Being married to a Spanish citizen can shorten the path to naturalization, but it doesn’t guarantee citizenship.
To acquire Spanish citizenship by marriage, applicants must still reside legally in Spain and meet integration and documentation standards under Spanish nationality law.
In this article, you’ll learn:
- How to get citizenship in Spain by marriage
- How fast can I get Spanish citizenship?
- What are the benefits of having Spanish citizenship?
- Can Spain allow dual citizenship?
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The information in this article is for general guidance only. It does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice, and is not a recommendation or solicitation to invest. Some facts may have changed since the time of writing.
Can You Get Spanish Citizenship by Marriage?
Yes, marriage to a Spanish citizen can significantly shorten the path to Spanish citizenship, but it does not automatically grant it. Under Spanish nationality law, the standard residency requirement for naturalization is 10 years.
However, if you’re married to a Spanish citizen, you’re eligible to apply after the required duration of continuous legal residence in Spain.
This shortened timeline applies only if you have the residency permit in Spain and your marriage is registered either in Spain or officially recognized by Spanish authorities.
Simply marrying a Spanish citizen abroad, without meeting the residency requirement, does not entitle you to citizenship.
Requirements for Spanish Citizenship by Marriage
- Valid, legally recognized marriage to a Spanish citizen.
- At least 1 year of continuous legal residence in Spain prior to application. This must be as a legal resident; not on a tourist visa.
- Proof of integration into Spanish society, including:
- Basic Spanish language proficiency (usually A2 level or higher)
- Knowledge of Spanish culture, history, and institutions, typically assessed through the CCSE (Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de España) exam
- A clean criminal record in Spain and your home country
- Cohabitation with the Spanish spouse may be reviewed to confirm the legitimacy and continuity of the marital relationship.
These requirements reflect Spain’s emphasis on genuine integration, not just legal formality.
How Long Does It Take to Get Citizenship in Spain Through Marriage?
After completing one year of legal residence, applicants must prepare supporting documents, pass integration exams, and formally submit their application.
From submission to approval, processing typically takes 1 to 2 years, depending on the regional civil registry office, completeness of documentation, and administrative workload.
In some cases, delays can stretch the overall timeline to 2 to 3 years from arrival in Spain to final citizenship approval.
Benefits of Marrying a Spanish Citizen
- Access to a Spanish passport, which ranks among the strongest globally with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 176 countries.
- The right to live, work, and study across all EU/EEA member states and Switzerland, as Spanish citizens are EU citizens.
- Full access to Spain’s public services, including universal healthcare, tuition-subsidized education, and legal protections under Spanish and EU law.
- The ability to pass Spanish citizenship to children, granting them the same rights and benefits, including future access to EU opportunities.
Does Spain Allow Dual Citizenship?
Yes, but Spain has a selective approach to dual citizenship:
- It officially allows dual citizenship only to individuals from certain countries, primarily Latin American nations, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, France, and Portugal including individuals who can demonstrate they are Sephardic Jews. Citizens of these countries can retain their original nationality when naturalizing as Spanish.
- For applicants from other countries, Spain generally requires formal renunciation of prior citizenship as part of the naturalization process. However, in practice, enforcement can vary, and some dual nationals retain both passports without issue.
This policy can create legal or bureaucratic complications, especially if your home country also has restrictions on dual nationality or if Spain’s records show conflicting nationality status.
Conclusion
Spanish citizenship by marriage offers a significantly faster route to naturalization, but only when paired with legal residence in Spain and strict compliance with integration requirements.
While marriage alone does not grant automatic citizenship, it reduces the residency period to just one year, making it one of the shortest naturalization tracks in Europe.
For foreign spouses willing to settle in Spain and navigate its bureaucratic process, this path opens the door to EU mobility, full civic rights, and the ability to pass on citizenship to future generations.
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