship.

Naturalization

Citizenship on this basis is provided for in Art. 21 Civil Code of Spain. For this purpose, following the recommendations of the government, a Royal Decree is issued. The reasons for Carta de naturaleza can be exceptional. For example, naturalization was offered to victims of the 2004 terrorist attack in Madrid and their family members. Those who apply for citizenship due to long-term work and residence in Spain must wait for a quota. Since there are many applicants, the wait for citizenship often takes more than 10 years.

Family reunion and marriage

Citizenship by family reunification can be obtained by spouses of Spanish citizens or close relatives of foreigners who have received citizenship. In case of marriage, the Spaniard must live in Spain and the spouse must move in with him. If a “new” citizen invites, then he is obliged to prove his financial solvency, that is, the ability to support not only himself, but also the invited relative.

Business immigration and investment

Spain actively attracts wealthy (or rather, very wealthy) foreigners. By investing at least 500 thousand euros in the purchase of real estate, opening a deposit of 1 million euros or buying shares for the same amount, you can receive an investor’s “golden visa” for the whole family. It gives the right to accelerated receipt of a residence permit. However, the right to apply for citizenship will only be available after the standard 10 years.

The Golden Visa does not give the right to work other than to run your own business using Spanish employees. You can return your investment only 10 years after receiving citizenship.

Refugee immigration

The refugee situation is especially relevant for Spain. Many people from North Africa are trying to settle here. Russians rarely use this route, since it is quite difficult to prove a threat to life or freedom.

Based on option

The Opción procedure provides for the accelerated granting of Spanish citizenship to certain categories of foreigners.

This option can be used by:

Method II. Naturalization

Who is it suitable for? All foreigners wishing to obtain Spanish citizenship in the future. This path essentially repeats the previous one. To obtain citizenship, you need to go through the stages of obtaining a D visa, residence permit and permanent residence, which will also take at least 10 years. The main difference is the absence of any guarantees from the state.

The path of naturalization is associated with many inconveniences.

Firstly, with the constant need to have a specific purpose for your stay in Spain: work, study, etc.
Secondly, it is far from a fact that your entire family will be able to move, because your wife also needs to prove the advisability of living in the country - she needs to receive a separate residence permit/permanent residence card. The same goes for your children.
Thirdly, you will be forced to wait your turn to receive a quota. Since there are a lot of people wishing to obtain a regular residence permit/permanent residence permit in Spain, the process can take much longer than 10 years

Why do you need Spanish citizenship? Main advantages

Having received Spanish citizenship (nacionalidad española) and formally becoming a subject of King Philip VI, each person receives all the rights guaranteed by the state. First of all, this means taking part in elections and working in the civil service. There is also no need to live in Spain for at least 6 months a year.

Citizens of Spain also enjoy advantages over holders of residence permits and permanent residence permits:

when receiving health services;
when placing children in public schools;
when determining the cost of higher education.

Spanish passport
In addition, employers for most vacancies must first employ citizens and only then have the right to hire foreigners. No less important is the opportunity to visit 187 countries without visas with a Spanish passport, being confident that in case of problems, your interests will be protected by Spanish diplomats.

Method III. Family reunion

Who is it suitable for? People who have close relatives living in Spain

The right to obtain Spanish citizenship is granted to:

spouse of a Spanish citizen (together with children)
children of a Spanish citizen
children of foreigners living in Spain with the status of residence permit/permanent residence for at least 5 years (subject to the conditions of stay and integration into society) and who are of retirement age

Stages of obtaining citizenship

When considering the question of how to obtain Spanish citizenship, it is necessary to take into account the stages of this procedure. These include:

obtaining a Schengen visa or a long-term national visa (category D) to cross the Spanish border; validity period - up to ninety days. According to Law 14/2013, a long-term (golden) visa is possible if you purchase residential or commercial property worth half a million euros or more. It gives the right to receive income within the country. A multiple visa is issued for 1 year, with the right to extend for up to two more years, it allows you to obtain a residence permit;
residence permit – allowed to reside in the country for 5 years, with the possibility of further extension after receiving a resident card;
provision of a permanent place of residence - after the specified period, subject to permanent residence in the country for at least six months each year; gives the right to official employment on an equal basis with Spanish citizens;
Obtaining Spanish citizenship is the final stage. Only when the specified 10 years have expired is it possible to apply for a Spanish passport.

