Spain
Last Updated: 2026-03-19
Official Portal: Ministerio de Inclusion, Seguridad Social y Migraciones
Embassy Finder: Spanish Embassies and Consulates
Quick Facts
| Residency for citizenship | 10 years (general) / 2 years (preferred) / 1 year (special) |
| Language requirement | DELE A2 + CCSE cultural exam |
| Processing time | 1-5+ years (significant backlog) |
| Application fee | ~100 EUR |
| Dual citizenship | Conditional (see above) |
Dual Citizenship
Conditional — Dual citizenship is permitted for all Spaniards. Spaniards by origin automatically retain Spanish nationality when acquiring citizenship from Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, or Portugal. For all other nationalities, they must declare their will to retain Spanish nationality within 3 years. Naturalized Spaniards must always make this declaration within 3 years, regardless of country.
Foreign nationals acquiring Spanish nationality must renounce their previous nationality, unless they are natural-born citizens of a Latin American country, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, or Portugal.
Since October 2002, dual citizens born outside Spain to a Spanish parent born outside Spain must declare to conserve their Spanish nationality between ages 18 and 21.
Acquisition of Nationality
Spanish law distinguishes between “nationality by origin” (cannot be involuntarily revoked) and “derivative nationality”.
By Birth (Jus Soli)
- Children born in Spain to two foreign parents acquire Spanish nationality by origin if at least one parent was also born in Spain
- Children born in Spain who would otherwise be stateless automatically acquire Spanish nationality by origin
- Being born in Spain alone does NOT automatically grant citizenship if neither parent is Spanish or born in Spain
By Descent (Jus Sanguinis)
Any person born to a Spanish parent automatically acquires Spanish nationality by origin, whether born within Spain or overseas.
Registration requirements for overseas births: There have been various regulations over time requiring registration of births abroad and limiting citizenship by descent to a specified number of generations. The rules in force at the time of birth usually apply.
Article 24.1 warning: People born outside Spain to a Spanish citizen parent born in Spain will lose Spanish nationality if they exclusively use a foreign nationality acquired before adulthood. This can be avoided by registering the desire to preserve Spanish nationality at a Spanish consulate.
Second generation abroad: After January 9, 2003, second-generation born-abroad Spaniards from Ibero-American countries who hold that other country’s citizenship must declare their intention to retain Spanish nationality within 3 years of turning 18 (until age 21).
By Adoption
Children under 18 adopted by a Spanish national acquire Spanish nationality by origin when the adoption takes legal effect. Before 1990, adopted children only acquired nationality by origin if at least one parent was a Spanish national by origin.
Adoptees over 18 can apply for Spanish nationality by origin up to 2 years after the adoption.
By Marriage
Individuals married to a Spanish national may apply for nationality after 1 year of marriage, provided they are not separated legally or de facto. Must also meet residency requirements.
Widow(er)s of Spanish nationals are eligible under the 1-year residency category if not legally or de facto separated at the time of death.
By Naturalization (Residency)
General requirement: 10 years of continuous legal residency
| Category | Residency Required |
|---|---|
| General applicants | 10 years |
| Refugees | 5 years |
| Citizens of Ibero-American countries, Portugal, Andorra, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea | 2 years |
| Sephardic Jewish descent with connection to Spain | 2 years |
| Born in Spanish territory | 1 year |
| Did not exercise right to nationality by option in time | 1 year |
| Under tutelage of Spanish citizen/institution for 2+ years | 1 year |
| Married to Spanish national (not separated) for 1+ year | 1 year |
| Born outside Spain to Spanish parent or grandparent (by origin) | 1 year |
Additional requirements:
- Language: DELE A2 certificate (exempted if from a Spanish-speaking country)
- Cultural knowledge: CCSE exam (Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de Espana)
- Clean criminal record
- Good civic conduct
Backlog warning: By end of 2022, over 276,000 pending requests. Over 11,000 had been pending for more than 5 years. Over 100,000 were overdue.
By Option (Article 20)
The following may apply (“opt”) for Spanish nationality:
- Individuals under tutelage of a Spanish citizen
- Individuals whose father or mother had been originally Spanish and born in Spain
- Individuals mentioned in Article 17 and adopted foreigners of 18+ years
- Must be claimed within 2 years after 18th birthday (no age limit for children of original Spaniards born in Spain)
Preferred Pathways
Reduced requirements based on your current nationality.
| Your Nationality | Standard Requirement | With Preferred Status | Legal Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ibero-American citizen (any) | 10 years residency | 2 years | Historical/cultural ties, Article 22 |
| Portuguese citizen | 10 years residency | 2 years | Bilateral agreement |
| Andorran citizen | 10 years residency | 2 years | Bilateral agreement |
| Filipino citizen | 10 years residency | 2 years | Historical colonial ties |
| Equatorial Guinean citizen | 10 years residency | 2 years | Historical colonial ties |
| Sephardic Jewish descent | 10 years residency | 2 years (+ special CBI program below) | Article 22 / Law 12/2015 |
| Refugee (any nationality) | 10 years residency | 5 years | International protection |
| Born in Spain (any nationality) | 10 years residency | 1 year | Jus soli recognition |
| Married to Spanish national | 10 years residency | 1 year | Spousal pathway |
| Born abroad to Spanish parent/grandparent | 10 years residency | 1 year | Descent recognition |
Dual citizenship exemption: Citizens of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, and Portugal are not required to renounce their previous nationality when acquiring Spanish citizenship. All others must renounce.
