Spanish citizenship by birth

Legal basis

Spain applies the principle of the right of blood rather than the right of soil: being born in the country does not in itself grant citizenship unless certain conditions are met.

When a child becomes a Spanish citizen straight away

• If one or both parents are Spanish citizens, wherever the child is born.
• If the parents are stateless, or their country of origin does not grant citizenship to children born abroad.

All other newborns can become Spanish citizens after one year of lawful residence in the country under the simplified naturalization program. This is how children can get citizenship when their parents live in Spain on a digital nomad visa, a work visa or a permit issued under the Golden Visa before it was abolished on 3 April 2025.

How a child gets citizenship after a year

A child of foreigners born in Spain can obtain citizenship after one year of legal residence. The year counts from birth if the child has legal status from the start, usually via the parents' residence. Parents apply on the child's behalf at the Ministry of Justice's online office. Children under 18 take no exams: the language test and the Constitution and culture test are not required.

What it costs, item by item

Dollar amounts at the European Central Bank rate of 05.10.2026, rounded up.

Steps and timeline

1. Parents' status before birth. Residence via nomad visa, work, study or financial independence.
2. Birth and registration at the civil registry where the child is born.
3. Residence permit for the child right after registration.
4. One year of legal residence.
5. Online citizenship application and fee.
6. Decision within a year by law, sometimes longer in practice.
7. Oath and the child's Spanish passport.

Documents

• the child's birth certificate from the Spanish civil registry;
• residence permits of the child and parents;
• parents' passports;
• proof of address registration;
• parents' police clearances with apostille and translation, on request.

What it gives parents

A Spanish child does not make parents citizens automatically. But the law gives parents of a Spanish minor the right to residence based on family ties, a stable status without remote-work income requirements. Parents get citizenship themselves: generally after 10 years of legal residence, or after 2 years for nationals of Latin American countries, Portugal, Andorra, the Philippines and Equatorial Guinea.

How to get approved the first time

• the child lacked legal status for the full year;
• parents lived in Spain illegally or with gaps;
• incomplete file: no address registration, expired parents' documents;
• filing before the year of legal residence was complete.

The child's dual citizenship

Spain generally requires renouncing previous citizenship on naturalisation, except for nationals of Latin American countries, the Philippines, Andorra, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal. Children under 14 do not swear the oath or renounce: parents act for them. A child of Russian parents is a Russian citizen by birth anyway, so dual citizenship is best worked out before filing.

Family taxes

Parents become Spanish tax residents after 183 days a year. Income tax runs 19-47% depending on region and income. More on the Spain taxes page.

Comparison with birthright countries

Spain gives a European Union passport, but not at once: first the parents' status and a year in the country.

What we do

We choose residence for the parents before the birth, help register the child and obtain the child's permit, count the deadline, and prepare and file the citizenship application. We fix our fee in writing after a free consultation.

Advantages of a Spanish passport

How to get Spanish citizenship by birth: step by step

FAQ

192 countries visa-free with a Spanish passport