Question
“Spanish citizenship: What are the benefits and disadvantages of becoming a Spanish citizen instead of just a resident? I believe I would have to give up my British passport, but what does that mean exactly?”
Answers
These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
“You do not have to give up your passport, period. There is no benefit though, other than being able to vote in national elections. In fact, under certain circumstances, you will also pay higher taxes.”
“There’s a huge benefit, being freedom of movement across EU.”
“A legal resident of Spain has the same freedom of movement, without the potential tax implications. Do the research.”
“The freedom of movement in the EU is a huge benefit.”
“You will end up having to pay taxes on your home country’s public pension when you become a citizen.”
“Many countries allow you to have dual if not multi citizenships.”
“Spain only recognizes dual citizenship with its former colonies.” – “Spain does not enforce renunciation.”
“You can also opositar (“opositar” refers to the process of taking public service entrance exams (oposiciones) to secure a permanent position in the Spanish public administration) to work to be a funcionario if you so choose to work as a public servant with great benefits.”
“You can disinherit your children but only under special circumstances. I had this problem as I am a Spanish Citizen. I have three children. I wanted to leave my house to my granddaughter but by law I can’t.
Your inheritance is like a cake divided into three bits. The first third is divided equally between all of your children. The second third can be left to one, two or all of your children. The last third you can leave to whoever you want.”
“In order to safeguard the rights of forced heirs, the Civil Code details the exact grounds on which disinheritance is possible. Firstly, it speaks of generic grounds, such as violence, serious accusations, preventing the testator from making a will, etc. All this must be proven by court judgement.”
“There are also specific reasons to disinherit a child, like seriously insulting or mistreating the parent, or denying maintenance.”
“There are two exams required: the CCSE and the DELE (A2 level for the latter).”
“Benefits are: freedom of movement within the EU as an EU citizen, you can vote in Spanish elections, and Spain would recognise you as only Spanish but the UK recognises dual nationality so you won’t lose your passport.”
“Your pension, which may not be taxed as a legal resident, will be taxed as a citizen. You are allowed to work after living here legally for five years.”
“It depends if you are in Spain more than 183 days per year. If yes, you pay resident tax. Less than this, you pay non-resident tax, which is usually higher.”
“If it is a government pension—teacher, civil servant, military, etc.—it is NOT taxed in Spain. Private pensions are.”
“What if it’s the usual pension like the one from NI?”
“SpainGuru article: What are the benefits of obtaining Spanish nationality?“
“What about the pension if the spouse dies? Can you also make some sort of video about this pension?”
Conclusion
Becoming a Spanish citizen instead of remaining a legal resident comes with meaningful benefits as well as important considerations. Community members consistently highlight the freedom of movement across the EU—not just for travel, but also to live and work—as one of the biggest advantages.
Other commonly mentioned benefits include the right to vote in national elections, no longer needing to renew a residency card, easier access to public services like healthcare, and the ability to pass EU citizenship to children.
However, several potential downsides are noted. Spain officially does not allow dual citizenship with most countries, including the UK or the US, meaning you may be asked to renounce your original nationality, even if this is not really enforced.
There are also possible tax implications, especially around pensions and inheritance. Spanish inheritance laws can restrict how assets are distributed, and becoming a citizen may trigger changes in how your foreign income is taxed, although this should be checked with a tax specialist.
Ultimately, choosing Spanish citizenship is more than a legal status—it can be a personal commitment to fully integrating into Spanish society. Whether the pros outweigh the cons will depend on your lifestyle, financial situation, and long-term plans in Spain and beyond.
Key Takeaways: Benefits of Becoming a Spanish Citizen vs Permanent Resident
- No more residency renewals – Citizenship is permanent; residency cards require periodic renewal.
- EU freedom of movement – Live and work anywhere in the EU without restrictions.
- Voting rights – Citizens can vote in national, regional, and local elections.
- Public sector jobs – Eligible for “funcionario” positions with job security and benefits.
- Easier EU travel – Use EU/Spanish passport lines and avoid visa limitations.
- Citizenship for children – Pass on EU citizenship to your children automatically.
- Stronger national identity – Full integration into Spanish society and legal system.
- Access to full public services – Potentially better access to healthcare, education, and benefits as a citizen.
- No risk of losing status – Unlike permanent residency, citizenship is not lost by long absences from Spain.
