The Final Word: expert advice for foreign residents

HOW TO ACQUIRE SPANISH NATIONALITY

ARTICLE SUPPLIED BY WELEX LAWYERS & ACCOUNTANTS

Spanish nationality can be acquired by different means, as stated in Spanish law. These cover birth, adoption, choice, naturalisation or exceptional circumstances, always in accordance with the government’s discretionary Royal Decree criteria. Nationality can also be acquired by legal residence in Spain under the terms established by law. Once the circumstances that originate the right to nationality have occurred and, before its acquisition, the interested party must appear at the relevant public administration to carry out a series of obligatory actions.

Common requirements for acquiring Spanish nationality by choice, naturalisation or residence:

1. That the individual is older than 14 years of age and capable of providing a declaration on his or her own behalf, and that they swear or promise loyalty to the monarch and obedience to Spain’s constitution and laws.

2. That the person renounces his or her former nationality. This requirement does not apply to nationals of countries mentioned in Article 24(1) or to those with Sephardic origins in Spain. 3. That the acquisition is registered in the Spanish Civil Registry. Failure to appear before the Civil Registrar, or a lack of statements to this effect, will result in the administrative file for acquisition of Spanish nationality being closed, leading the interested party – in the best of cases – back to the starting point.

If you have initiated or want to initiate a procedure for acquiring Spanish nationality, at Welex a lawyer specialising in nationality applications will be able to assist you.

Welex Lawyers & Accountants C/ Ramón Gómez de la Serna 23, Local 7, Marbella Tel. (+34) 952 775 521 info@welex.es www.welex.es