As a result, the entire naturalization procedure for Russians takes ten years or more.

By moving to Spain, a Russian receives the following benefits:

a Spanish passport allows its holder to move freely within the borders of the Eurozone, to visit about one hundred and seventy countries around the world without a visa, including Latin American countries, the USA and others;
after obtaining Spanish citizenship, it is possible to quickly register it in any of the EU states;
the right to study at a higher education institution within the EU with further prospects for future employment;
high level of social security for Spanish citizens;
free acquisition of real estate within the specified limits;
provision of full EU citizenship with the possibility of opening bank accounts and obtaining loans on favorable terms;
free conduct of business in the EU countries;
the possibility of obtaining Spanish citizenship for relatives;
priority for employment compared to other candidates.

However, there are also disadvantages, which include:

prohibition of dual citizenship of Russia and Spain;
difficulties finding work due to high unemployment;
ten-year naturalization period.

Those thinking about how to obtain citizenship in Spain need to weigh all the circumstances in detail, although, in the end, the pros significantly outweigh the cons.

Method IV. Spanish citizenship by descent

Who is it suitable for? Children born in Spain (under certain conditions).

Many foreigners mistakenly think that it is enough to come to Spain, give birth to a child on its territory, and he will automatically receive citizenship. In fact, this is an absolute myth.

There are 3 main conditions:

one of the parents must be born in Spain
if parents have lived in the country for at least 1 year and have a residence permit
if the parents or grandparents had Spanish citizenship and were born in the country, and the applicant has already lived in Spain for at least 1 year on the basis of a residence permit

Method V. Spanish citizenship through marriage

Who is it suitable for? One of the spouses who registered a marriage with a citizen of Spain and moved to the country.

If you registered a marriage with a Spaniard and decided to move to Spain with your spouse, then after 1 year of living together in the country, you can apply for a passport. But this year you must be in the country on the basis of a visa/residence permit. And at the time of filing your application, your marriage must be officially valid.

There is one special case... Widows and widowers who have lived in Spain for at least 1 year with their legal spouse, who, unfortunately, subsequently died, apply for citizenship.

Dual citizenship in Spain

Theoretically, paragraph 3 of the Spanish Constitution allows dual citizenship. However, for Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians, in practice it is impossible, since constitutional norms provide for dual citizenship only with those countries with which Spain has concluded an international treaty. The Constitution allows the conclusion of such treaties with Ibero-American and other countries with which the Kingdom has special relations.

These countries traditionally include all countries in Latin and Central America, including Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Costa Rica, Portugal, El Salvador, Venezuela, Uruguay and many other countries. To be naturalized, representatives of these countries only need to live in Spain for 2 years, after which, while retaining their own citizenship, they can receive a Spanish passport. All citizens of these countries have this right, even if the latter do not grant reciprocal rights to Spaniards.

Method VI. Spanish citizenship based on guardianship

Who is it suitable for? Persons under the guardianship of a Spanish citizen or a Spanish guardianship organization, as well as adopted persons.

In both cases of guardianship and adoption, one condition applies: the period of guardianship/adoption must be more than 2 years.

Benefits of holding a Spanish passport

Living in an economically developed, stable EU country
Possibility of moving to any EU country for permanent residence
Doing business, working in prestigious companies in Europe
Study for your children in the best European universities
High standard of living, reasonable cost of living
Quality medicine
Loans at favorable interest rates
Possibility of tax optimization
Storing funds in reliable European banks
Traveling within the EU without visas
Purchase and registration of movable and immovable property in your name

Is it possible to have dual citizenship with Russia?

Spanish law provides for dual citizenship if appropriate contractual documents have been concluded with one or another state.

However, no such agreement has been signed with the Russian Federation, therefore Russian immigrants, when applying for Spanish citizenship, must issue a corresponding waiver of a second (Russian) passport in their home country.

Note!

There is no possibility of dual citizenship for Russian immigrants.
Briefly summarizing the above, it can be noted that:

Spain is an attractive country for Russians who have chosen it as their place of residence, but the full procedure for obtaining a passport will take at least ten years;
by obtaining Spanish citizenship, a Russian citizen is provided with many tangible benefits associated with a higher standard of living, education, etc.;
the acquisition of expensive real estate and investment of funds in the economy of the Kingdom does not shorten the period assigned for naturalization, but allows one to obtain significant advantages in obtaining a residence permit and permanent residence, with the possibility of living and doing business in the state.