Spanish nationality by marriage: requirements and full process

To benefit from the reduced period, you must be legally married to a Spanish citizen, have lived legally in Spain for at least one year, have the marriage registered and not be legally or effectively separated.

As with any nationality file, you must also prove good civic conduct and have no relevant criminal record.

The usual file includes the marriage certificate registered in the Spanish Civil Registry, a valid passport, criminal record certificates, historic registration certificates and, when applicable, the family book and DELE or CCSE certificates.

If the marriage was celebrated abroad, the key point is that it must be properly registered in Spain before the application starts.

The application may be submitted online or before the competent registry office. After a favorable decision, you must take the oath or promise and complete the final registration.

One of the most common questions concerns dual nationality. Whether it is possible depends on the applicable rules and on the applicant's country of origin.