Spain offers nationals of most Latin American countries, as well as Brazil, a shortened route to Spanish nationality: eligible applicants may apply after two years of legal and continuous residence, compared with the standard ten-year residence requirement for most foreign nationals.
Why the two-year route is gaining attention
Spain’s reduced residence period has long made the country attractive for individuals and families seeking long-term settlement and access to EU citizenship. Its relevance is increasing as migration from Latin America to Spain rises and other nationality routes become less accessible.
According to data from Spain’s Permanent Observatory for Immigration, under the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, residence authorizations granted to nationals of Central and South American countries increased from 134,628 in 2020 to 272,372 in 2024. That represents cumulative growth of more than 102% over four years.
As more Latin American nationals establish legal residence in Spain, more people may become eligible to apply for Spanish nationality after completing two years of residence.
Democratic Memory Law applications have closed
Interest in residence-based naturalization is also being shaped by the closure of Spain’s Democratic Memory Law application period.
Until 22 October 2025, eligible descendants of Spanish nationals could apply for Spanish nationality without residing in Spain, if they met the law’s ancestry-based requirements. This route was especially relevant for people with Spanish heritage in Latin America.
According to figures provided by Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, approximately 2.45 million nationality applications were submitted before the application window closed.
With that pathway no longer available for new applicants, attention is shifting toward residence-based options. For eligible Latin American and Brazilian nationals willing to relocate to Spain, the two-year citizenship route remains one of the fastest available residence-based paths to EU nationality.
Common eligibility misunderstandings
Some people who may qualify for Spain’s two-year route are unaware of their eligibility.
Brazilian nationals are one example. Although Brazil is not Spanish-speaking, Brazilian citizens are expressly included among the Ibero-American nationals eligible for the reduced two-year residence requirement.
Puerto Ricans are another frequently overlooked group. Although Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, Spanish nationality law provides specific treatment that may allow them to benefit from the same reduced residence period.
Dual nationality is also often misunderstood. Many applicants assume they would have to give up their existing nationality to become Spanish. In practice, Spain recognizes dual nationality arrangements with Ibero-American countries, including Brazil, allowing many applicants to retain their original citizenship while acquiring Spanish nationality.
Residence routes that can start the process
Eligibility for the two-year citizenship pathway begins with legal residence in Spain. Depending on the applicant’s profile, possible residence routes may include:
These residence routes serve different purposes, but each may form part of a longer-term strategy leading to eligibility for Spanish citizenship.
Practical implications
For eligible Latin American and Brazilian nationals, Spain’s two-year route can turn EU citizenship from a long-term goal into a medium-term objective after legal residence is established.
Spanish citizenship provides full European Union citizenship rights, including the ability to live, work, and study across EU member states. It also gives access to a strong passport with broad global mobility and settlement opportunities.
For families, the impact may extend across generations. Acquiring Spanish nationality can create future opportunities for children and strengthen a family’s long-term connection to Spain and the wider European Union.
The main planning question is not only whether the applicant qualifies by nationality. It is also which Spanish residence route fits their circumstances, whether they can maintain legal and continuous residence, and how Spanish citizenship fits into their family, mobility, and long-term settlement goals.
Source article: www.globalcitizensolutions.com
