Spanish Citizenship: Conditions for Obtaining a Second Passport in 2026

Spanish citizenship offers the opportunity to improve one’s quality of life by relocating to a country that is a member of the European Union. Spanish nationality can be obtained on the basis of birth, adoption by a Spanish citizen, marriage, family reunification, business activities, as well as property purchase. The timeframe for acquiring the status depends on the grounds and the applicant’s circumstances and ranges from 1 to 10 years.

A Spanish passport is a document that confirms European Union citizenship and grants its holders the right to freedom of movement and residence in any EU country, the ability to work and conduct business, access modern healthcare services, and other privileges.

Benefits of Spanish Citizenship

This status provides its holder with the following privileges:

• participation in political life;
• legal residence in any EU member state;
• visa-free travel to 190 countries;
• the ability to establish and run a business, as well as to work officially within the EU;
• access to healthcare services under a unified insurance system;
• social support;
• favorable loans and mortgages at low interest rates.

Law on Citizenship

Article 20 of the Civil Code states that the following persons may apply for a national identity document:

• individuals who were previously or at the time of application under the parental care of a Spanish citizen;
• those whose mother or father originally held citizenship of the Kingdom and were born on its territory;
• applicants over the age of 18 who were adopted by Spanish citizens.

According to Article 21, citizenship is granted by a letter of naturalization, provided that the interested party has exceptional circumstances. The application may be submitted by:

• a legal representative of a minor;
• an applicant over the age of 18;
• an applicant aged 14 or older, provided they have a legal representative.

Article 22 states that when applying for citizenship by residence, the applicant must have lived in the Kingdom for at least 10 years. A period of 5 years is sufficient for refugees, while 2 years is enough for applicants from Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, and Portugal, as well as for Sephardic Jews (a sub-ethnic group formed on the Iberian Peninsula). A residence period of one year is sufficient for the following persons:

• individuals born in Spain;
• those born in the country who did not exercise their right to choose citizenship in due time;
• individuals legally under the guardianship or custody of a Spanish citizen;
• widows or widowers of a person of Spanish origin;
• individuals married to a Spanish citizen for at least one year (provided they have not lived separately);
• persons born outside the country to a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent who was originally Spanish.

Ways to Obtain Spanish Citizenship

Spain offers several pathways to citizenship, each designed to accommodate different categories of applicants depending on their background, ties to the country, and long-term plans. Whether through ancestry, investment, or prolonged residence, individuals may choose the most suitable route based on their personal circumstances and eligibility. Below are the main ways to obtain Spanish citizenship.

• Repatriation.
  Persons of Spanish origin have the right to obtain citizenship through a simplified procedure. This category includes applicants whose father or mother is Spanish; individuals born in the Kingdom (to foreign parents or stateless persons); as well as those whose origin is not established and whose first place of residence was the Kingdom. It is sufficient for the applicant to have lived there for at least 1 year.
• Investment.
  Making significant investments in the economy allows an applicant to obtain a Spanish residence permit (it is important to renew this permit in a timely manner). After 10 years of residence under a residence permit, it is possible to apply for a national passport. As for the amount of investment, it must be at least 2 million EUR when investing in government bonds, 1 million EUR — in shares or equity participation in Spanish companies engaged in commercial activities, 1 million EUR — in investment funds or bank deposits in financial institutions. It is also possible to purchase real estate worth at least 500,000 EUR per applicant.
• Naturalization.
  Citizenship may be acquired on the basis of long-term permanent residence. To stay in the country, it is necessary to have valid grounds: education, employment or business activities, investment, or the presence of relatives. Applicants over the age of 14 must submit an application, take an oath, and renounce their previous passport (this requirement does not apply to Sephardic Jews and applicants from Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, and Portugal). The processing time and decision depend on the circumstances of each individual case.

