In this article we want to offer you useful information on how a Russian can become a Spanish citizen. We will look at all the ways to obtain a Spanish citizen passport:
- by origin,
- through marriage,
- based on guardianship,
- through naturalization,
- based on Residence permit in Spain,
- through investments.
It should also be added that the only differences in the rights and responsibilities of residents and citizens are only that Spanish citizens have the opportunity to work in the civil service and the right to vote in elections. In all other cases, residents have the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of the country depending on their type of residence permit.
How to become a Spanish citizen based on a residence permit
This is the standard and most common way to become a Spanish citizen. Those who have resided legally and continuously in the country for 10 years can apply for citizenship based on residence. It is worth considering that the time spent in Spain is student residence, this experience is not taken into account.
You receive your first residence permit for a year, then you extend it twice for 2 years. After 5 years you will receive a permanent residence permit, and after another 5 years you can begin preparing documents and passing citizenship exams.
How to become a Spanish citizen by descent
If one of the parents is a Spanish citizen, the child is automatically granted Spanish citizenship. The place of birth of the child does not matter.
Children born in Spain from parents with a residence permit can apply for citizenship. To do this, the child needs to live legally in the country for a year, then the parents can apply for citizenship for him. Parents themselves do not receive any advantages in obtaining citizenship.
Spanish citizenship can also be obtained if one of the parents was previously born in Spain or if the parents or grandparents were of Spanish origin. To do this, you must live in the country on the basis of a residence permit for at least a year.
Persons under 18 years of age who are adopted by Spaniards also receive Spanish ancestry. If the adoptee is over 18 years of age, he can choose Spanish citizenship by descent within two years of the decision to adopt.
How to become a Spanish citizen through marriage
Foreigners who are married to Spanish citizens have the right to become a Spanish citizen through an accelerated procedure.
It happens like this: a marriage can be registered in Russia or Spain; after registration, the foreign spouse moves to Spain on the basis of a residence permit for family reunification.
Such a residence gives the right get a Spanish education and get a job.
After a year of legal residence in Spain and preservation of marriage, you need to pass an exam and confirm your knowledge of the Spanish language at least at level A2, as well as pass an exam on knowledge of the basics of the state and Spanish culture. After successfully passing the exams, the spouse of the Spanish citizen will receive Spanish citizenship.
Our company will help you obtain a Spanish residence permit through marriage. For more information about what is included in the service, please follow the link:
How to become a Spanish citizen based on guardianship
Persons under 18 years of age who are adopted by Spaniards can also claim Spanish citizenship. You can become a Spanish citizen on the basis of guardianship after two years.
If the adoptee is over 18 years of age, he or she may choose Spanish citizenship within two years of acceptance of the adoption.
How to become a Spanish citizen through naturalization
This form of obtaining a Spanish passport is not subject to general rules. Persons interested in acquiring Spanish citizenship through naturalization must demonstrate exceptional circumstances that make them worthy of Spanish citizenship. Thus, they do not fall under the standard requirements for other people interested in becoming Spanish.
A clear example of citizenship through naturalization is the citizenship granted to athletes who represent or intend to represent Spain in international competitions.
Is it possible to become a Spanish citizen based on investment?
It is possible to become a Spanish citizen through investment, but in this case we are talking about the standard route to obtaining Spanish citizenship, described in the first paragraph of this article. Spain, unlike some other countries, does not provide citizenship by investment, but investors can obtain a residence permit, on the basis of which citizenship can be obtained in the future, in the following ways:
- invest in real estate (from 500,000 €);
- invest in government bonds (from €2,000,000);
- put money on deposit in a Spanish bank or purchase shares of Spanish companies (from €1,000,000).
The most popular way to obtain an investor residence is to purchase real estate.
First, the investor receives a Golden Visa for 1 year, and then a residence permit. The initial residence permit is issued for 2 years, after which it can be extended for another 2 years, and then exchanged for a permanent residence permit for 5 years. After 10 years of residence, the investor and his family members have the opportunity to become Spanish citizens.
Alegria company provides assistance in arranging an investor residence in Spain for you and your family. More details about the service –
ВНЖ инвестора в Испании. Золотая виза в Испании – получение в Alegria Service
The advantages of this method are that the investor and his family members have the right to do business, work and study in Spain.
Typically our clients buy several types of real estate. This could be a house, land, several apartments or commercial premises. Investors have the right to rent out real estate and make money from it.
There are few conditions for participation in the investor program, the main one being ownership of real estate worth €500,000 or more for 5 years. During this period, the investor can sell his property and buy a new one.
The information in our article is of a general nature, and in order to choose the best way to obtain Spanish citizenship specifically for your situation, we recommend that you seek advice from our experts or consult the Spanish Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence.
