Spanish nationality granted discretionally by Royal Decree in exceptional circumstances, with no residence requirement — historically used for notable athletes and cultural figures and for victims of terrorist attacks.
Birth in Spain alone does not generally confer citizenship. Nationality by origin applies in limited parentage, statelessness, or undetermined-parentage cases.
Spain recognizes nationality by origin through a Spanish parent and an option route for some children of originally Spanish parents.
A time-limited right of option, with no residence, for children and grandchildren of Spaniards who lost or renounced nationality through exile, and for descendants of Spanish women who lost it by marriage before 1978.
Civil Code Article 22 sets stacked residence floors: ten years ordinary; five for recognized refugees; two for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, or Portugal, and for persons of Sephardic origin; and one year for several family and birth-in-Spain categories (including marriage to a Spaniard). Residence must be legal, continuous, and immediately before applying. Integration (DELE/CCSE where required) and good civic conduct apply. Dual nationality is generally retained for the two-year preferential nationalities. The grant remains discretionary. Processing time is separate and often long.
Sources: Spanish Civil Code — Articles 17, 20 and 22 · Spain General Administration — acquisition of nationality by residence
Residence for non-EU remote workers under the 2022 Startups Law; unaffected by the golden-visa repeal.
Residence for those with sufficient passive income/savings who will not work in Spain; popular with retirees.