Investment

To obtain Spanish citizenship on the basis of investment, the applicant must first obtain a residence permit. It is not possible to purchase a passport through investment, but it can be acquired after a certain period of residence. After 5 years of living as a temporary resident, the investor is granted permanent residence, and after an additional 5 years — a Spanish passport.

There are various investment options: government bonds, shares, equity participation in companies, investment funds, bank deposits, business projects, and real estate. The applicant must comply with tax and social obligations.

Depending on the type of investment, the investor will need the following documents:

• a certificate from a financial institution confirming that the applicant has invested 1 million EUR in securities;
• a certificate confirming the retention of government bonds;
• a notarized document confirming ownership of unlisted shares or equity participation during the previous reporting period;
• a certificate from the management company confirming the investment;
• a certificate from a financial institution confirming the maintenance or renewal of the deposit;
• a certificate of ownership of real estate;
• a positive report from the Directorate-General for International Trade and Investment of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism (in the case of investment in a business project).

Business

Opening a company or a branch of a foreign firm serves as a basis for obtaining a temporary residence permit. Initially, the project is evaluated by experts from the Directorate-General for International Trade and Investment. At the stage of applying for a residence permit, in addition to the standard set of documents, it is necessary to provide proof of business registration. The permit is valid for 2 years and can be renewed for the same period. An entrepreneur may apply for citizenship after 10 years of legal residence in the country.

Real Estate Purchase

The acquisition of real estate serves as a basis for obtaining a residence permit, with the possibility of subsequently acquiring citizenship. This option is also considered a form of investment, with a minimum property value requirement (from 500,000 EUR). Both residential and commercial properties may be purchased.

During the process of obtaining a residence permit with the right to later apply for a Spanish passport, it is important to comply with certain additional requirements: the funds must be earned outside the country, and their legal origin must be confirmed. The residence permit is valid for 2 years and, if extended, remains valid for the same period. After 5 years of residence under a temporary permit, it is possible to apply for permanent residence, and after the same period — for citizenship.

Employment

Working in the country is one of the grounds for obtaining a residence permit with the possibility of extension and subsequent acquisition of citizenship after 10 years of residence. It is important to meet a number of requirements:

• continuous residence in the Kingdom;
• provision by the employer of a signed employment contract guaranteeing ongoing work for the entire validity period of the permit;
• the applicant must have the necessary training and professional qualifications (if required) for carrying out a specific type of activity.

Education

If a foreign national enrolls in a higher education institution, they may obtain a temporary residence permit. Upon completion of studies, it is necessary to use another basis to apply for a new permit — for example, employment. Subsequently, subject to continuous residence in the country, it is possible to submit an application and obtain a national identity document.

Origin

This ground applies to individuals born in the Kingdom, as well as those whose father, mother, grandmother, or grandfather were Spanish. To apply for citizenship, at least one year of legal residence in the country is required. In addition to standard documents, it is necessary to provide proof of birth in the country or confirmation of Spanish ancestry.

Return of Sephardic Jews

Descendants of Jews who lived on the Iberian Peninsula may qualify for a relatively fast acquisition of second citizenship. One of the key requirements is residence in the country for at least 2 years. As an additional mandatory document for obtaining a residence permit, proof of Sephardic ancestry is required (for example, a birth certificate of one of the ancestors).

Family Reunification

Invited spouses and children of a resident or Spanish citizen may obtain citizenship status on the basis of family reunification. In this case, the required period of residence before submitting an application is reduced to one year. The applicant must meet the following requirements:

• regular residence in the country;
• the applicant must have health insurance issued by an institution authorized to operate in the Kingdom.

In addition to the main set of documents, proof of family ties must be provided.

Marriage

Applicants who are married to a citizen of the Kingdom may qualify for an accelerated procedure for obtaining a Spanish passport. This requires continuous cohabitation with the spouse in the country for at least one year. It should be taken into account that after submitting the application, a migration officer will conduct a check to verify the authenticity of the marriage.

