Spanish citizenship by marriage

For foreigners who marry Spanish natives, obtaining Spanish citizenship by marriage is a possible route to do so. The category of Spanish citizenship acquired through marriage, however, does not exist. You do not acquire Spanish citizenship through marriage to a citizen of Spain. However, it might offer a chance to finally qualify for Spanish citizenship through the naturalization procedure.

The usual naturalization procedure would need to be followed in order to obtain Spanish citizenship by marriage.

How to get citizenship by marriage in Spain

Here is a description of the procedure:

1. A valid union. Getting lawfully married to a Spanish citizen is the first step. According to Spanish law, the marriage must be acknowledged and registered.
2. Requirement for residency. Prior to submitting an application for Spanish citizenship, you must have lived legally in Spain for at least a year after being married. If you have children with your Spanish spouse or if there are extraordinary circumstances, such as proving a close cultural or professional link to Spain, this condition may be eliminated.
3. Requirements for Spanish language and culture. You must be able to speak and understand some basic Spanish, as well as comprehend Spanish culture, society, and constitutional principles. Commonly, this is accomplished through the CCSE (Constitutional and Sociocultural Knowledge of Spain) exam and the DELE A2 Spanish language exam.
4. Documentation. Gather the required documents, which may include your marriage certificate, passports, proof of legal residency in Spain, and any other documents specified by the authorities. These documents will need to be submitted with your citizenship application.
5. Application submission. Complete the application form for Spanish citizenship and submit it, along with the supporting documents, to the competent authority. The application is typically submitted to the Civil Registry or the corresponding administrative office in the province where you reside.
6. Background check and processing. The Spanish authorities will conduct a background check and review your application. They may request additional documents or information if necessary.
7. Approval and citizenship oath. If your application is approved, you will be invited to attend a ceremony to take the oath of allegiance to Spain. After taking the oath, you will receive your Spanish citizenship certificate.

Documentation and Application

Here is a general overview of the required documentation and the application procedure:

Required Documentation.

1. 1. Marriage certificate
   2. Passports
   3. Proof of legal residence
   4. Proof of marital relationship
   5. Spanish language and culture certification
   6. Criminal record certificate
   7. Other documents

Application Procedure:

1. 1. Complete the application form
   2. Compile and organize documents
   3. Submit the application
   4. Pay the application fee
   5. Attend an interview or provide additional information
   6. Await the decision
   7. Citizenship oath

Dual Citizenship

Dual citizenship is normally permitted in Spain, therefore you can keep your first citizenship while also obtaining Spanish citizenship by naturalization or another acceptable process.