Question
My husband is from Spain. We currently reside in CA. I would like to move to Sevilla or Malaga. We have three children. What is the first step to obtaining Spanish citizenship for myself and children?
How feasible would it be to either find a place to rent for a year, or looking to buy. Our savings are limited to 40k, not sure what we could find in Malaga with a small down payment.
I lived in Cordoba for one year and speak conversational Spanish.
Answers
These are the answers of some Facebook group members:
”Your kids are easy and can be done from the US. You have to be married to a Spanish citizen and residing in Spain with legal status for a year, take the language and history test, and then can apply”
”You can rent a small 3 bedroom townhouse (adosada) for €900-€1300 per month in Málaga. The eastern side (Rincon de la Victoria, Benalgabon, Torre del Mar, Velez-Malaga) is cheaper than the western side, and with Velez being 10 minutes inland, prices are even cheaper. That said, buying a place with 3 bedrooms runs 300k-500k. Download the Idealista app, and you can get daily updates, which will familiarize you with prices for both renting and buying”
‘”I don’t know if you’ve seen this or not. It’s less than a year old but super useful if you have kids that are Spanish nationals. The first thing you have to do is register your marriage and kids’ births in your Consulate (depending on where you’re in California it could be LA or San francisco). Then get the kid’s birth certificates or passports (DNIs could work too but you can’t get that in the Consulate). This will give you temporary residence and work permit for 5 years. You don’t have to show proof of funds for this option but you all have to be empadronados at the same address”
”You must check whether in your región they already use this new option to obtain residency as family members of a Spanish National, or still the old method, where you DO need to provide proof of funds. If it’s Arraigo Familiar in yr área, then you’ll need an FBI to check with Apostille”
”Savings of 40k…..and a mortgage at a 20/80 split….that would put you at a 200k flat…. Malaga city… I think you’re priced out depending on the neighbourhood you want (just how blue-collar you want to go) also…..the flat will be significantly smaller than what you’re used to… Torremolinos is a nearby option and probably your best bet closest to Malaga and has the cercanias (I’m actually a realtor that works out of Malaga city)”
”Do not forget that in addition to a down payment on a house, you’ll also need to pay a 10% transfer tax on it. It’s a lot more expensive upfront to buy property in Spain than in the States”
”Maybe come for a school year, see if you like it and what not. Bureaucreacy and taxes here are quite different. It sounds very cool on paper and it is an awesome experience for the kids and for your family if you can adapt but I’d try to rent first, make it a temporary situation and see how that goes. Employment (or unemployment) could be an issue, unless you work remotely, then you have to look into taxes, like I said. Lots of variables to consider. Maybe try a temporary move. You can always go back to the States if you need to but I wouldn’t do anything super radical like selling my house in the U.S. and moving here permanently unless you know you could go back to the U.S. and buy again easily (which not that easy these days) and what not”
”In Málaga, as with Sevilla, are both cities *and* provinces. So Málaga city right now is insanely expensive, but there are other areas in the province that are not as expensive but still have a great quality of life (this is probably also true for Sevilla but I don’t have the experience to be able to comment on that). I live in the Valle del Guadalhorce in Málaga (a comarca of about 7 – 8 towns that have populations of between 2K (the smallest towns) and 40k (some of the bigger towns). I do have a car (and it’s probably necessary to have at least one in the family if you live outside of the Malaga city center), but these days I depend on my bike and the cercanías train. I go into the city every day for work by bike and train, and when I do drive into the city it’s to go to the places like big outdoor malls, Ikea, the beach (NOT in the city), and to move around my town. Feel free to pm me if you have more questions”
”I am also from California and have dual citizenship in Spain. I am in the process of getting citizenship for my husband who is from San Diego. I got an immigration lawyer. The first step is going to the Spanish consulate in LA and register your marriage and birth of children in Spain. Then you need to apply for a residency permit which requires $13,000 euros in the bank or proof of a job. My lawyer said it’s easier to attain if you have 13k. After getting your residency permit you can apply for citizenship after living in Spain for 1 year. I currently live in Cadiz but am planning to move to Malaga in a few years as well. To have the lawyers submit your paperwork it cost $300 euros. I would recommend going through a lawyer because the process is very important! Also your marriage certificate and birth certificate must be translated by a sworn translator and apostilled. It’s worth it to move here. Living in California is stressful with the high cost of living! Good luck”
”I bought an apartment in Madrid in 2021, as others have mentioned you need a hefty amount of cash to be able to buy a property in Spain. If you qualify for a mortgage the most they will give you is around 80%, so you need 20% for the down payment + between 6-10% tax depending on the province and type of property, that isn’t covered by the mortgage+ notary costs+ transfer fees between bank+ whatever you lose in commissions if you are converting from USD to euros. I ended up paying 19K in taxes and notary fees, and I was on the lower end of the tax requirement, so you do really need to budget for that, and have at least 30% of the value of the property saved up. Madrid prices are not Malaga prices, Madrid still being (slightly) more expensive but they aren’t that different. The prices in Malaga have skyrocketed, over 30% in the last year or so, meaning it will be very difficult to get a house or a 3 bedroom apartment for under 300 K in central Malaga, that doesn’t need at least 50k in renovations. You might want to consider renting while you continue to save while getting to know the market better. As others have noted rent in central Malaga for a 3 bedroom should be expected to be about 1200 euros”
”How well do you deal with extreme heat? Temperatures during the summer in Andalucia, but especially in Sevilla go to about 110 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade (43 C). It’s a lovely city but it gets HOT, and running the AC 24 hours in a 3 bedroom home isn’t possible without paying a 400 euro electric bill. You need to be prepared”
In conclusion, according to Spainguru Facebook group members, the first step to obtaining citizenship for yourself and your children in Spain is to register your marriage and your children’s births at the Spanish consulate in your region. Afterward, you can apply for a residency permit, which may require proof of funds or a job. Renting a place for a year is feasible, with rental prices varying depending on the location. Buying a property in Spain would require a significant amount of cash upfront for the down payment, taxes, notary fees, and other expenses. It is advisable to consult with an immigration lawyer to navigate the process effectively. Additionally, it’s recommended to consider a temporary move and rent first to understand the dynamics of living in Spain before making a permanent decision.
