Skip to content Obtaining Spanish citizenship means becoming a full member of European society, with the right to live, work, and travel across the Schengen countries without restrictions. This process has specific features depending on nationality, including Spanish citizenship for Russians and Spanish citizenship for Ukrainians. Our lawyers specialize in helping Russian and Ukrainian nationals and know all the intricacies of obtaining a Spanish passport.
There are several legal pathways to Spanish citizenship. The right one depends on your individual situation.
The most common route. It requires continuous legal residence in the country for a set period:
If you have been married to a Spanish citizen for at least 1 year and legally reside in Spain, you're entitled to apply for Spanish citizenship. The marriage must be official and duly documented.
A simplified procedure for certain categories, such as:
The procedure for obtaining Spanish citizenship for Russians generally requires 10 years of legal residence. However, each case is unique. We help you properly document your residence history and prepare all the required paperwork.
Special conditions currently apply for Ukrainian citizens. At present, many Ukrainian nationals have been granted temporary protection status, which counts toward the period of legal residence. This speeds up the process of obtaining Spanish citizenship for Ukrainians. We'll help you understand your status and make full use of every legal advantage available.
Gathering and preparing all necessary certificates, including proof of legal residence, financial means, and a clean criminal record.
You must successfully pass the Spanish language exam (DELE A2) and the exam on Spanish constitutional and sociocultural knowledge (CCSE).
Submitting the petition to the Civil Registry (Registro Civil) at your place of residence.
Processing the case can take anywhere from several months to several years.
Once the application is approved, you must swear an oath to the King and commit to upholding Spanish law.
After the application is filed, processing can take anywhere from 6 months to 3 years. The preparatory stage (gathering documents, passing the exams) takes several additional months.
Spain generally does not recognize dual nationality for Russian and Ukrainian citizens. You aren't required to renounce your original nationality, but by taking the oath to Spain, you commit to using the Spanish passport as your primary document within its territory. It's important to discuss the nuances with a lawyer.
The main reasons are: an insufficient period of legal residence, legal issues (in Spain or in the country of origin), insufficient financial means, errors in the documentation, or failing the exams.
Yes, we provide our clients with all the necessary materials and guidance to successfully prepare for the DELE A2 and CCSE exams.
