You may qualify for Spanish nationality by option if:

• You were born to a Spanish father or mother, even if they later lost Spanish nationality.
• Your father or mother was originally Spanish and born in Spain, even if they later became British or a citizen of another nationality.
• You were adopted by a Spanish citizen before turning 18.
• You were under the parental authority of a Spanish national.

If your parent was born in Spain, you may be entitled to Spanish nationality - even now.

A Common Case: When a Parent Lost Spanish Nationality

Many people in the UK have mothers originally from Spain who lost their Spanish nationality upon marriage to a non-Spanish citizen.

Even in that case, you may still qualify for Spanish nationality under Article 20.1(b) of the Spanish Civil Code, because your mother was originally Spanish and born in Spain.

This is one of the most common and successful routes for descendants.

Can I Keep My British Nationality?

Yes - in practice, you can hold both nationalities.

While the Spanish authorities require a formal statement of “renunciation” of your current nationality, this is a procedural formality only. It does not cause you to lose your British citizenship, and you do not need to notify the UK authorities.

Travel and EU Rights as a Spanish Citizen

As an EU citizen, you can enter and move freely within the Schengen Area without a visa or the 90/180‑day limit, using a valid Spanish passport or national ID card. You also have the right to live, work, and study in other EU/EEA countries and Switzerland, subject to local registration rules for stays over 90 days. Note that Ireland is not part of Schengen.

If you hold dual British–Spanish nationality, use your Spanish passport or DNI when entering Schengen (including Spain) to be processed as an EU citizen.

Why Apply Now?

Applying for Spanish nationality requires careful legal preparation, and collecting all the necessary documents from both Spain and the UK can take considerable time. Spanish consulates in the UK are currently operating at full capacity, which may result in longer processing times.

Acting now gives you the best chance of a smooth and timely application. The earlier you start, the sooner your documents can be sourced, reviewed, and your nationality confirmed. Don’t wait; beginning the process today can save months of delay.

Our Spanish immigration legal team can guide you through the entire process - from assessing your eligibility to gathering your documents and submitting your application correctly to help ensure a successful outcome.

How Scornik Gerstein Can Help

We are an Anglo–Spanish law firm based in the UK, specialised in Spanish nationality and immigration law, with extensive experience assisting British residents of Spanish descent.

Our services include:

1. Eligibility assessment under Article 20 of the Spanish Civil Code.
2. Document collection and legalisation in Spain and the UK.
3. Application preparation and filing through the Spanish Consulate in London, Manchester, or Edinburgh.
4. Ongoing advice until your nationality is granted.

Reconnect with Your Spanish Roots

Even though the Law of Democratic Memory has ended, your connection to Spain may still open the door to Spanish citizenship.

If your father or mother was born in Spain, you could still qualify for Spanish nationality by option - and we’d be delighted to help you through the process.

Contact us today for a consultation and find out whether you’re eligible to claim your Spanish citizenship.