In 2013, Spain launched the Golden Visa Scheme. Citizens of the EU do not need a visa to live in Spain. However, they must have a national identification number. Non-EU citizens and non-residents who wish to remain in Spain have two options:
The first is Golden Visa Programmes, but entry requirements for family residency include a minimum real estate purchase of 500,000 Euros.
Ex-pats can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after ten years.
On a tourist visa, you can stay for up to 183 days a year. Otherwise, ex-pats must apply for citizenship, either a visado nacionale (work visa) or a visado de residencia (retired foreigner visa).
Spanish property investment
After many years of price declines, real estate is now at rock bottom rates, and the Spanish property market provides significant potential for capital gains in the coming years. Investors must carefully consider their investment. Is it for investment and leasing purposes, or is it for personal enjoyment? There are numerous deals on the market from developers and banks, but the location and type of property are crucial to the investment’s success. Investors interested in our services should review our procedure or learn more about Spain’s Golden Visa Programme. To get in touch with us, chat with an expert, and learn more about the procedures. Apartments for sale in Spain are ideal for those who enjoy city living.
Permanent residency and citizenship in Spain
After five years of residence in Spain, it is possible to apply for permanent residency. Citizenship may be applied for after ten years of full-time residency. Although the temporary residency permit (the Golden Visa) can be extended without living in the country, the buyer and their family must live in Spain to obtain permanent residency and citizenship. As a result, the Spanish Golden Visa Programme is common among applicants who want to live in Spain full-time or retain a second residency in Europe without the possibility of becoming a citizen.
How do I invest in property to obtain Spanish citizenship?
You must choose a property to the value of 500,000 Euros, or you can buy multiple units to the same value. Villas for sale in Spain are large enough to accommodate a family.
What do you do when you find the property you want to buy in Spain?
Pay a deposit
Deposits can be made through a credit card or with a bank transfer, and they will be kept under your name. We don’t advocate keeping cash in your wallet, but the funds should be readily available because a delay in depositing might result in someone else winning. This payment secures the price, confirms your plan to purchase, and removes the property from the market. When budgeting for your new home, keep in mind that taxes and fees will account for approximately 10% to 11% of the purchase price.
Spanish lawyers
You will need a Spanish lawyer after paying your initial deposit, so you should probably hire one as soon as you confirm your intention to buy.
Your lawyer will perform multiple tests to ensure that the property you are interested in is indeed owned by the individual selling it and that it has been adequately marketed. They would also make sure that there are no outstanding loans on the property and that all service bills and taxes are current.
You are covering your investment by hiring a lawyer to ensure that you do not inherit any unpaid debts. If you’re buying off-plan, the lawyer will make sure the developer has insurance or bank guarantees in place so that if anything goes wrong and the sale falls through (due to the developer), you’ll get your money back plus 6% interest.
The final stage is signing at the Public Notary Office
When the seller signs the property over to you in front of a Public Notary, the purchase’s final stage is completed. This is when you hand over the keys to your new home and exchange the final payment.
If you buy from a promoter or developer, you would have to pay 7% transfer tax or 7% VAT plus 1% Stamp Duty. You’ll also have to pay Notary fees, which can range from 300 to 1000 euros. This depends on the value of the property you’re purchasing, as well as registration fees. This accounts for about 60% of the Notary fee. You may want to seek professional advice on who should be included in the title deed. There might be complex inheritance taxes to think about.
Will my family be given Spanish citizenship too?
You will be given Spanish citizenship, your husband or wife, plus any children you have under 18 years old. You should all be granted Spanish citizenship.
What exchange rate will be given?
Your property must be bought in Euros. Property for sale in Spain is valued in Euros, but many foreign investors have funds in other currencies, such as the Great British Pounds. This means they’ll have to buy Euros before they can purchase a property in Spain.
What is the timescale for this?
The following are general timescales: 3–4 weeks: for simple transactions, such as properties with no mortgages, all paperwork in order, and funding in place. 4 to 8 weeks: for slightly more complicated sales, such as those requiring an architect’s certificate or the buyer obtaining a mortgage.
Can I buy a commercial property and be granted citizenship in Spain by investment?
It is no problem if it’s a commercial property or a residential one.
Is it challenging to apply for Spanish citizenship? Do I need assistance from a specialist?
It would be easier for you if you had someone to help you, such as our team at Spot Blue. We can help you if you buy through us.
I want Spanish citizenship but busy at work, so unable to reach Spain. Can I still apply for it?
Of course, you can still apply for Spanish citizenship. All you need to do is send a power of attorney to Spot Blue and we will handle it for you.
Who can apply for citizenship on the Title Deed?
Just one person’s name may be on the Title Deeds for citizenship purposes, but this includes his or her spouse, as previously mentioned. In Spain, title deeds for land purchases are known as “Escritura de Compraventa,” which translates to “Purchase and Sale Deed.”
Who can apply for a Spanish passport?
After ten years of legal residency in Spain, you can usually apply for naturalization. Alternatively, under certain conditions, such as marriage to a Spanish citizen or having a parent of Spanish nationality, you can acquire Spanish citizenship more quickly.
I want Spanish citizenship, and my child is above 18 years of age. Will they be given it too?
No, as they are over 18 years old.
I have a child that is disabled and above 18; they are totally dependent on me. Are they allowed citizenship?
This is a possibility; if your child is dependent on you, you need to give documents that prove your child’s situation and disability.
What documents do I need to provide to apply for Spanish citizenship?
