Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Bruno Bianchi
Spanish Citizenship via Mexican Heritage: The Question
I am interested in obtaining Spanish citizenship through my Mexican citizenship. I was born in the US to Mexican parents and applied for Mexican citizenship through my parents. I am brand new to this and would love any information or previous posts related to this topic.
How to Get Spanish Citizenship with Mexican Heritage
These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
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Start the Moving to Spain Hub →“From the information posted previously, if you obtain Mexican nationality from your parents, you are considered Mexican by birth. Article 30 of 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 your Consulate in this case within the US. 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.
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Explore Cities →This is no legal advice, I strongly recommend using immigration lawyers with a proven successful track record in visas and citizenship processes. They can also suggest other pathways that fit your situation.
You can request online consultations here: https://spainguru.es/consultations-immigration-tax/
If you prefer the DIY route, you will still need services like apostilles and sworn translations, and potentially (depending on your situation), a private health insurance. Here you can find recommended professionals:
Sworn translators: https://spainguru.es/sworn-translations-spanish-translators-registered-with-ministry-foreign-affairs/
Apostille services: https://spainguru.es/apostille-services-us-uk/
Health insurance: https://spainguru.es/health-insurance/
I highly suggest you to watch the interview I made to the director of Sterna Abogados, ainhoa Manero, as we talked about all these issues:
“Exactly what’s been said already. Your next step is legal residency in Spain for 2 yrs, & then maintaining that through the process.”
“You’ll have to apply for residency with your Mexican passport and stay for two years. Then you’ll be able to apply for Spanish residency. Be aware that Spain will ask you to renounce your US citizenship (you’ll be allowed to keep your Mexican nationality). However many Americans say they’ll renounce it but don’t actually go through the process.”
“A lawyer I spoke to recently in Spain said they will let you have multi nationalities btw and that the law around that changed. I was concerned about having to give up mine and he said it’s not the case anymore.”
Planning your move to Spain? Check out our complete Moving to Spain guide, learn about the Non-Lucrative Visa, explore the cost of living in Spain, and discover your Digital Nomad Visa options.
Conclusion: Spanish Citizenship for Mexican Nationals
Individuals with Mexican citizenship by birth have a unique advantage when applying for Spanish citizenship, benefiting from a reduced residency requirement of just two years compared to ten years for others.
The pathway involves securing a suitable Spanish visa, establishing legal residency, and possibly navigating complex legal and bureaucratic processes.
Consulting with a knowledgeable immigration lawyer is strongly recommended to ensure compliance with all requirements and to explore all potential pathways, including those for dual nationals.
Related articles
How Mexican Nationals Can Gain Spanish Citizenship While Working in Spain
Can I use my Mexican passport with my maiden name to apply for a Spanish visa?
Gaining Spanish citizenship with a dual nationality in 2023
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