Jure Sanguinis Citizenship (Article 17 & 20)

Applying for Spanish citizenship by descent is primarily a process of registering your birth or exercising a legal "option" at a Spanish Civil Registry. Because the Democratic Memory Law expired on October 22, 2025, you must now apply under the permanent rules of the Spanish Civil Code.

The process is almost always conducted in person at the Spanish Consulate that has jurisdiction over your place of legal residence. You cannot apply as a tourist in a foreign country; you must provide proof of residency in that consulate's district.

Step 1: Determine Your Eligibility Route

Before gathering documents, identify which article of the Civil Code applies to you:

• Nationality by Origin (Article 17): Use this if you were born to at least one parent who was a Spanish citizen at the time of your birth.
• Nationality by Option (Article 20.1.b): Use this if your parent was born in Spain and was "originally Spanish" (even if they later lost their citizenship). This route has no age limit.
• Nationality by Option (Minors): If your parent naturalized as a Spaniard while you were under 18, you can "opt" for citizenship until you turn 20.

Step 2: Gather and Prepare Documents

You must collect "literal" certificates—these are long-form, word-for-word copies (Certificado Literal) rather than short-form or computerized versions.

• Your Birth Certificate: A literal copy, legalized or Apostilled (an international certification of authenticity), and translated into Spanish by a Traductor Jurado (official sworn translator).
• Your Parent's Spanish Birth Certificate: You must request this from the Spanish Civil Registry where they were registered.
• Marriage Certificate: Of your parents, if applicable.
• Proof of Parent's Nationality: Evidence they were Spanish when you were born (e.g., their Spanish passport or Consular registration).
• Identification: Your valid passport and local residency ID.

Step 3: Book an Appointment

Visit the website of your local Spanish Consulate to book an appointment for the Registro Civil (Civil Registry) section. Due to the recent expiration of temporary laws, appointment slots may be limited.

Step 4: Submission and Interview

Attend your appointment to submit your file. A consular officer will review your original documents. In some cases, you may be asked brief questions about your family history to verify the lineage.

Step 5: The Oath of Allegiance

If your application is approved and you are over 14 years old, you must return to the consulate to make a formal declaration. You will swear lealtad al Rey y obediencia a la Constitución (allegiance to the King and obedience to the Constitution). During this step, unless you are from an exempt country (see below), you must also formally renounce your previous nationality.

Step 6: Final Registration and Passport

Once the oath is recorded, your birth is officially registered in the Spanish Civil Registry. You can then apply for your DNI (National ID card—only issued in Spain) and your Spanish passport.

There is generally no government application fee for citizenship by descent or option when processed through a consulate, as these are considered registry acts. However, you will encounter significant third-party costs.

Item	Cost
Consular Application Fee	€0
Sworn Translations (per page)	€30 – €80
Apostilles/Legalizations (per document)	€15 – €40
Obtaining Spanish Birth Certificates	€0 – €20
Spanish Passport Issuance	€30

Total Estimate: €200 – €500 per person. Note: This does not include travel costs to the consulate, private legal fees, or costs associated with obtaining old records from provincial archives.

Processing times are currently extended due to the high volume of applications filed before the late 2025 deadlines.

• Appointment Wait Time: 3 to 8 months depending on the consulate's backlog.
• Application Review: 6 to 12 months for standard cases.
• Current Backlogs: In high-demand regions (such as Latin America or the US), total processing may take 18 to 24 months.
• Document Validity: Most birth certificates must be issued within 6 to 12 months of your appointment date to be considered "current" by the consulate.

Critical Deadline: If you acquired citizenship while living abroad and your Spanish parent was also born abroad, you must visit the consulate between the ages of 18 and 21 to sign a "Declaration of Conservation." If you fail to do this, you will automatically lose your Spanish citizenship.