Claiming nationality through a Spanish parent or grandparent

Key rules

• Parent: A child of a Spanish father or mother is Spanish by origin, wherever born.
• Grandparent: A Spanish grandparent alone does not give you nationality.
• Late claims: If your filiation or adoption is established after age 18, you can opt within two years.
• Fee: No fee is charged for origin or option declarations, though certificate copies, translations and apostilles cost money.

The short answer

If one of your parents is Spanish, you are Spanish by origin, wherever you were born. You do not apply for anything in the sense of naturalisation. You ask the Registro Civil to record your nationality.

A Spanish grandparent on their own gives you no right to nationality. Some grandchildren can claim, but only through a specific route (see below).

This is a different process from naturalisation by residence. You do not need years of residence, and you do not normally need a criminal-record certificate.

Spanish by origin

You are Spanish by origin if any of these applies:

• Your father or mother is Spanish.
• You were born in Spain to foreign parents and at least one of them was also born in Spain. Children of diplomatic or consular staff are excluded.
• You were born in Spain to foreign parents and neither parent passes any nationality to you, or your parentage is not established.
• You are under 18, your parentage is unknown, and you were found in Spain.
• You are under 18 and a Spaniard adopted you.

Option: when you are not Spanish by origin

Option is a declaration. You do not need to live in Spain. You can opt if:

• You are under the authority of a Spaniard.
• Your father or mother was originally Spanish and was born in Spain. There is no age limit and no deadline.
• Your filiation or birth in Spain is established after age 18. You then have two years from that point.
• A Spaniard adopted you after age 18. The same two-year limit runs from the adoption.

If you are under 14, your legal representative opts for you, with authorisation where it is required. From 14 to 17 you opt yourself, with your representative's help. At 18 or over you opt in person.

When you opt, you swear or promise loyalty to the King and obedience to the Constitution and laws. You also renounce your previous nationality. Nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal are exempt from renouncing. Then you are registered in the Registro Civil.

Grandchildren

Grandchildren can claim only through a specific route. The Democratic Memory route for descendants of exiles closed in October 2025. You may still qualify through your parent: if your parent was originally Spanish and born in Spain, you can opt. The decision below helps you match your situation to a route.

Where and how to apply

Applications go to the Registro Civil. In Spain, use the office for your home area. Abroad, use the Spanish consulate where you live. You can file in person, by appointment, or electronically in some cases. The registrar may interview you. If the claim needs a decision, the file goes to the central Ministry of Justice department for a resolution.

No fee is charged for the declaration itself. Certified copies, translations and apostilles cost money. Procedures are being reorganised, so ask the office that handles your file about its exact steps.

The documents list, timeline, checklist and FAQ below cover what to bring and the order to follow.

Which descent or option route fits you

Which descent or option route fits you?

• Spanish by origin through a parent: Pick this if one of your parents was Spanish when you were born. Test this route first, because you may already be Spanish and only need to register it.

• Option through a parent or a late-established link: Pick this if you are not Spanish by origin but a parent was Spanish, or if your filiation or adoption was established after age 18. In that late case you can opt within two years.

• Recovery of lost Spanish nationality: Pick this if you were Spanish yourself and lost the nationality, for example by taking another one. Ask the consulate or civil registry which conditions apply to your case.

• Democratic Memory route for exile descendants: Pick this only if you already filed by 22 October 2025. The window closed on that date, and claims filed by then are still being processed. If you did not file, use one of the routes above.

Work in this order. First ask whether a parent was Spanish when you were born. If yes, you are Spanish by origin. If no, ask whether a parent was Spanish or your filiation or adoption was established after age 18, and then use option. If you once held Spanish nationality yourself, use recovery. If you filed a Democratic Memory claim by 22 October 2025, wait for it to be resolved.

Timeline and deadlines

• Opt if you are under the authority of a Spaniard, or your parent was originally Spanish and born in Spain: at any time, with no deadline

• Opt if your filiation or birth in Spain is established after age 18: within two years of that establishment

• Opt if a Spaniard adopted you after age 18: within two years of the adoption being constituted

Documents you need

• Completed application form, from the Registro Civil or consulate handling your file.

• Your valid passport or ID.

• Your full literal birth certificate, legalised or apostilled and translated into Spanish if it is foreign.

• Proof that your parent is Spanish: a Spanish birth certificate, the Libro de Familia (Spanish family book), or the parent's Spanish ID or passport.

• Your parents' marriage certificate, where it is needed to show the family link.

• For option, proof of the qualifying fact: the adoption, the filiation, or your parent's original Spanish nationality and birth in Spain.

• If you live abroad, a consular registration certificate from your Spanish consulate.

Checklist

• Find the office that handles your file: the Registro Civil of your home area in Spain, or the Spanish consulate where you live abroad.

• Gather your passport or ID, your birth certificate and proof of your Spanish parent's nationality.

• Get your foreign documents legalised or apostilled and translated into Spanish.

• Submit the application and documents in person or by appointment, or electronically where the office allows it.

• Attend the interview if the registrar asks for one.

• If you are opting, swear or promise loyalty to the King and obedience to the Constitution and laws, and renounce your previous nationality where it applies.

• Check that you are registered in the Registro Civil as Spanish once your claim is approved.

Frequently asked questions

Does a Spanish grandparent alone give me Spanish nationality?

No, a Spanish grandparent alone does not give you any right to Spanish nationality. A grandchild can claim only through a specific route, such as when the parent was Spanish by origin and the grandchild is a minor, or when the parent's own status is established.

Is there an age limit to opt for nationality if my parent was originally Spanish and born in Spain?

No, there is no age limit if your father or mother was originally Spanish and born in Spain. You can opt at any age, and you do not need to live in Spain.

Do I have to give up my current nationality when I opt?

Yes, you must renounce your previous nationality when you opt, unless you are a national of an Ibero-American country, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea or Portugal.

Will I need a criminal-record certificate to claim by origin or option?

No, criminal-record certificates are not normally required for origin or option, unlike for naturalisation by residence. The office handling your file can still ask for extra papers.