Birth

A person born on Spanish territory automatically becomes a citizen if their parents hold residence status, if the parents are unknown, or if they are citizens of the Kingdom. As for obtaining an identity document upon application, this is permitted after one year of continuous residence under a residence permit or visa. The applicant must provide the applicant’s birth certificate.

Option (Adoption)

From the moment of adoption by a Spanish citizen, a foreign national under the age of 18 becomes a citizen (if older, the individual may choose citizenship within 2 years after adoption). The application may be submitted by:

• a legal representative of an applicant under 14 years of age;
• an adult applicant;
• an applicant over 14 years old with the assistance of a legal representative.

It is mandatory to provide a document confirming the adoption of the foreign national.

Required Documents for Obtaining Spanish Citizenship

When applying for citizenship, the following documents must be provided:

• legalized birth certificate;
• identity document;
• authorization from a civil registry official if the applicant is under 14 years of age (also indicating the place of residence of their legal representatives);
• residence permit or permanent residence card;
• certificate confirming a permanent place of residence.

Refusal to Obtain Citizenship

A negative decision on an application may be issued for the following reasons:

• provision of false or inaccurate information by the applicant. In most cases, submitting incorrect data makes it impossible to reapply;
• failure to meet the required period of prior residence. If the applicant has lived in the country for too short a time, it is sufficient to extend the residence status and reapply after a certain period;
• insufficient level of integration into society. If a foreign national has not adapted to life in Spain, additional time for integration may be required;
• unsatisfactory level of proficiency in the official language. Passing a language test is a mandatory step. If the result does not meet the requirements, it is necessary to improve language skills and submit a new application.

Second Citizenship in Spain

The right to dual citizenship is granted to nationals of Portugal, the Philippines, Andorra, Equatorial Guinea, and Ibero-American countries. A key feature of this option is that there is no requirement to renounce the original identity document.

As for second citizenship, it may be obtained by applicants from non-EU countries. Although the Kingdom formally requires renunciation of previous citizenship, the identity document itself is not withdrawn. As a result, when crossing borders, it is sufficient to present the passport of the relevant country.

Procedure for Obtaining a Spanish Passport

To obtain an identity document, the applicant must meet the requirements applicable in their specific case — enter the country on a valid basis and reside there legally for the required period. The further steps are as follows:

• preparation of the full set of documents and submission to the civil registry office;
• passing exams on knowledge of the Spanish language, culture, politics, and history;
• renunciation of previous citizenship (except for nationals of countries exempt from this requirement) after receiving a positive decision on granting citizenship;
• taking an oath to the King and a pledge to comply with the Constitution and laws;
• registration of the acquired status in the civil registry, issuance of an identity document, and obtaining an international passport.

Spanish Passport: Visa-Free Countries

Spain has been a member of the European Union since January 1, 1986. In addition, it is part of the Schengen Area. Spanish citizens can travel freely within the Schengen Area and the EU without the need for additional permits or border control, as well as to most countries worldwide.

Assistance in Obtaining Spanish Citizenship

Turning to qualified migration lawyers helps increase the chances of obtaining the desired status, avoid potential issues, and take into account all procedural nuances in each individual case. The services of specialists include:

• preparation of the document package and assistance with translation into Spanish, legalization, and apostille certification;
• detailed consultation at all stages of obtaining citizenship;
• accompaniment of the client during the submission of the application to the civil registry office;
• provision of training materials for preparation for exams on the Spanish language, culture, history, and politics;
• accompanying the applicant to the civil registry office at the place of residence for passport issuance.

Reviews on Obtaining a Spanish Passport

Obtaining the status independently may be accompanied by difficulties due to the applicant’s lack of knowledge of the specifics of the citizenship procedure. However, turning to a specialized company allows all nuances to be taken into account and helps achieve the desired result more quickly. In general, applicants describe the process positively: preparation of the application file, trips for submitting documents, and other processes are carried out with relative ease. Particular attention should be paid to exam preparation, as an unsatisfactory result may lead to refusal.