Spanish nationality granted discretionally by Royal Decree in exceptional circumstances, with no residence requirement — historically used for notable athletes and cultural figures and for victims of terrorist attacks.
Birth in Spain alone does not generally confer citizenship. Nationality by origin applies in limited parentage, statelessness, or undetermined-parentage cases.
Spain recognizes nationality by origin through a Spanish parent and an option route for some children of originally Spanish parents.
A time-limited right of option, with no residence, for children and grandchildren of Spaniards who lost or renounced nationality through exile, and for descendants of Spanish women who lost it by marriage before 1978.
Civil Code Article 22 sets stacked residence floors: ten years ordinary; five for recognized refugees; two for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, or Portugal, and for persons of Sephardic origin; and one year for several family and birth-in-Spain categories (including marriage to a Spaniard). Residence must be legal, continuous, and immediately before applying. Integration (DELE/CCSE where required) and good civic conduct apply. Dual nationality is generally retained for the two-year preferential nationalities. The grant remains discretionary. Processing time is separate and often long.
Sources: Spanish Civil Code — Articles 17, 20 and 22 · Spain General Administration — acquisition of nationality by residence
International-teleworking authorization under Ley 14/2013 arts. 74 bis-74 quinquies (added by the 2022 Startups Law): gross income of at least 200% of the SMI (EUR 2,442 at the 2026 minimum wage), residence authorization up to three years renewable in two-year periods. Employees may work only for companies outside Spain; the self-employed may take Spanish clients up to 20% of their activity. Time counts toward long-term residence at five years and toward naturalization (ten years standard, two for Ibero-American nationals).
Sources: Ley 14/2013, arts. 74 bis-74 quinquies — teletrabajo internacional (BOE consolidado)
Temporary residence for non-EU nationals authorised to live in Spain without performing labour or professional activity (residencia temporal no lucrativa). Means test is a formula: 400% of the monthly IPREM for the principal and 100% of IPREM for each dependant (EUR 2,400/month for a solo applicant when IPREM is EUR 600). Initial authorisation lasts one year; renewal requires real and effective residence of more than 183 days in the natural year.
Sources: Real Decreto 1155/2024 — Reglamento de Extranjería (BOE-A-2024-24099), arts. 61–64 residencia no lucrativa · Ministerio de Inclusión — Hoja 6: Autorización inicial de residencia temporal no lucrativa
Where a licence connected to Spain can be exchanged, based on mapped official lists. Search every issuing country.
Licence issued in Spain
11 mapped destinationsExchanging a foreign licence in Spain
The mapped official list contains 33 issuing origins; 33 are listed without theory or practical tests.
DGT — Países con convenio de canjes (actualizado 26/06/2026)
Exchange normally requires residence in the destination and replaces the original licence. The official authority still decides validity, deadlines, classes, and any extra checks.
This passport benefits from: E-2 Treaty Investor · Panama Friendly Nations Visa · Andorra mobility conventions (ES/FR/PT)