Spanish citizenship by descent generally applies to children of Spanish citizens. If you have a Spanish parent, you are typically a citizen from birth. For grandchildren, previous historical memory laws have expired, meaning Spanish citizenship by descent is now only possible through parents, though exceptions remain for descendants of exiles or those who properly registered their descent.

Children of Spanish Citizens

If at least one of your parents was a Spanish national, you are a Spanish citizen by origin. This applies even if you were born outside Spain. You must register your birth at your nearest local Spanish Consulate or Civil Registry and apply for a Spanish passport. If you are a minor, your parents can formalize your citizenship. If you are an adult born outside Spain to a Spanish parent, you must “declare” your will to retain Spanish citizenship within 3 years of reaching adulthood, unless you were registered as a Spanish citizen from birth.

Grandchildren of Spanish Citizens

The Ley de Memoria Democrática (Democratic Memory Law) granted descendants of those forced into exile or political refuge during the Spanish Civil War and Franco dictatorship a direct path to citizenship, which extended to grandchildren of Spanish citizens. However this expired in October 2025.

There is no automatic, direct path for grandchildren or great-grandchildren unless each preceding generation actively maintained, registered, and claimed their Spanish nationality before the birth of the next generation.

Fast-Track Citizenship by Residence

If you do not qualify automatically by bloodline, Spain offers a significantly reduced residency requirement for descendants and those from historically tied nations. Instead of the standard 10 years, applicants can apply for naturalization after just 2 years of legal residency in Spain.

This accelerated 2-year path is available to:

Some individuals first acquire citizenship in an Ibero-American country (such as the Dominican Republic) to fast-track their Spanish residency.

Grandchildren of Spanish citizens (who may no longer qualify for automatic descent).

Nationals of Ibero-American countries (e.g., Argentina, Brazil, Mexico), Andorra, Equatorial Guinea, the Philippines, Portugal, and Sephardic Jews.