Spanish citizenship
News, information and practical advice about Spanish citizenship.
PP aims to revoke Spanish citizenship of foreigners who commit crimes
Spain's conservative People's Party continues to toughen its stance on migration by proposing a law that would revoke the Spanish citizenship of naturalised foreigners who commit serious crimes in the country.
Spain to give Sahrawis citizenship despite tensions with Morocco
Spanish lawmakers on Thursday backed a law granting citizenship to tens of thousands of Western Saharans who were born when Spain ran the disputed territory now largely controlled by Morocco.
Spain cuts voting rights of foreigners naturalised via Grandchildren's Law
Spain's Supreme Court has provisionally suspended the voting rights of many individuals who've obtained Spanish citizenship via the Democratic Memory Law, commonly known as the ‘Grandchildren’s Law’.
How good does my Spanish language level have to be to get citizenship?
If you’re a non-native Spanish speaker who wants to obtain Spanish nationality after ten years of residency, you will have to sit a Spanish language exam if you want to obtain citizenship. Is your Spanish good enough?
Spanish citizenship concessions 'treble' under Sánchez, data shows
Though the headline figures show a trebling under the current Socialist government, in reality the data is more nuanced and the Sánchez government's high rate of citizenship concessions isn't out of keeping with recent history.
Spain's Congress approves granting citizenship to Sahrawis
The Spanish Congress has taken another step towards granting Spanish citizenship to Sahrawi people from Western Sahara, with a close vote clearing the way for thousands from the former colony to gain Spanish passports.
How Spain's far right is struggling to define what being Spanish is
Far-right party Vox has included a 'national priority' clause in regional agreements with the centre-right Popular Party. But what is it and why can't the party itself agree who actually counts as Spanish?
Is it worth getting a lawyer for your Spanish citizenship application?
If you're eligible and are thinking about applying for Spanish citizenship, should you get a lawyer to help you or can you do it yourself? And how much would it cost to get legal help?
Spain grants citizenship to 300,000 foreigners in one year
Nearly 300,000 foreigners obtained Spanish nationality in 2025, the highest figure since official statistics began more than a decade ago, authorities said Thursday.
Do I have to give up my US citizenship if I become Spanish?
If you're an American who's eligible for Spanish citizenship, you may be considering what this will mean for your US citizenship. Can you keep it? Should you renounce US citizenship? And is Donald Trump planning to change citizenship laws in some way?
How long are waiting times for Spanish citizenship in 2026?
Have you applied for Spanish citizenship recently and are awaiting a response, or are you considering applying this year? Find out how long it might take to get an answer in 2026.
Spanish consulates struggle with over half a million citizenship applications
Following the deadline for Spanish citizenship applications via the so-called 'Grandchildren's Law', Spain's consulates around the world are struggling to process the flood in applications.
Will I lose my British citizenship if I become Spanish?
Are you a Brit who's thinking of applying for Spanish citizenship but you're concerned whether this will mean losing British citizenship? The rules about holding onto both nationalities can be confusing, so here’s what Spanish and British law says.
12 must-read articles before applying for Spanish citizenship
If you've lived in Spain for the required amount of time and are thinking of applying for Spanish citizenship, here are 12 essential articles to guide you through the process and clear up some common doubts.
How to avoid 8 common mistakes when applying for Spanish citizenship
Though Spain has granted citizenship to more people than other European countries in recent years, the application process is incredibly lengthy and fraught with pitfalls. Here are the most common mistakes and how to avoid them.
How many foreigners fail the culture and language exams for Spanish citizenship?
Thinking about applying for Spanish citizenship but worried about the exams? Here's how many people pass the culture and language tests required to become a Spanish national.
Spain's far right calls for review of a million citizenships granted under Sánchez
As rhetoric on immigration in Spain continues escalating, the far-right Vox party has called for an 'audit' of Spanish citizenships granted by the Sánchez government.
Does being born in Spain give you Spanish residency rights for life?
Being born in Spain gives you the life-long right to apply for Spanish nationality after a year of residency, but if you’re a foreigner who left Spain as a child or later, do you also have the automatic right to move back to the country?
How Spain has paved the way to citizenship for descendants of Franco-era exiles
Spain has received a surge of citizenship applications from descendants of emigrants who fled the country's 1930s civil war and Francisco Franco's dictatorship under a scheme aimed at addressing historical injustices.
How to make sure you don’t lose Spanish citizenship if you live abroad
If you've acquired Spanish citizenship but end up living in a country other than Spain, you may be rightfully wondering if time spent outside of the country, or certain actions while overseas, can result in you losing your nationality.
How to check the status of your Spanish citizenship application
If you meet all the requirements and have applied for Spanish citizenship, it can be a long and frustrating wait to find out if it has been granted or not. Fortunately, there are several ways you can check on the status of your application.
Spain to grant citizenship to 170 descendants of International Brigades
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has announced that his government will grant Spanish citizenship to almost 170 descendants of the International Brigades, foreigners who fought for the Republicans side during the Spanish Civil War.
How good would my Spanish have to be to get citizenship if the PP reached power?
Spain's opposition party recently announced they will raise the language level needed to obtain Spanish citizenship if they get into government in 2027. So just how fluent in Spanish would foreign applicants have to be?