Retention without renunciation: Spaniards by origin who acquire citizenship of any of the above countries automatically retain Spanish nationality. For all other countries, they must declare retention within 3 years.
Where Your Passport Opens Doors
Countries where Spanish citizens receive preferred treatment:
| Destination Country | Benefit | Standard vs. Preferred | Legal Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any Ibero-American country | Retain Spanish nationality without declaration | Must declare -> Automatic retention | Article 24 |
| Portugal | Reduced residency | 5 years -> 2 years | Bilateral agreement |
| Andorra | Retain Spanish nationality without declaration | Must declare -> Automatic retention | Bilateral agreement |
| Philippines | Retain Spanish nationality without declaration | Must declare -> Automatic retention | Historical ties |
| Any EU/EEA country | Free movement | Full right to live and work | EU citizenship |
Special Clauses & Programs
Sephardic Jewish Law of Return (Law 12/2015)
Status: Expired (application deadline was October 1, 2019; completion deadline extended to September 2021 due to COVID) Legal basis: Law 12/2015 of June 24 Effective dates: October 1, 2015 — October 1, 2019 (applications); September 2021 (completion)
Spain granted citizenship by naturalization to descendants of Sephardic Jews of Spanish origin, without residency requirement.
Requirements:
- Provide evidence of Sephardic origin (heritage certificate from Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain or similar)
- Demonstrate special connection with Spain
- Pass DELE (Spanish language) and CCSE (cultural knowledge) exams
- Exemptions: under 18, handicapped, or over 70 (from May 2017)
- No renunciation of other nationality required
Scale: ~132,000 total applications received. 67,000 in the final month alone (September 2019).
Note: This path is now closed for new applications. The 2-year residency pathway under Article 22 still applies to Sephardic Jews.
Law of Historical Memory (2007)
Status: Expired (applications accepted December 27, 2008 — December 26, 2011) Legal basis: Ley de Memoria Historica (2007)
Granted Spanish nationality by origin to descendants of Spanish Civil War exiles and persecution victims.
Eligible:
- Children born to a parent who was originally Spanish, regardless of birthplace
- Grandchildren of exiles who left Spain between July 18, 1936 and December 31, 1955
- Foreign members of the International Brigades
Scale: 446,277 applications by November 2011. ~95% Latin American, half from Cuba and Argentina. 92.5% were children of Spaniards by origin; only 6.1% were grandchildren of refugees.
Democratic Memory Law (2022)
Status: Active Legal basis: Ley de Memoria Democratica, effective October 21, 2022
Expanded the 2007 law significantly. Grants Spanish citizenship to:
- Any descendant of Spanish immigrants born before 1985 (the year Spain changed its nationality law)
- Grandchildren of Franco-era exiles (the 2007 law had excluded children of exiles who changed/renounced citizenship)
- Descendants of women who lost citizenship on marrying non-Spaniards
Estimated eligible: ~700,000 people
Investment Pathways
Citizenship by Investment (CBI)
Status: Not Available — Spain does not offer direct citizenship by investment.
Golden Visa / Residency by Investment (RBI)
Status: Modified (real estate route under review/being phased out as of 2024-2025)
| Minimum investment | 500,000 EUR (real estate) / 1M EUR (bank deposit) / 2M EUR (government bonds) |
| Residency requirement | Must renew permits; physical presence requirements |
| Path to citizenship | 10 years general naturalization (2 years if from Ibero-American country) |
| Dual citizenship | Conditional (see dual citizenship section) |
-> Full program details & updates: IMI Daily
Business & Entrepreneurship
Spain’s startup ecosystem has matured significantly, with Madrid and Barcelona emerging as Southern European tech hubs. The 2022 Startups Law introduced dedicated tax benefits and visa pathways, and the Beckham Law provides a favorable flat tax for new residents. However, bureaucratic complexity and high social security contributions remain challenges.
Company Formation
| Most common entity type | SL (Sociedad Limitada) |
| Formation timeline | 1-4 weeks |
| Formation cost | EUR 600-1,000 (notary + registry) |
| Minimum capital | EUR 3,000 (EUR 1 with express SL since 2022) |
| Online registration | Partial — CIRCE for express SL |
The SL is Spain’s equivalent of an LLC. The 2022 Ley Crea y Crece (Create and Grow Law) reduced the minimum capital to EUR 1 for express formation through the CIRCE online portal, though traditional SL still requires EUR 3,000. Foreign nationals can own 100% with no restrictions. You’ll need a NIE (foreigner identification number) before starting.
