Dual Citizenship in Spain – Complete Guide

If your question is:

“Can you have Spanish nationality and another one at the same time?”

The answer is yes, it’s possible. Spain allows dual nationality, but only in certain cases. For most people, obtaining Spanish nationality formally requires renouncing their original one; however, for people from countries with historical ties (especially many Latin American countries, Portugal, the Philippines, etc.) Spain allows both to be kept.

Below we explain how dual citizenship works in Spain, who can keep both passports, what tests and paperwork you’ll actually need, realistic timelines and costs, and of course, how Migratiolex can save you the headache by handling the whole process for you.

Who can actually obtain dual nationality in Spain?

Spanish law doesn’t give a blanket “yes” for everyone. There are three main practical groups:

1. People from countries with bilateral agreements or historical ties with Spain

Many Latin American countries, Portugal, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, France and others can usually obtain Spanish nationality without giving up their own.

2. People who acquire Spanish nationality by origin under the Democratic Memory Law (LMD) of 2022

This law allows descendants of Spaniards (children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren) and other covered cases to obtain Spanish nationality while keeping their other nationality, unlike the former 2007 Historical Memory Law.

If you come from an “Ibero-American / historically linked” country, you’re in the easy lane. If, for example, you’re a U.S. citizen, the formal rule is that Spain does not automatically allow dual nationality with the U.S. Still, many U.S. citizens end up keeping both passports for practical reasons, as explained in this article about the possibility of maintaining dual nationality between Spain and the U.S .https://migratiolex.com/doble-nacionalidad-espanola-paises-elegibles-ventajas-procedimiento-solicitud/

Main pathways to obtain Spanish nationality and when you can keep your original passport

By residence (naturalization)

The general rule requires 10 years of legal residence, with significant shortcuts: 5 years for refugees and 2 years for nationals of many Latin American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Portugal, and Equatorial Guinea. Marriage to a Spaniard can reduce the period to 1 year.

By descent (jus sanguinis) / by option

If you have a Spanish parent, you can access a more direct route.

Special routes

Naturalization by exceptional merit—rare, but it exists.

What the administration actually requires

Prepare for some paperwork. Usually you’ll need:

• Birth certificate (and other civil registry records) duly legalized/apostilled and translated into Spanish when required.
  
• Valid passport and proof of legal residence in Spain (TIE / residence card) if applying through residence.
  
• Criminal record certificates (from the countries where you’ve lived, including Spain if applying through residence).
  
• Exams: for nationality by residence, the CCSE (constitutional and socio-cultural knowledge of Spain) and the DELE (language proficiency). The DELE is mandatory if you’re not a citizen of a Spanish-speaking country or haven’t completed secondary studies in Spain (ESO, Bachillerato, etc.). Outside these exceptions, do not assume you’ll be exempt: prepare for them unless you’ve requested and been granted a disability exemption.
  

Once the application is submitted (many procedures can be initiated through the Ministry of Justice’s online portal), if everything goes well, you’ll complete the oath or pledge of allegiance, which formalizes your naturalization.

Timelines and costs – realistic expectations

Processing time

By law, the Ministry of Justice has up to one year to issue a decision, but in practice times vary; most cases are resolved within a few months (common range: 3–9 months), depending on workload and the quality of the file.

Fees and extras

The administrative fee is moderate (around €104), but add translations, certified copies, exam fees, notary visits, and, if you hire a lawyer, legal fees. A reasonable total cost for a standard case (including lawyer, translations, and exams) is usually under €1,000, though it depends on the service scope.

Benefits – Why do people do it?

Dual nationality brings concrete advantages:

✔️ Full rights to live and work in Spain and the EU.
✔️ Freedom of movement in the Schengen area
✔️ Access to public healthcare and education
✔️ The right to vote in Spanish elections
✔️ The ability to pass nationality to descendants. For many, it’s also an emotional reconnection with family roots.

Risks and things to consider (read calmly)

Taxes

Obtaining Spanish nationality and being a resident can change your tax situation. Spain taxes fiscal residents on worldwide income; dual nationality can complicate reporting and tax obligations with other countries, depending on your home country’s regulations. Consult a tax specialist before giving up or accepting changes.

Legal/military obligations

Rare today, but check for any pending obligations in your previous nationalities.

Grey areas for certain countries (e.g., U.S.)

Spain may require formal renunciation of the other nationality, although some countries, like the U.S., do not prohibit dual nationality and allow multiple nationalities simultaneously. In practice, many citizens maintain both, but there are legal and tax implications that must be carefully analyzed. Don’t assume “everything will be fine” without proper legal advice.

Practical step-by-step checklist (what you should do this week)

• Check whether your country is among those with special agreements (Latin America, Portugal, Equatorial Guinea, the Philippines, France, etc.). If so, you’ll likely be able to keep your nationality. If not, consider the consequences of a potential renunciation.
  
• Gather vital records (birth, marriage, criminal records) and request apostilles/translations as needed.
  
• Book DELE/CCSE exams or start studying; even if you believe you qualify by descent, depending on your case, language/culture exams may still be required.
  
• Prepare residence proofs (TIE, census registration, work contract, payslips).
  
• Submit the application through the Ministry’s online portal or in person with all documents properly authenticated.
  

Frequently asked questions (quick answers)

• How long until I get a passport?
  After a favorable resolution, you’ll take the nationality oath and, once you receive your Spanish birth certificate, you can apply for the passport. From application to passport issuance, the most optimistic estimate is about 5 months.

• Can a U.S. citizen keep their passport?
  Technically Spain does not allow dual nationality with the U.S., but the U.S. does not automatically revoke citizenship; many people end up with both in practice. However: taxes and legal obligations must be considered. Specialized legal advice is essential.

• Do children born abroad obtain nationality?
  If one parent is Spanish at the time of birth, there are ways to register the child as Spanish; these procedures are usually simpler, but must be done correctly.

Why hire Migratiolex

A poorly prepared nationality application can become a mess: missing apostilles, incorrect translations, incomplete certificates, or formal errors can delay you for months. Migratiolex specializes in immigration and nationality law in Spain; we:

• ✔️Audit your case (do you qualify for dual nationality or will you need to renounce?),
  
• ✔️Locate and help you legalize/apostille each document correctly,
  
• ✔️Prepare and review the DELE/CCSE steps or handle exemption requests,
  
• ✔️Submit the application through the electronic portal with a spotless file,
  
• ✔️Follow up your case, manage communications with registries and the Ministry, and represent you if issues or appeals arise.
  

We position your case to avoid silly rejections and, when possible, reduce delays. If there’s tax complexity or renunciation doubts (e.g., U.S. citizens, complex estates or mixed-nationality families), we coordinate with tax advisors and notaries to provide a unified, safe strategy.

Approximate price and next steps

Every case is different. For a straightforward application by residence or descent, professional fees usually start in the hundreds and scale depending on document retrieval, translations and representation. Most competitive packages fall in the low-thousands including exams and translations. For an exact quote, Migratiolex offers a fixed-fee estimate after a brief eligibility review.

If we move forward, here’s what we’ll do first (no surprises): a case review to check your situation, residence history and documents; we’ll tell you which “category” you fall into (likely dual nationality, residence with possible renunciation, etc.), what documents are missing, and provide a fixed quote and timeline.

Don’t let paperwork derail your plans

Applying for Spanish dual citizenship can radically expand your options: EU mobility, career opportunities, family security. It’s worth doing right. If you want a professional, approachable, and efficient team to handle the process and guide you every step of the way, Migratiolex is ready.