To acquire the nationality means becoming a citizen of a country with full rights and duties. Not only is able to live and work freely in the country as is the case when you have the permanent residence card.

When you get Spanish nationality acquired the same rights as a Spaniard by birth, ie can vote, presented some competitions or enjoy any of the benefits to which chooses a Spaniard.

Ways to obtain nationality

Citizenship is acquired through various means:

·  At home: son of Spanish or be born in Spain, where at least one parent Spanish or stateless. They were also granted citizenship to those born within the country and unknown to their parents.

·  For adoption: acquires any child under the age of 18 are legally adopted by Spaniards.

·  For residence: requesting voluntarily. It is necessary to comply with the minimum residency stipulated by the law.

Request for nationality

The application to obtain Spanish nationality can make those older than 18 or emancipated and over 14 assisted by a legal representative.

The request must be delivered at the Civil Registry. The official form to start the process can be obtained on the internet, going to the Ministry of Justice or the agency asking that the mail.

Requirements

Persons wishing to apply for citizenship must meet certain requirements, including the have resided in Spain continuously for at least 10 years, although this time can be reduced in the following cases:

·  Five years: political refugees.

·  Two years: the citizens of Latin America, Andorra, Guinea, Portugal or Sephardic.

·  One year: married to a Spaniard, born abroad but with one of their parents or grandparents Spaniards, who were under the tutelage of Spanish authorities for at least two years, those born in Spain and widowers of a Spaniard.

Documents

The documents are submitted in the civil registry to initiate the process of obtaining citizenship are:

·  Request official duly completed.

·  Birth Certificate literal, legalized in the consulate.

·  Two certificates of criminal record, one issued in the country of origin and the other in Spain.

·  Certificate of registration.

·  Certificate evidencing the alleged residence in Spain issued by the General Directorate of Police.

·  Documents justifying own work in Spain or self-employed person and accreditation of all financial means at its disposal.

·  A photocopy of the passport.

·  A photocopy of the card or residence card Abroad.

·  Documents nationality and kinship with the family concerned, if the request is based on a third person.

Letter nature

It is an exceptional procedure to obtain the nationality which occurs rarely. The Charter of nature must be granted by governments by royal decree.

An example of this situation occurred after the attacks on trains in Madrid on March 11, 2004. The government granted to all foreigners and their families affected by the nationality Charter of Nature.

Worth noting

Por otra parte, es necesario tener en cuenta que se trata de un proceso lento que puede llegar a tardar hasta veinticuatro meses. Moreover, it is necessary to take into account that this is a slow process that can take as long as 24 months.

Remarks

Nationality is also collected in exceptional circumstances such as the following:

·  Possession of state implies having made use of nationality for at least 10 years, based on an entry in the Civil Register during that time.