Contact us at Spot Blue, tell us where and what type of property you are looking for. We can then give you all the information you will need regarding submitting documents.
Does Spain allow dual nationality?
The aim is to avoid forcing both countries to renounce their original nationality when acquiring the nationality of the other. Spain has only signed dual nationality agreements with Latin American countries, the Philippines, and Equatorial Guinea.
The drawbacks of becoming a Spanish citizen
After ten years of residence in Spain, you may apply for Spanish nationality and become a citizen. The biggest drawback of taking this route to secure long-term citizenship is that you would have to give up your original nationality (to get the Spanish one).
But that is something you should think about. If you choose to keep your original nationality, apply for permanent residency, which you will extend every five years. If this isn’t a concern for you, ethnicity is a better option.
There is an exception to this law. You can acquire dual nationality from Andorra, Portugal, Equatorial Guinea, the Philippines, or a Latin American country. You would not have to give up your original citizenship.
What are the different types of Spanish citizenships?
Spanish citizenship by residency
This is the most well-known of all of them. You can acquire Spanish citizenship through a procedure known as naturalization if you have been a legal resident in Spain for a certain number of years.
In essence, it is given to all foreigners who have spent sufficient time in the country. You need to enter Spain with your residency permit, renew it enough times, and you will be granted citizenship after you have completed the required period for your case.
What is the period of time I need to live in Spain before I apply for Citizenship?
The specific period will be dictated by your circumstance, family relations, and country of origin: the general rule is ten years.
If you’re a refugee, you’ll have to wait five years.
If you’re a foreigner from Andorra, Equatorial Guinea, the Philippines, or Portugal, you’ll have to wait two years. As previously mentioned, you will not be forced to give up your previous and original nationality, and you will be given dual citizenship.
Being married to a Spanish national or children/grandchildren of Spanish citizens born in Spain, the term is only one year. In the following segment, we’ll look at these two choices in more detail.
Requirements for Citizenship by residency
But it isn’t that easy. It would be best if you met the following criteria for a valid application, in addition to living in Spanish territory for one, two, five, or ten years:
The year count begins when your first residence card is valid.
Any time spent in Spain on a tourist or student visa will not be considered (as those are stay periods).
You must have lived continuously for the requisite number of years. This means you can’t leave the country for an extended period (more than three months can result in denial), nor can you do so repeatedly.
It is important to behave in a civically responsible manner. The authorities will look through your criminal history and police reports to see if there are any discrepancies.
Citizenship by marriage
Would you like to receive Spanish citizenship without having to wait ten years? Obtaining citizenship by marriage may be the best option for you.
Foreigners who have lived as legal residents in Spain for one year and are married to a Spanish citizen are eligible for this nationality.
As a consequence, the technique is straightforward. First and foremost, you must marry a Spanish citizen. When you’ve done so, you’ll be able to apply for a residency and work permit as a family member of an EU visa holder.
You will be able to begin the application process after 12 months of living together with your spouse (this is critical). The specifications are identical to those mentioned in the previous section.
Furthermore, you must ensure that your marriage is registered in Spain, as you would be required to apply for your marriage certificate.
Citizenship by option
A person who became a Spanish national by choice (also known as citizenship by origin) is a foreigner who obtained citizenship due to their parents’ previous citizenship.
Let’s assume you decide to apply for citizenship based on your place of residence. If you include your children’s birth certificates in the application, they will be eligible to become Spain citizens later.
The most significant factor to remember is that your children must be under the age of 18. They do, however, have the right to claim citizenship for two years, allowing them to become citizens before they reach the age of twenty. As a result, if you applied for Spanish nationality as a parent when your child was already over 18, the procedure is invalid.
Who benefits from citizenship by option?
Children of foreign citizens born in Spain.
Individuals 18 years old and above that have been adopted by a Spanish national.
People who have been subject to the custody of a Spaniard.
Citizenship by descent
Children born in Spain will obtain a Spanish passport quickly and easily. What about their grandchildren, though? Would they have the same luck as you?
It wasn’t imaginable a few years ago. The nationality rule did not protect those conditions. Nonetheless, the situation has changed since the new grandchildren’s law was approved. You may now apply for nationality if you are the grandchildren of a Spanish citizen and fall into one of the following categories:
If you are the descendants of people who acquired their nationality by historical memory but were unable to obtain it by choice when the legislation was enacted because they were over 18.
Grandchildren of Spanish women born in Spain and married non-Spanish citizens before 1978.
Grandchildren of Spanish nationals who gained another country’s citizenship after leaving Spain before their children were born (thus preventing their children from being citizens of Spain).
Grandchildren of Spaniards who, despite having the option of gaining citizenship, missed the opportunity when they reached the age of 18.
What, if any, are the benefits of Spanish citizenship?
There are five main benefits that you can enjoy when becoming a Spanish citizen:
The paperwork is minimal.
Once you have applied for Spanish citizenship, it’s easier to navigate the Spanish system.
Obtaining the right to vote in Spain.
Ex-pats living in Spain for the long run may like to have the option to vote. After formalising this process, they can.
Free movement across many countries.
Being a Spanish citizen, you will have the right to enter 183 countries with your visa on hand during arrival.
Obtaining an EU passport, you will have the right to live and work inside the European Union.
No Spain exit, Spain has no plans to leave the EU. Therefore all the rights you acquire through citizenship will remain. Check out our Guide of Spain to see where you want to purchase a Spanish property.
