Spanish citizenship by last name: myth or legal path?

Can I get Spanish citizenship just because of my surname?

The short answer: no. It is not possible to obtain Spanish nationality solely on the basis of your surname.

Nor is it true that there is an official list published by the government containing surnames that will facilitate Spanish nationality.

As we will see later in this article, there are different ways to obtain Spanish nationality, some of them thanks to your ancestors, but none of them allow you to obtain nationality solely on the basis of having a specific surname.

Furthermore, there have been no recent changes in the laws governing the different procedures for obtaining nationality, so there is nothing new that currently makes this procedure easier.

Why is “Spanish citizenship by surname” such a common belief?

In 2015, Spain passed a law that would last for three years plus one extendable year (Law 12/2015), which allowed Jews of Sephardic origin to obtain Spanish nationality much more directly.

One of the ways to prove that the applicant was indeed Sephardic was through their surname.

At that time, a large number of online portals began to publish lists of surnames of Sephardic origin so that applicants could verify and check if theirs was on that list.

However, this list was NOT an official list published by the government.

It was simply a way to check whether the applicant had a surname recognized as Sephardic in order to validate one of the many requirements in the process.
In addition, this surname had to be proven through a report issued by an entity recognized by the Spanish authorities, so in no case was the process as easy as having a surname on the list.

Although this procedure ended years ago, these lists have remained public online, even though they erroneously promise to obtain nationality simply by having the surname on that list.

Law 12/2015 (Sephardic Jews) expired on October 1, 2019 (with an operational extension and very limited corrections), meaning that there are no official lists currently in force.

Who can actually get Spanish citizenship? (Real legal paths)

Currently, the only real and valid options for obtaining Spanish nationality are those listed below.

However, whatever your situation, you must ensure that you meet the following requirements:

Legal, continuous, and immediately prior residence
Demonstrate good civic behavior
Demonstrate integration (by passing the CCSE tests and, except for Spanish speakers, taking the DELE A2 language exam)
Pay the corresponding fees
Take the oath and register in the Civil Registry

So, let’s look at the main ways to obtain nationality.

Nationality by residence

The most common route. This is the nationality that any foreigner can obtain after spending a minimum amount of time (10, 5, 2, or 1 year) as a legal resident in the country.

You can find all the details in this article.

Nationality by naturalization

Spanish nationality by naturalization is an exceptional procedure that can only be granted by the government by Royal Decree. It is granted due to extraordinary circumstances, such as relevant merits, outstanding services to Spain, or special ties to the country.

Unlike other routes, there is no residence period or standardized requirements: each case is studied individually.

For this reason, it is usually applied in very specific situations, such as elite athletes, artists, researchers, or people with a special cultural or historical connection to Spain.

Nationality for Spaniards by origin

Nationality for Spaniards by origin is the right of those who are born Spanish by law, whether by filiation, place of birth, or certain legal circumstances.

This status guarantees full citizenship from birth, without the need for any formalities.

It also includes specific cases, such as children of Spanish parents born abroad or minors adopted by Spanish nationals.

Being Spanish by origin means that you cannot be deprived of your nationality; however, you can lose it in the cases set out in Article 24 of the Civil Code if, while residing abroad, you acquire another nationality and do not declare that you wish to retain it within three years, or if you use only the foreign nationality.

Nationality by possession of the State

Spanish nationality by possession of State applies to those who, in good faith and for at least ten years, have used and enjoyed Spanish status on a continuous basis.

This concept consolidates citizenship on the basis of prolonged and recognized practice.

It is an unusual but useful route in situations where the person has exercised rights and duties as a Spanish citizen (for example, with official documentation), even though their nationality was not correctly registered at the time of origin.

In this way, legitimate trust in the use of nationality is rewarded.

Most importantly, there must be a ‘title’ registered in the Civil Registry that has motivated this continuous use (passport/ID card, registration, etc.). Without this title, the route provided for in Article 18 of the Civil Code to obtain this type of citizenship will not be successful.

Nationality by option

Spanish nationality by option allows children of Spanish fathers or mothers, or those who meet certain legal requirements, to acquire citizenship simply.

It is a route designed to strengthen family ties and direct links with Spain.

This right is particularly relevant for the minor children of foreigners who acquire nationality, as it is automatically extended to them. It also offers a quick route to those who, although not born Spanish, have a direct link to the country through filiation or adoption.

Democratic Memory Law

The Democratic Memory Law (known as the Grandchildren’s Law) recognizes the right to apply for Spanish nationality for children and grandchildren of exiles from the Civil War and Franco’s dictatorship.

This legislation seeks to repair historical memory and restore the link with Spain for thousands of descendants.

However, the deadline for submitting applications under the LMD is October 22, 2025 (inclusive), and it is no longer possible to apply for citizenship under this law.