Entrepreneur & Startup Visas
Entrepreneur Visa (Ley de Emprendedores 14/2013):
- For non-EU founders creating innovative or high economic impact businesses in Spain
- Requires a favorable report from ENISA or another authorized body
- 1-year residence authorization, renewable for 2 years
- Path to permanent residence after 5 years
Digital Nomad Visa (2023):
- For remote workers employed by or contracting with non-Spanish companies
- Must earn at least 80% of income from outside Spain
- 1-year visa, renewable up to 5 years
- Can apply from within Spain
Beckham Law (Special Tax Regime for Inbound Workers):
- Flat 24% income tax rate on Spanish-source income (up to EUR 600K) for 6 years
- Available to new residents who haven’t lived in Spain for 5+ years
- Extended to entrepreneurs and digital nomads under 2022 reforms
Tax Overview
| Corporate tax rate | 25% (15% for new companies in first 2 profitable years) |
| VAT (IVA) | 21% standard (10% and 4% reduced rates) |
| Capital gains tax | 19-28% (progressive scale) |
| Personal income tax (top rate) | 47% (varies by region, up to 54% in some) |
| Tax treaty network | 90+ countries |
The Startups Law (Ley de Startups 2022) provides qualifying companies with a reduced 15% corporate tax rate for 4 years, stock option tax deferral up to EUR 50K/year, and simplified accounting. Spain also offers Patent Box deduction (60% reduction on income from IP).
Banking & Financial Infrastructure
- Major banks: Santander, BBVA, CaixaBank, Sabadell
- Digital banks: Revolut, N26, Bnext (Spanish fintech)
- Stripe is fully available in Spain
- SEPA transfers for EU payments
- No foreign exchange controls
- NIE required to open any bank account
- Spain has one of the highest card payment adoption rates in Europe
Key Programs & Incentives
- ENISA — government agency providing participative loans (EUR 25K-1.5M) to startups, no collateral required
- ICO (Instituto de Credito Oficial) — government-backed credit lines for SMEs
- Barcelona Activa — one of Europe’s leading municipal business support agencies
- Google for Startups Campus Madrid — free coworking and accelerator programs
- Lanzadera (Valencia) — accelerator founded by Juan Roig (Mercadona), one of Spain’s largest
- South Summit (Madrid) — major European startup conference
- Wayra (Telefonica) — corporate accelerator with Madrid hub
- Zona Franca de Barcelona — free trade zone with tax incentives
- Canary Islands Special Zone (ZEC) — 4% corporate tax rate for qualifying companies
Loss of Nationality
Voluntary Renunciation
Spanish nationals of 18+ who reside outside Spain and possess another nationality may expressly renounce Spanish nationality.
Involuntary Loss
Spaniards by origin:
- Voluntarily acquire another nationality (outside preferred countries) and fail to declare retention within 3 years -> loss
- Exclusively use a foreign nationality conferred before adulthood without declaring retention -> loss after 3 years post-emancipation
- Minors born outside Spain who hold another country’s citizenship lose it if they don’t declare retention within 3 years after turning 18
Exception: Loss rules do NOT apply if Spain is at war.
Spaniards not by origin additionally lose nationality if they:
- Exclusively use their previous nationality for 3 years (except treaty countries)
- Voluntarily serve in foreign military or hold foreign government office against Spanish Government prohibition
- Lied or committed fraud during application
Recovery / Resumption
Former citizens can recover Spanish nationality by becoming legal residents in Spain. Emigrants and their children are not required to return to Spain to recover nationality.
Practical Guide
Documents Needed
Birth certificate (apostilled, translated to Spanish)
Valid passport
Criminal background check (Spain + country of origin)
Empadronamiento (municipal registration proving residency)
DELE A2 certificate (unless from Spanish-speaking country)
CCSE exam pass
Proof of financial means
Marriage certificate (if spousal pathway)
Sephardic heritage certificate (if applicable)
Proof of ancestor’s exile/Spanish origin (if Historical/Democratic Memory pathway)
Where to Submit
- Inside Spain: Registro Civil (Civil Registry) of your municipality
- From abroad: Spanish consulate/embassy
- Online portal: Sede Electronica del Ministerio de Justicia
Processing Time
Officially: under 1 year. Reality: 1-5+ years due to massive backlog. 276,000+ pending as of end 2022.
Fees
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Nationality application | ~100 EUR |
| DELE A2 exam | ~130 EUR |
| CCSE exam | ~85 EUR |
| Criminal background check | ~20-40 EUR |
| Document translation (per document) | ~30-80 EUR |
| Apostille (per document) | ~15-25 EUR |
| Total estimate | ~400-700 EUR |
Related Countries
- Portugal — Iberian mutual preference, Sephardic Law of Return
- Mexico — Ibero-American bloc, 2-year residency
- Argentina — Ibero-American bloc, 2-year residency, major Democratic Memory Law applicant pool
- Cuba — Ibero-American bloc, major Historical Memory Law applicant pool
- Colombia — Ibero-American bloc, 2-year residency
- Philippines — Historical ties, 2-year residency, dual citizenship exemption
- Equatorial Guinea — Historical ties, 2-year residency, dual citizenship exemption
- Andorra — 2-year residency, dual citizenship exemption
- Israel — Sephardic Jewish community overlap