By the HSBC Global Survey, Spain is among the top 5 nations for expats. Expats are drawn to it by its robust economy, well-developed amenities, and mild Summer season. The cost of living is also lower than in other Western European nations.
You must stay in Spain for ten years before you can apply for a passport. You acquire a (short-term) residency card at the beginning of the process and a legal residency permit at the end. There are techniques to streamline and expedite the legal process. The quickest and easiest approach to obtaining a Spanish passport is described in this article.
Method 1: Naturalization
The candidate must first secure a temporary residency card before applying for a permanent resident status license to become a national through naturalization. It takes at least one decade to complete the procedure.
The naturalization procedure is more difficult than other ways to get authorization. The candidate is required to repeatedly affirm the precise reason for their life in Spain, such as a job or study, during the entire application process.
The family and kids of the candidate will require their licenses. Lastly, due to the high demand for Spanish residency cards, the government sets a yearly quota to cap the number of applications. As a result, it may take considerably longer than 10 years to finish the process.
Method 2: Investment
A passport cannot be obtained through investing right away. Before being granted a permanent residence visa, the candidate first gets a provisional one. They are eligible to request Spanish citizenship after ten years.
Rich individuals who want to relocate to Spain or take their entire family on a visa-free trip throughout the EU should use this route.
The following steps must be taken to receive the passport via investment:
- Invest to receive a residency permit (golden visa).
- After at least five years, the investor can apply for a legal residency license.
- The owner of lawful permanent may apply for Spanish ID five years after receiving it.
Method 3: Family reunification
Close relatives, such as a resident’s partner, parents, and any offspring, can apply for a green card on a special basis without being constrained by the government’s quota.
The applicants’ family members are eligible to submit their citizenship applications. Typically, after ten years of continuous residence. This time frame is reduced for a Spanish citizen’s spouse and kids to up to one year.
Method 4: Marriage
After a year of cohabitation in Spain following marriage, a couple can apply for a passport. It is crucial to have legal entry into the nation, as evidenced by a valid visa or residency permission. If they were cohabitating at the time of death, widows, and widowers are also subject to this law. If individuals intend to stay permanently in the country, they can become a citizen in less than a year.
Method 5: By origin
In Spain, the “right of blood” is applicable. In other words, if at least one parent holds Spanish nationality, the child is regarded as having Spanish ancestry. If either of the candidate’s parents was born in Spain or the kid was fostered by a national, the applicant may also be granted a passport. If they fulfill these requirements, adult foreigners may also seek citizenship.
Method 6: By guardianship
A person may apply to become a citizen if they are under the supervision of Spanish people or organizations. Instead of the usual 10 years, they only need to reside there consistently for one year. The primary prerequisite is that the supervision must have begun at least two years before the passport request.
Ending note
The two primary routes to Spanish nationality are investment and naturalization. If a person has been legally residing in Spain for ten years and adheres to all applicable rules, they are eligible to apply for a passport. The process is streamlined and the likelihood of being turned down significantly when applying for citizenship through investment. The remaining techniques are only appropriate in certain situations and are dependent on unique particular situations.
