Last Updated on March 18, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi
Question
Do you have to maintain Spanish residency while waiting for a citizenship decision on the Ibero-American citizenship plan? For example you have stayed in Spain for two years and have completely submitted your application. Can you then move to another country while awaiting the approval?
Answers
These are the answers of some Facebook group members:
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“No, you do need to maintain legal residence in Spain for the two years you need to apply, during your applications and until you are formally sworn in. Basically you will need to live in Spain for at least three years, I would bank on 4, because sometimes there are delays. This is not a fast process.”
“You have to be on the padron and have an in-force residency card. You’re supposed to be living there until the jura.
But of course, within Schengen, there’s no border control… so if you kept residency and just went and stayed somewhere else, they almost certainly wouldn’t know.
That said, it would be a hell of a bummer if they denied it to you because they found out.”
“Citizenship applications can only be made by residents.”
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