Gather the necessary documents. Whichever reason guides your application for Spanish citizenship, you will most certainly have to obtain the following documents in order to begin the process: birth certificate (translated into Spanish, and with an apostil); birth certificate of Spanish relative, or marriage certificate of Spanish spouse; and a penal record certificate (obtained from your local police registrar). If your case falls under those that require residence in Spain before obtaining citizenship, you also will have to present a certification from the local police department that states you are registered legally as a foreigner. In this case you must provide a residence card, census certification, a declaration of citizen behavior, a cohabitation certification and a certification obtained at the corresponding consulate, which states your registration.
Present the documents. You will have to present all these documents. If you are abroad, provide the documents at your closest Spanish consulate of embassy, and if you are in Spain, at the local immigration office run by the Ministry of Justice.
Fill out the application. Once the personnel at the consulate, embassy or immigration office have verified the validity of all the documents presented, they will give you the necessary forms to apply for Spanish citizenship.
Be patient. Depending on the intricacy of your case, and how much research has to be done in order to verify the validity of all the documentation you presented, the process will take some time. On average, it takes about six months to a year to obtain a Spanish citizenship.
