10 de January, 2024
Are you married to a Spanish citizen and wish to apply for citizenship? Spanish citizenship by marriage is actually a form of residency-based citizenship. In other words, the process is only possible for spouses who, in addition to maintaining formal relationships with a Spanish citizen, also reside in Spain for at least one year before starting the process.
We will explain below all the details, requirements, and how to formalize your application for Spanish citizenship through this route.
Yes, it is possible to apply for Spanish citizenship by marriage when one of the spouses is Spanish. However, unlike the process for Portuguese citizenship through marriage, Spain requires the applicant to reside in the country for at least one year before applying for citizenship. Residency is facilitated by marriage through family grouping. The spouse is also allowed to work while waiting for the process to begin.
No. Spanish law does not include couples living in civil unions.
The main documents required for the application are:
The application must be made by the Spanish spouse at the Spanish Ministry of Justice.
Transcription of the marriage certificate is free.
The fee for applying for citizenship is 100 euros.
Consider also the costs of sworn translations, apostilles, and fees for the DELE and CCSE exams.
You may also invest in hiring specialized consultancy services like Atlantic Bridge to assist you in the process.
Currently, the average processing time is one year, which is the legal response time. Depending on each case, this period may be extended. However, after 12 months, it is possible to file an appeal that, in practice, speeds up the process.
Yes, as long as they were married at the time of the spouse’s death.
After the marriage ends (even informally), it will no longer be possible to apply for citizenship.
According to the law, non-native Spaniards who acquired Spanish nationality through residency may lose it if:
Regarding the last item, it is worth mentioning that the Spanish government is quite strict on this matter, conducting surprise visits and thorough interviews to ensure that the marriage is not fraudulent! If irregularities are detected, citizenship is revoked, even after it has been granted, which can result in fines and imprisonment for those involved.
Spanish citizenship offers several advantages, including the ability to reside and work in all countries that are part of the European Union. Additionally, it allows entry as a tourist in over 160 countries without the need for a prior visa application. Click here to learn more.
Obtaining Spanish citizenship does not necessarily imply the loss of the original citizenship. It will depend on your country of origin. In the case of Brazil, we can affirm that the loss of original citizenship does not occur.
However, Spaniards residing abroad who solely use the foreign nationality obtained before emancipation may lose Spanish nationality.
Finally, after the solemn oath, the citizen will finally be considered a Spaniard! At this moment, they will receive their new birth certificate and will then be able to apply for the Spanish passport.
If you are considering living in Spain or applying for Spanish citizenship, Atlantic Bridge is ready to help you on this journey. Count on us to turn your plans into reality.
Author:
Silvia Resende