Dual Citizenship Spain 2026: Who Can Hold Two Passports

Dual citizenship between Spain and another country is allowed in some cases and prohibited in others. Knowing where your nationality of origin sits in the Spanish bilateral framework determines whether becoming Spanish requires renouncing your original passport — at least formally. The framework is shaped by Article 11 and Article 24 of the Spanish Civil Code, plus a network of bilateral nationality treaties with specific countries. This guide unpacks who can hold both passports and who must choose.

The Constitutional Default — Renunciation Required

The Spanish Civil Code’s default rule is that a foreign national naturalising as Spanish must renounce their previous nationality at the oath stage. This applies when the country of origin is not within Spain’s special bilateral nationality regime — for example, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Germany, China, Russia, and most non-Latin countries. The renunciation must be expressed before the Spanish Civil Registry official; failure to do so can void the naturalisation.

The Special Cases — Dual Allowed

The Spanish framework permits dual nationality with a defined list of countries: all Ibero-American countries (Latin America), Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, and Sephardim of Spanish origin. Nationals of these countries can become Spanish without renouncing their original nationality — and Spaniards can naturalise in those countries without losing Spanish nationality. The basis is Article 11.3 of the Constitution and bilateral treaties with most of the listed states.

What “Renunciation” Actually Means

The Spanish requirement is a renunciation declaration before the Spanish Civil Registry — it is a Spanish-side legal act. Whether the country of origin actually strips citizenship as a result depends on that country’s law. Many countries (UK, US, France, Germany on certain conditions) do not consider a Spanish-side renunciation as automatic loss of their nationality. This means that practically, many naturalised Spaniards from these countries continue to hold both passports — but the Spanish Civil Registry has a renunciation declaration on file, which has legal effect in Spain.

Recovery of Spanish Nationality

Spaniards who lost their Spanish nationality (for example by naturalising in a non-special country before reforms allowed retention, or through other historical processes) can normally recover it through Article 26 of the Civil Code — by declaring before the Spanish Civil Registry their wish to recover Spanish nationality, providing evidence of their previous status. The Democratic Memory Law of 2022 expanded recovery rights for descendants of Spaniards who lost nationality during the Civil War or under the Franco regime.

Frequently Asked Questions

I’m a UK national — can I hold both?

The UK is not in the special list. You will be asked to renounce your UK nationality before the Spanish Civil Registry on naturalising as Spanish. The UK does not strip your UK nationality based on this declaration, so practically you may continue to hold both passports — but there is a Spanish-side renunciation on record.

I’m Mexican — can I hold both?

Yes, Mexico is in the special list. You can naturalise as Spanish without renouncing your Mexican nationality. Both passports remain valid for all civic purposes in their respective countries.

What about EU nationals?

EU nationals are not in the special list (except Portugal). The default renunciation rule applies. However, EU citizens benefiting from free movement rarely need to naturalise — many live their entire lives in Spain on EU residency, never converting to Spanish nationality.

Reviewed by: Maria Luisa de Castro, Expert in Off-plan Property Investment, CostaLuz Lawyers. Last updated: May 2026.

If you are weighing whether to pursue Spanish nationality at all, it helps to know how far a Spanish passport actually travels.