HOW TO BECOME SPANISH

Jennifer Sontag, who has already shown us how to become Italian, is, obviously, no stranger to overseas bureaucratic issues. As the CEO and founder of ViaMonde, she helps make those bureaucratic issues a little simpler, assisting Americans who are looking to relocate to Italy or Spain navigate those windy roads. 

Jennifer splits her time between Spain and Italy. In Italy, she holds dual citizenship and a home. In Spain, she holds a pareja de hecho — a legally recognized and rights-protective alternative to marriage — a home, and even a Spanish driver’s license, making her as close to Spanish as she’ll ever become. So, she knows as well as anyone how and what it means to become Spanish. 

Here she shares what you need to know if you, too, wish to become a Spanish citizen. Which means legal resident for most people who apply, Spanish citizen for those who qualify.

Why are more people than ever considering a move to Spain?

Spain currently has a very strong economy and is internationally recognized for its incredible lifestyle, but the fiscal and bureaucratic incentives are what truly set it apart. The clarification on tax options — specifically “Beckham’s Law” — combined with a three-year residency granted upon successful submission of the Digital Nomad Visa, offers significantly more stability than competing EU countries like Portugal and Italy.

In our experience, Spain’s bureaucracy is more straightforward and immigrant-friendly, and it is only going to get better with new protocols being introduced for 2026. Of course, the culture, food, and climate play a huge role, but the ease of daily life goes a long way when people are deciding where to settle. When potential expats turn to social media to read about others’ experiences, Spain has a stellar reputation, certainly better than the alternatives. Outside of the immediate pressure cooker of Barcelona, the country is incredibly welcoming to newcomers.

How can you go about getting there—visa options, citizenship? Is it as complicated as it is with Italy’s bureaucracy issues?

Visas are the primary route, at least for our clients. For citizens of former Spanish colonies—mainly in South America—there is a two-year pathway to citizenship. However, our clients are primarily North American and Australian, so they go the visa route first.

The Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) is a straightforward choice. In comparison with Italy’s Elective Residency visa, the NLV has a less restrictive income threshold and allows you to use savings to show financial proof you qualify, although in practice it’s best to show a mix of sources ensuring solvency. 

Italy that does not allow straight savings at all, or many traditional 401ks, and often requires restructuring savings into passive income, which can be a hurdle. Spain’s flexibility is a game-changer for younger clients who may have “FIRE’d” (Financial Independence, Retire Early) but are not yet eligible for a pension or Social Security.

For clients who are still working, the Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) is heads and tails above the Italian equivalent. You can enter Spain as a tourist, apply for the DNV directly, and get a decision in 20 days. If positive, you secure your long-term housing and receive a three-year residence permit. Italy, conversely, forces you to secure housing before you can even apply.

How can one discover if they are eligible?

Citizenship is complicated in Spain for outsiders as their “citizenship by descent” program has ended. The most popular strategy right now involves the “Ibero-American” fast track, which is for citizens of Ibero-American countries (such as Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Brazil) and Portugal, the Philippines, Andorra, or Equatorial Guinea. 

If you hold nationality by birth from any of the following countries, you are eligible for the expedited two-year residency path:

South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela.  

Central America & Caribbean: Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama.  

Plus, there’s “Special Ibero-American Status” — Puerto Rico (proof of Puerto Rican origin is required to benefit from this, as it is considered Ibero-American for these purposes). And former Colonies & Historical Territories also qualify for the same two-year fast track: The Philippines. Equatorial Guinea, Andorra, Portugal, and Sephardic Jews — individuals of proven Sephardic origin can also apply after two years of residency.  

You only need two years of legal residency (instead of the standard 10) to apply for citizenship. A crucial detail: You can combine this with the Digital Nomad Visa, if you are a remote worker holding a passport from one of these countries. You can move to Spain, work remotely for two years, and then immediately apply for citizenship.But to qualify, you must hold a residence permit (like the 3-year DNV) — not just a student visa or short-stay visa.

Alternatively, with the DNV or NLV, you can also apply for Spanish citizenship after 10 years of residency provided you meet all qualifications, which is similar to the timelines in Italy and Portugal.

Have property costs remained low? Would you suggest purchasing or rent?

Costs are increasing. Spain’s economy is strong and it is a highly sought-after place to live. However, there are still good deals to be had. Moving outside of Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia offers smaller, more local experiences and significantly better housing prices.

We are actually purchasing in Zaragoza, a city directly between Madrid and Barcelona, after renting in Barcelona for the last 4 and a half years. We are now at the center of the high-speed train route between both major cities, giving us excellent access. Zaragoza is a growing international city with excellent schools, cultural sites, food, and stable but slowly growing housing prices. Further south, cities like Alicante are a good alternative to Valencia — again, connected to the high-speed rail network.

We always recommend renting before buying. Spain, like many other EU countries, is more stable when it comes to buying and selling, but comes with high closing costs on purchases. It makes sense to try an area first. Renting allows you to decide on your non-negotiables: what type of neighborhood fits you, and whether you want a walkable city or are willing to pass the driving test within six months so you can live in a suburban area.

Since the entire process of relocating abroad can be stressful, how do you make it an easier transition for your clients? Is it to tell them to envision tapas-hopping once everything is done?

Ha, I wish! Our entire team has moved around the world and back. We are different from other agencies because we are hands-on, we do not simply guide or make a call. We are physically there with our clients at every appointment, from viewing homes to submitting applications to opening bank accounts.

No one moves to Spain to make their life harder or more frustrating. Most who move do not have a good grasp of the language yet, so our multi-lingual team takes the bureaucracy on for them so they can enjoy life and come along for the ride.

I moved to Spain on Christmas Day, 2020, with my Spanish partner. We had just left Shanghai, China, where we had been living for the previous couple of years. Spain was generous enough to provide us with a letter offering safe passage into the EU, since Covid restrictions meant that, as an American, I would not have been allowed in otherwise.

After we arrived, we spent the next four days on a whirlwind of apartment hunting in Barcelona while staying in a hotel. We had our recent rescue dog with us, so we wanted to get settled as quickly as possible. Once we found the perfect apartment — with two beautiful parks within a block, both with dog runs — we got to work establishing me as a foreigner with residency.

It was a maze of appointments and phone calls. My partner is a Spanish immigration attorney, but had to deal with the challenges of getting appointments for my NIE (foreigner ID) and empadronamiento (census registration). Spain has a “mafia” of sorts that hoards the online appointments, so you often have to know someone or pay someone off just to get a slot. 

Once we had that sorted, we were off to our notary to file our pareja de hecho — our registered partnership. This allowed me to legally live in Spain as long as we remained a couple. With my legality sorted, I spent my days attending intensive Spanish classes, exploring the city, and eating all the delicious food before heading to Sicily later that March to apply for my Italian citizenship by descent.