A Quick Guide on Acquiring Spanish Citizenship for Indians

Indian citizens often feel the need to move and relocate to different countries for increasing exposure and improving their careers. Getting Spanish citizenship is often considered beneficial since it allows individuals to work and live in Spain without restrictions. Additionally, you can travel across European countries without requiring a visa.

Are you wondering how to get Spanish citizenship for Indians? Then, keep reading this article to find out more about it.

There are several eligibility criteria and requirements for getting a Spanish citizenship for Indians. These are listed below.

• Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
• Additionally, they must have lived in Spain as permanent residents for about ten years.
• They must possess a clean criminal record and history.
• Holding medical insurance and official health certificates is a mandate.
• They must not be on the nation's most undesirable people list.
• Applicants need to show their financial stability to prove their ability to stay in Spain. 

There are multiple options for getting Spanish citizenship. If you are born in or outside Spain to at least one Spanish parent, you can get Spanish citizenship by birth. Those who lived in Spain for a considerable period can apply for citizenship by residence. On the other hand, if a Spanish parent adopts you, you will be eligible for citizenship.

Apart from that, there is an option for citizenship by descent. If your parents or grandparents were Spanish but you lived outside Spain, you will be eligible for this type of citizenship. Another way of getting Spanish citizenship is through marriage. You will be eligible for this citizenship once you marry a Spanish spouse and meet all the other conditions.

Now, you must be wondering how to get Spanish citizenship for Indians. One can complete the application process following the steps listed below. 

Step 1: Go to the official website of Spanish immigration. From here, you can either choose the online procedure or download Form 790 for completing the process offline.

Step 2: Complete the online application form with accurate details. There are multiple sections, which you need to fill in carefully.

Step 3: Upload all the required documents. If you are filling manually in the offline form, gather all the documents.

Step 4: Finally, submit the form online. If you are doing it in the offline form, submit the form with documents and application fees to the Civil Registry.

Step 5: Wait for the authorities to make their decision. Once your application is approved, you must complete your oath of allegiance in the Civil Registry within six months.

If you are thinking about the requirements for Spanish citizenship for Indians, you must submit all the required documents and the application form. These are as follows.

• Certificates to prove that you passed A2 and CCSE exams
• Transaction receipt of your application fee payment
• Passport
• NIE number
• Resident register (empadronamiento)
• Evidence to prove your history of stay in the original country
• Document to show your financial stability
• Employment verification
• Marriage certificate (if applicable)

The Spanish government charges an application fee, which will be non-refundable even if your application is rejected. The application fee ranges between €60.51 and €100.84. Applicants must submit this fee along with their application form.

Spain allows dual citizenship with several conditions. Spanish people can have dual citizenship if they promise to retain the Spanish nationality for three years after gaining new citizenship. When it comes to Indian citizens, India already does not permit dual citizenship. Thus, they will have to renounce their Indian citizenship to become citizens of Spain.

If you enter Spain with a Golden Visa, you can bring your family here with a residence permit. However, getting citizenship cannot be done in a single processing step for all the family members. In this regard, if you undergo naturalisation, your children will automatically become Spanish citizens.

There is no specific condition explaining if you can get citizenship for your parents or relatives. However, if you are a Spanish citizen, your spouse can apply for citizenship after staying together in Spain for a considerable period.

A child born in Spain can be a Spanish citizen by birth if at least one of the two parents is a citizen of Spain. Usually, if a child is born to foreign parents, he/she is not considered a Spanish citizen. However, there is an exception for certain countries. For example, if the parents are from the following countries, the Spanish constitution will not consider them foreigners, and the child can receive citizenship by birth -

• Argentina
• Cape Verde
• Brazil
• Colombia
• Cuba
• Costa Rica
• Guinea-Bissau
• Paraguay
• Panama
• Peru
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Portugal
• Uruguay

Now, you may know how to apply for a Spanish citizenship from India, but ensuring its approval is necessary. Every year, the Spanish government rejects several applications. The following reasons are commonly seen behind maximum rejections. You must avoid making these while applying for Spanish citizenship as an applicant.

1. Financial instability

The immigration experts are likely to investigate your economic conditions. You need to demonstrate a stable job and livelihood to support your stay. Any outstanding tax or utility bills might seem that you cannot support your stay in Spain, which can reject your application. Thus, maintain proper financial records.

2. Serious criminal history

Having major criminal convictions and prison sentences can negatively impact your application. The Spanish government does not prefer such people to become Spanish citizens. Thus, it is advisable to learn about Spanish law and comply with it to avoid criminal records.

3. Incomplete application

The application must be complete across all the sections. Any incomplete information will fail to verify your eligibility. As a result, the experts are likely to reject your application. Hence, complete the form carefully and submit all the required documents and application fees.