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CITIZENSHIP

How to check the status of your Spanish citizenship application

If you meet all the requirements and have applied for Spanish citizenship, it can be a long and frustrating wait to find out if it has been granted or not. Fortunately, there are several ways you can check on the status of your application.

Published: 15 August 2023 13:06 CEST
How to check the status of your Spanish citizenship application
How to check your Spanish citizenship application. Photo: Tim Nwachukwu / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

Typically if you’ve lived in Spain for 10 years or more, you are legally able to apply for Spanish citizenship.

Like many bureaucratic processes in Spain, it can be complicated, and waiting for an answer can take a long time.

For citizenship applications submitted online, Spain’s Justice Ministry should give a response within a year, according to a 2015 Spanish law. 

In reality, however, waiting times for Spanish citizenship applications in recent years are reportedly between one and three years. 

READ ALSO: How long are waiting times for the Spanish citizenship process?

This is according to a number of legal firms in Spain specialising in Spanish citizenship applications, from Balcells Group, to Parainmigrantes.info and Legalteam. 

Fortunately, there are several ways you can check on the status of your application while you wait, giving you an insight into when you may receive your final answer.

The legal continuous residency requirements for Spanish Spanish citizenship are:

  • 10 years as the general rule
  • 5 years if you are a refugee
  • 2 years if you are from a Spanish or Portuguese-speaking Latin American country, Andorra, Equatorial Guinea, Philippines or Portugal.
  • 1 year for those married to a Spanish national or children/grandchildren of Spanish citizens born in Spain. 

READ ALSO – Step by step: how to apply for Spanish nationality

How to check your application status

One of the easiest ways to check the status of your application is via an online tool. 

In order to be able to use it, you must remember that you must have registered and received your reference or R number, otherwise, you won’t be able to.

If you submit your application online, you will get this automatically, but if you have done it in person or any other way, it will be assigned to you at a later date.

To access the service, you will need:

  • The reference number from your application
  • Your NIE number 
  • The year you applied 
  • Your date of birth

How to check your Spanish citizenship application. Source: Spanish government

Make sure to enter your NIE in capital letters, with no hyphens.

You can also access this online tool if you have registered for a Cl@ve by formally identifying yourself online under the section ¿Cómo va lo mío?

READ ALSO: How to save lots of time on official matters through Spain’s online Cl@ve system

How to check the status of your Spanish citizenship application. Source: Spanish government

Once you have done this you will be able to see your status. It will be marked as one of the following:

  • En Estudio (In Study)
  • Pendiente respuesta informes preceptivos solicitados (Pending response to mandatory reports requested)
  • Requerido (Documents requested)
  • Pendiente de firma (Pending signature)
  • En calificación (Being qualified)
  • Abierto – concedido (Open – Granted)
  • Expediente archivado (Archived application)
  • Nacionalidad denegada (Nationality denied)
  • Expediente en vía de recurso (Appealed application)
  • Estimado por recurso de reposición (Approved after an appeal)
This will tell you the status, as well as details such as if you need to provide further documentation.
 
You can also obtain information on the status of your procedure through the general information telephone number 060. 

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For members

SPAIN AND THE US

How to quickly get a US passport for a child born in Spain 

What are the steps to apply for a baby's US passport from Spain? How long does it take? Here’s all the experience-based information and tips American parents in Spain should know before beginning the process.

Published: 17 April 2024 16:46 CEST
How to quickly get a US passport for a child born in Spain 

You’ve left the United States and moved to Spain. Now, you’ve added a baby to this fabulous new life. You’ll want to secure their U.S. citizenship and passport straight away.

If one parent is Spanish, your child is entitled to Spanish citizenship. If your child doesn’t qualify for citizenship by birth, they’ll need an American passport to declare their nationality before being registered in Spain.

This article lays out the qualifications for a U.S. passport and the steps to get one. Fortunately, the process is fairly simple, according to people who have done it.

Does your baby qualify for a U.S. passport?
 
