Minimum cost
$110
application fee
Timeline
1 years
residency required
Visa-free access
186
passport rank #3
Dual citizenship
Not allowed
renunciation required
Path to citizenship
- Residency1 years · any
- Apply365-730 days
- Citizenshipafter the oath
Overview
- Country
- Spain
- Program
- Spain Citizenship by Marriage
- Local name
- Nacionalidad Española por Residencia (Cónyuge)
- Type
- Marriage Fast-Track
- Status
- Active
- Residency required
- 1 years
- Processing time
- 365-730 days
- Dual citizenship
- Not allowed
- Visa-free countries
- 186 destinations
- Passport rank
- #3 (Henley Index)
One of Europe's fastest marriage-based citizenship routes. Spouses of Spanish citizens can apply after just 1 year of legal residency in Spain. Must pass the CCSE exam (Spanish constitutional and sociocultural knowledge) and DELE A2 Spanish language test. Civil unions (Pareja de Hecho) do NOT qualify for the 1-year fast-track; they require the standard 10-year residency.
Fees and costs
- Application fee
- $110
Eligibility and requirements
- Minimum age 18+
- Police clearance required
- Medical exam not required
- Language A2 (DELE A2)
- Language exemptions Citizens of Spanish-speaking countries
- Civics test CCSE (Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de España)
- Oath required
- Renunciation required
Residency requirements
- Residency required
- 1 years
- Residency type
- Any
- Continuous
- Must be unbroken
- Cohabitation
- Must live with spouse
- Income required
- Must demonstrate financial means and proof of residence
Passport and mobility
- Passport rank
- #3 (Henley Index)
- Visa-free access
- 186 countries
- Passport validity
- 10 years
- EU citizenship
- Yes
- Schengen access
- Yes
- US E-2 treaty
- Yes — eligible for US investor visa
Physical presence
- Must visit country
- Yes
How to apply
- Method
- Online
- Apply from abroad
- Must apply in-country
- Application type
- Open
- Official website
- administracion.gob.es
- Legal basis
- Código Civil Art. 22; Real Decreto 1004/2015
Notes and caveats
Spain generally requires renunciation of previous nationality, with exceptions for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, and Portugal (bilateral agreements). No minimum marriage duration required. Civil unions do NOT qualify for the 1-year route. DELE A2 exemption for Spanish-speaking country nationals.