Spanish Citizenship and Two-Stage Schemes Fraud

Though we do not provide legal services in countries of Latin America (with the exception of The Dominican Republic and Costa Rica) and in Spain, experts of “Elma Global” from time to time receive questions from prospective clients who are interested in acquiring Spanish citizenship using two-stage procedure. It is known that normal naturalization period in Spain (number of years required to apply for citizenship) is 10 years of legal residence. At the same time for citizens of Latin American countries (with Spanish as official language) a reduced naturalization period is applied. Latin Americans can launch an application for Spanish citizenship after 2 years of legal residence in Spain. This situation entailed many fraudulent offers and scam web-sites offering foreign nationals fast passport programs in Latin American countries with subsequent acquisition of Spanish citizenship.

It should be kept in mind that no fast passport programs exist in Latin America. The shortest naturalization period exists in The Dominican Republic. Only one year to get citizenship if you use accelerated procedure. Normal period of naturalization in Dominican Republic is two years. Also the privilege to be naturalized in Spain in two years applies only to native-born Latin Americans. So, if you acquired citizenship of the Dominican Republic by naturalization or marriage and moved to Spain you would not be able to apply for citizenship of Spain after two years of legal residence. Like any other foreigner you will be expected to reside 10 years before it is possible to become a citizen of Spain.

If we take other Latin American countries the residence period required to be eligible for citizenship ranges from 2 to 5 years as follows:

More Explanations

We shall try to explain how second passport fraud works. Some providers second citizenship and second passport of Latin America use argument of “easy naturalization in Spain and consequently in European Union”.

It must be noted that citizens of Iberoamerica (e.g. citizen of Argentina, Uruguay, or Paraguay) must be born in Latin America in order to have a privilege to acquire Spanish citizenship in two years instead of normal 10 years. In case you get citizenship of any Iberoamerican State by naturalization, not by birth, then 2 years as a reduced naturalization period in Spain does not apply. In this case normal naturalization of 10 years of legal residence in Spain applies if you want to be naturalized in Spain. So, if your final goal is Spain or EU, it is better for you to consider acquisition of temporary or even permanent residence in some EU country. Latin American passport will be of no good in Spain or Europe.

Questions Related to Acquisition of Spanish Citizenship:

Question: I am writing regarding acquiring Spanish Citizenship. I am a Filipino Citizen. I just want to clarify that as a Filipino Citizen, we are entitled of only 2 Year(s) of legal residency in Spain then we can apply for naturalization. Is this one true? They said that it’s because Philippines has a historical ties with the Spain and so they have these law for the nationals of Iberoamerica, Andorra, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal. What about acquiring citizenship by investing in the real estate? What about for marriage? I hope to receive the soonest reply from you.
Answer: Yes, this is correct. Filipino citizen can apply for Spanish citizenship after two years of legal residence in Spain. Please, note that investing in real estate leads only to visa and not to legal residence for a purpose of citizenship. In order to begin residence you must get temporary or permanent residence in Spain. You can get residency permit through labor contract with a Spanish firm, through marriage, or through purchasing business. We can help you with purchasing of real estate but with residency permits we work primarily with Russian and Ukrainian nationals.

Question: I had a question about naturalization as a Spanish citizen. I will be marrying a European citizen and we intend on settling in Barcelona (I am currently living and working in London). I currently have both Filipino and American passports. I had several questions I was hoping you could help me with? First, I was wondering if I should apply for the Family Reunification Visa on my Filipino or American passport. And also, I was wondering about whether or not I would be able to naturalize as a Spanish citizen with as a Filipino after two years? There is one thing I am worried about however; I am only a Filipino citizen since 2005. Prior to 2001, the Philippines revoked the citizenship of natural-born Filipinos who naturalized in other countries. My parents naturalized as United States citizens prior to my birth and thus, I was born with only American citizenship. However, in 2001 the Philippines allowed former natural-born Filipino citizens to reclaim their citizenship along with their children. So in 2005, I claimed my Filipino citizenship. Essentially, my mother was a natural born citizen of the Philippines (as is my Father), and she reclaimed her Filipino citizenship and put me (still a minor at that time) on her application. I did not make a separate application on my own for reclamation, or even naturalization. With these circumstances, would I still be eligible to naturalize in Spain after two years residence with my fiancée (soon to be wife)? Additionally, I have direct Spanish descent so I should be able to apply through the Law of Historical Memory I think, but during the Second World War, the Japanese Army destroyed all the baptismal and marriage certificates recording my family descent from a citizen of Spain. I don’t suppose there is much that can be done about that is there? I would appreciate any assistance you could offer on these matters. Thank you very much and have a good day.
Answer: We do not assist in acquisition of Spanish citizenship. As to your inquiry I do not think that it is possible to get citizenship by descent without appropriate documents. You seem to be eligible to apply for Spanish citizenship after two years of legal residence in Spain because you are considered to be “natural born Filipino citizen”. Though I am not sure you can keep American citizenship when Spanish is approved. Spain does not have the appropriate treaty with the USA. Will you be ready to renounce American passport?
Question: Thanks so much for your reply. So can I just clarify that despite to my circumstances regarding my mother losing her citizenship before I was born and reclaiming it while I was a minor, that I can still be considered a “natural born Filipino” and Filipino by naturalization by Spain?
Answer: Yes, your understanding is correct.

Question: I am a Filipino Citizen. We are entitled of only 2 years of legal residency in Spain then we can apply for naturalization due to the historical ties of the 2 countries. Are there cases of faster naturalization/citizenship if a Filipino is a descendant of a Spanish national? My Great-great-grandfather was from Malaga before he went here.
Answer: We do not deal with Spanish citizenship cases at present.

Question: I am going to become a Mexican Citizen very soon and would like to acquire Spanish Citizenship In that case would I have to apply for a Spanish visa via my Mexican passport or my American side?
Answer: If you are going to become a Mexican citizen through naturalization then you have no privileges to get Spanish citizenship after two years of legal residence in Spain. Only Mexicans by birth have those privileges. Naturalized Mexicans will be expected to reside in Spain for 10 years before they can apply for Spanish citizenship.

If you have any question regarding above-mentioned material or wish to use our legal assistance in obtaining permanent residency or second citizenship, contact us today