Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi
Question
I have a question about a work visa. Would I still be able to apply for Spanish citizenship with my Mexican citizenship (which I got since my parents are Mexican born) if I apply to jobs in Spain as an American?
I have been interested in working in Spain, but I don’t know if working in Spain as an American would count for the two years towards Spanish citizenship with my Mexican citizenship. I have a bachelor’s degree in business and I’m interested in applying to some Spanish companies.
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These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
“The passport is not the problem but finding a job will not be easy as unemployment is high and jobs go first to Spaniards then to EU passport holders.”
“You first have to find a legal way to stay in Spain – via work or retirement or digital visa. Doesn’t matter your citizenship (if you’re not spanish or EU). Once you have a legal way to be in Spain, You can use the Mexican citizenship to your advantage to get Spanish citizenship.”
“You can’t use naturalised Mexican citizenship for the fast track route to Spanish citizenship I believe. You need to have had the right to Mexican since birth. You can still take Spanish citizenship but it would be a 10-year qualifying period.”
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“If you obtain Mexican nationality from your parents, you are considered Mexican by birth. Article 30 of the Mexican constitution.
This is important because naturalized Ibero-American citizens don’t benefit from the 2-year fast track for Spanish citizenship by legal residence in Spain.
However, Ibero-American citizens by birth do benefit from a 2-year legal residence in Spain requirement versus the common 10-year residence requirements for American citizens. You will then need to apply for the Spanish Visa that suits your needs and you can comply with the requirements.
Student visas are not considered residency and do not count for citizenship in Spain.
Popular options are Spanish digital Nomad Visa and non-lucrative Visa. The digital nomad Visa can be applied from your consulate (grants 1 year residence), also from Spain and grants you 3 years of legal residence.
The non-lucrative Visa grants you one year residence, and can be renewed for 4 more (2 and 2), but can only be applied from the Consulate that serves your area of residency.
You can also enter Spain with one kind and then switch to the other kind. Dual Nationals can apply for the non-lucrative visa with your USA passport, but then apply for the Spanish nationality with your Mexican passport to benefit from the faster residence requirement.
This is no legal advice, I strongly recommend using immigration lawyers with a proven successful track record in visas and citizenship processes.”
Conclusion
For Mexican nationals considering Spanish citizenship, the pathway involves understanding both the legal requirements and practical considerations.
Mexican citizenship by birth provides a significant advantage, reducing the residency requirement for Spanish citizenship from ten years to just two.
However, securing a job and legal residence in Spain remains a challenge, particularly given the high unemployment rate and preference for EU nationals.
Navigating these complexities often necessitates professional legal assistance, particularly when considering the various visa options and their implications for long-term residency and citizenship.
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