Your newborn qualifies for U.S. citizenship and a U.S. passport under the following conditions.
 
– They were born within wedlock to two U.S. citizen parents.
– They were born within wedlock and one of the parents is a U.S. citizen, and lived at least five years in the Unites States, two of which were ager after 14 or
– They were born out of wedlock to a U.S. citizen mother and non-citizen father.
– They were born out of wedlock to a U.S. citizen father and non-citizen mother.
 
When the parent who is a U.S. citizen is the father and the baby is born out of wedlock, there are a few additional steps required.

You’ll need to prove the blood relationship between your child and their father, attain a sworn statement from the father agreeing to give financial support until they are 18 years old and supply a written statement acknowledging paternity.

If your child does qualify for American citizenship, the next steps are pretty straightforward, although completing the required forms can be time-consuming.

What are the first steps when applying for a child’s U.S. passport from Spain?

The first step is applying for a Consular Report of Birth abroad (CRBA), which documents that your child is a U.S. citizen at birth. Any of the U.S. Consular Agencies in Spain can accept applications for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA) and U.S. passports.

To begin, you’ll apply online. But remember, you’ll need original copies of any documents you upload; you’ll bring these to your in-person appointment at the consulate.
 
Documents you’ll need include:
 
·      Your child’s Spanish birth certificate.
·      Your marriage certificate, if married.
·      Divorce certificate, if divorced.
·      Evidence of U.S. parent’s citizenship, valid identification, and proof of physical presence in the United States.
·      Valid identification for non-U.S. citizen parent 
 
 “You will need proof of having been a long-term US resident in the past so think about what you can show (school transcripts, tax returns, etc.)” says Liz who moved from Scottsville Arizona to Málaga. Many Americans said this was the most time-intensive part.
 
Once you’ve completed and submitted your CRBA, you’re ready to make an appointment at a U.S. Consulate. The best way to make the appointment is by contacting the consulate directly, but make sure to wait for three days after submitting and paying for your CRBA. The fee is $100.00.

Remember, you must bring the original versions of every document you uploaded for your CRBA application, and your child must be present. Generally, both parents must also be present.

You can apply for your child’s passport at the same appointment. Be sure to complete the U.S. passport application prior to your appointment (including payment of a $135 fee) and bring the originals of all documents you uploaded for your passport application. Both parents must sign the application.
 
You’ll need to bring original copies and photocopies of the following documents:
 
·      One 2”x2” (5x5cm) passport picture for your child.
·      A document listing the legal guardians of your child.
·      Identification for both parents.
·      A physical copy of the completed passport application form (DS-11).
 

Important considerations:
 
For the CRBA, the U.S. parent(s) must report their physical presence in the United States, detailing each trip abroad. In other words, it’s crucial you don’t include time abroad in your list of days staying within the United States. If the dates are incorrect, the processing could be suspended until you correct the dates.

“The hardest part for us was to list every country we had ever visited, when and why.  Other than that, pretty easy. We did through the consulate in Valencia. Good luck,” says Sara, who moved from Boston, Massachusetts to Valencia.
 
It’s very important for both listed parents to attend the appointment. If only one parent can attend, you’ll need to submit a Statement of Consent. If you have sole legal custody of your child, you’ll need to bring proof, such as a court order.
 
Bring your child’s passport photo in a separate envelope (to not use it) but don’t staple it to the passport application.

How long does it take?
 
Generally, it takes approximately eight weeks to receive your child’s passport, which will be mailed to you. Be prepared to receive multiple mailings; your passport and citizenship papers will come separately. If you’ve requested both a passport book and a passport card, you’ll get 3 different mailings. If you’d like, you can pay for faster shipping.
 
If you have questions, don’t be shy about contacting your consulate. “It’s a simple process. Visit the US embassy website for any information you need. You can call or email any questions you have,” says Sarah, who moved from San Francisco to Barcelona.

Congratulations on your multinational family!

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