Spain dual citizenship with Russia: can you keep both passports in 2026

10 min read · Published 6 October 2026

Spain requires Russian citizens to declare that they renounce their previous citizenship, but does not check whether they actually left it. We explain what this means in practice, when Spanish citizenship can be lost, timelines, exams, children and taxes.

In short

With a condition: on naturalisation a Russian citizen declares renunciation of the previous citizenship, but Spain does not require proof, and Russia does not end citizenship on that declaration. Spanish citizenship can be lost after 3 years of using only the Russian passport.

Previous passport on naturalisation	Renunciation on naturalisation
Country rule	Naturalisation requires renouncing your previous citizenship. Citizens of Latin American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal are exempt
Legal basis	Article 23 of the Spanish Civil Code
What Russia requires	notify the Interior Ministry within 60 days
Checked	October 2026

Russia allows a second citizenship, while Spanish law requires naturalised citizens of most countries to declare renunciation of the previous one. So it is important to understand what this declaration means and what it risks in practice.

What Spain requires on naturalisation

Citizenship by residence is governed by Article 22 of the Spanish Civil Code: Russian citizens need 10 years of lawful and continuous residence immediately before applying. Spouses of Spanish citizens and people born in Spain need 1 year, refugees 5 years. You also need a Spanish language exam at A2 level, a test on the Constitution and culture, good conduct and integration into society.

Article 23 requires an oath to the King and the Constitution and a declaration renouncing the previous citizenship. Citizens of Latin American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal are exempt, and Russia is not on this list.

The renunciation is a declaration before the Spanish civil registry. Spain does not require a certificate that you left Russian citizenship, and Russia does not end citizenship on a Spanish declaration: you can only leave it through a separate procedure at a Russian consulate. So under Russian law you remain a Russian citizen and must notify the Interior Ministry.

The risk is in Article 25: a Spaniard not by origin loses Spanish citizenship after 3 years of using exclusively the citizenship they declared to renounce. Spanish law does not forbid using the Russian passport to enter Russia, but in Spain and the European Union it is sensible to show the Spanish one.

What Russia requires

Russia allows a second citizenship and does not end its own, but inside the country treats you only as a Russian citizen (Article 10 of Federal Law No. 138-FZ on Citizenship).

Within 60 days of receiving the second passport, file a notification with the Interior Ministry (MVD). If you are abroad at that moment, the period runs from the day you enter Russia.
Attach a copy of the foreign passport or another document proving the citizenship.

Failure to notify falls under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code: a fine of up to $2,400 or up to one year of income, or up to 400 hours of compulsory work.
Late or incomplete notification: a fine of $10-15 under Article 19.8.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences.
A residence permit abroad must be reported under the same rules (Article 11 of Law No. 138-FZ).

A Russian citizen with a second passport may not hold state or municipal office, serve in government bodies or stand for election. The duties of a Russian citizen, including military service, remain, and inside Russia the second passport is not taken into account.

How to keep both passports: step by step

Build up 10 years of lawful residence on a residence permit without long breaks: absences of more than 3 months a year raise questions.
Pass the exams in Spanish at A2 level and the test on the Constitution and culture; they cost 138 and 85 euros.
Apply online to the Ministry of Justice and pay the 104.05 euro fee; together with the exams about $400.
Take the oath and declare renunciation at the civil registry within 180 days of the decision, or the decision lapses.
Get a Spanish passport and use it in Spain and the European Union, and the Russian one to enter Russia.
Notify the Russian Interior Ministry within 60 days of receiving the passport, or within 60 days of entering Russia if you are abroad.

By law the Ministry of Justice answers within a year, in practice the decision often takes 1-3 years, and the 180 days for the oath run from notification of the decision.

What happens to children

A child with a Spanish parent becomes a Spanish citizen by birth, and with the other parent a Russian citizen usually Russian too. A child of two Russian citizens born in Spain does not automatically become Spanish, since Russia gives the child its citizenship, but after 1 year of lawful residence in Spain the child can be naturalised. Children under 14 do not take the oath or declare renunciation; the parents apply for them.

Taxes and military service

You become a Spanish tax resident with 183 days in the country in a year or your centre of business interests here. A resident pays tax on worldwide income on a progressive scale which, with the regional part, reaches 45-54%. Russia suspended the double taxation treaty with Spain on its side in 2023, so tax credits between the countries do not fully work.

Spain has had no compulsory military service since 2002. The military duty of a Russian citizen remains: Russia still considers you its citizen.

Common mistakes

Missing the 180 days for the oath. Without the oath and renunciation declaration on time, the approval lapses.
Using only the Russian passport in Spain. Three years of exclusive use of the renounced citizenship are grounds for losing the Spanish one.
Breaking residence before applying. You need 10 continuous years immediately before the application, and long absences reset the clock.
Assuming the declaration ended your Russian obligations. For Russia you remain a citizen: the Interior Ministry notification, military duty and tax residence remain.
Filing with an old certificate. Take a fresh Russian criminal record certificate with an apostille, or the application will be returned.

How to get Spanish citizenship

The main route for Russian citizens is 10 years of lawful residence on any residence permit, the exams and the oath with a renunciation declaration. Spouses of Spanish citizens and those born in Spain qualify faster, after 1 year. Descendants of Spaniards by origin can obtain citizenship under separate rules, including without 10 years of residence.

Requirements, timelines and costs are on the page Spanish citizenship.

You can check any pair of countries with the dual citizenship checker and compare all countries in the overview dual citizenship in 2026.

Spanish citizenship without losing time or a passport

The law does not stop you applying for Spanish citizenship on your own. But mistakes cost more than the fee: a break in residence before applying, outdated certificates, missed 180 days for the oath and a missed notification to the Russian Interior Ministry. We check your residence and documents, prepare the application to the Ministry of Justice, see it through to the oath and explain how to use two passports without risk. We guarantee professional work and a transparent process.

The cost of support depends on the route and family size; our consultant in the chat will calculate it.

Talk to a consultant now

This topic in other countries

Dual citizenship rules with Russia in other countries:

FAQ

Can you hold Spanish and Russian citizenship at the same time?

With a condition: on naturalisation a Russian citizen declares renunciation of the previous citizenship, but Spain does not require proof, and Russia does not end citizenship on that declaration. Spanish citizenship can be lost after 3 years of using only the Russian passport.

Do I need to notify the Russian Interior Ministry about Spanish citizenship?

Yes. A Russian citizen notifies the Interior Ministry of a second citizenship within 60 days under Article 10 of Law No. 138-FZ; failing to notify carries criminal liability under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code.

Does Spain allow dual citizenship for Russians?

Formally no: on naturalisation a Russian citizen declares renunciation of the previous citizenship. But Spain does not check it, and Russia does not end citizenship on that declaration.

Do I have to leave Russian citizenship to become Spanish?

No, a renunciation declaration before the Spanish civil registry is enough. Spain does not require leaving citizenship through a Russian consulate.

Can you lose Spanish citizenship because of a Russian passport?

Yes, after 3 years of using exclusively Russian citizenship. Show the Spanish passport in Spain and the European Union.

How many years must you live in Spain before citizenship?

For Russian citizens, 10 years of lawful continuous residence; for spouses of Spanish citizens and those born in Spain, 1 year.

How much does Spanish citizenship cost?

The fee is 104.05 euros, the language exam 138 euros and the Constitution test 85 euros, about $400 in total excluding translations and apostilles.

Will a child have Spanish and Russian citizenship?

Yes, if one parent is Spanish and the other Russian. A child of two Russian citizens born in Spain can become Spanish after 1 year of lawful residence.

Don’t want to figure this out alone?

We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.

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