Lack of Good Civic Conduct: the Main Reason Spanish Nationality Is Refused
The risks and consequences of having police records when applying for Spanish nationality are a highly relevant issue today.
Lack of good civic conduct is one of the main reasons Spanish nationality is refused. During the application process, the Ministry of Justice requests reports from the Central Registry of Convicted Persons and from the Directorate General of the Police and the Civil Guard to check their databases. This verifies whether the foreign applicant has ever been arrested or committed an offence.
Internal Report From the Ministry of the Interior
In addition, during the nationality by residence process, an internal report from the Ministry of the Interior is requested to confirm whether the applicant has been involved in police arrests, wanted notices, address searches, precautionary measures or other legal situations, whether in Spain or elsewhere in Europe.
Cancelling Police Records
It is crucial to check whether these records exist and, if possible, to cancel them before applying for nationality to increase your chances of success.
You can apply to cancel police records yourself, but it is advisable to have a specialist lawyer guide you through the process. At MigratioLex, as immigration and Spanish nationality lawyers, we help our clients cancel the records that may affect their nationality applications.
Before applying, also review the most common mistakes when applying for Spanish nationality.
For the full picture, from residence periods to the oath, read our complete guide to Spanish citizenship by residence.
