Hello
I was wondering if someone could help me, I am a Filipino student interested in getting Spanish citizenship through residency.

I study in France and am interested in doing my Masters in Madrid or Barcelona, have looked online for universities there.

I wanted to know, if a year studying masters would count as one of the two years for Philippine nations to be able to apply for citizenship ?

Or, if I was coming to Spain next year on a 8 month internship, what kind of visa would I need to get, and would that be considered as the first 8 months of the 2 years.

I read online that Student visas weren’t considered for the 2 years but I emailed the Ministerio de justicia and this was there response:

En contestaci?n a su consulta, le informamos que para iniciar la tramitaci?n de solicitud de nacionalidad espa?ola por residencia deber? tener residencia efectiva y legal en Espa?a, continuada e inmediatamente anterior a la solicitud. Los a?os con tarjeta de estudiante ser?n computables siempre y cuando no haya habido interrupci?n entre la tarjeta de estudiante y la tarjeta de residencia y trabajo.

Para iniciar el tr?mite de obtenci?n de nacionalidad espa?ola por residencia, deber? dirigirse al Registro Civil de su domicilio.

Does this mean then it would be okay to go with a student visa? or must I go with a residence visa?
and also regarding residence—I am planning to rent a room or apartment—would they need to have a contract between me and the landlord—- normally like in France, and Italy these contracts are between the two parties only and not really recognized by the government because the landlord isn’t paying taxes for it.

I hope that someone can answer one, some or all of my questions. Thanks!

bellevie,
a student permit is classified as a permanencia.
a residence permit is called a residencia.
if somebody has a student permit, he can only start applying for a residence permit after he has completed 3 years as a student.
if you enter as a student maybe you can spend the next 3 years trying to figure out how to get a residence permit.
you can rent a room.
the alien law is going to be changed this week so better wait till the new implementing rules are published.

That’s a good point Aritz. When those changes are published, please let us all know where we can see them too okay?

I have the exact same question as the thread poster—if I do a two-year Masters in Barcelona, would that count for the two years required for a citizenship? If anyone could shed light on the matter I’d be very grateful.

cecilia_225 - 21 July 2010 07:51 PM

I have the exact same question as the thread poster—if I do a two-year Masters in Barcelona, would that count for the two years required for a citizenship? If anyone could shed light on the matter I’d be very grateful.

the answer of the ministry of justice was clear, unless you did not understand.

you can only start applying for citizenship once you have a nonworking resident permit or a working resident permit.
they will add your “permanencia” time as a student as part of your residency time requirement
if your resident permit starting date starts while your student card is still valid or
if your resident permit starting date starts the day after your student card expiry date.

but if there a gap of one day between the expiry date of your student card and the starting date of your resident card, your student days are no longer counted as part of the two year residency requirement.

Hello I’m a new guy here.

I would like to say that I myself is very interested to hopefully work and live in Spain.
The only problem is I don’t know where to start.

I’m planning to take up some Spanish language lessons in Instituto Cervantes.

I’m in hospitality field is there any opportunities available there in Spain?

Thank you and looking forward to be a regular in this forum.

😊

simon_b - 22 July 2010 05:38 AM

Hello I’m a new guy here.
I would like to say that I myself is very interested to hopefully work and live in Spain.
The only problem is I don’t know where to start.
😊

what is your current nationality?
do you have any spanish born grand parent?
have you got residency in any other country?
where do you reside right now?

I’m planning to take up some Spanish language lessons in Instituto Cervantes.
I’m in hospitality field is there any opportunities available there in Spain?
😊

if you want to live and work in spain, you must have at least intermediate level or B1 level in spanish.
what do you mean by “hospitality field”?

aritz - 23 July 2010 12:00 AM

what is your current nationality?
do you have any spanish born grand parent?
have you got residency in any other country?
where do you reside right now?

-Philippine National
-No Spanish lineage
-No
-Philippines

aritz - 23 July 2010 12:00 AM

if you want to live and work in spain, you must have at least intermediate level or B1 level in spanish.
what do you mean by “hospitality field”?

Thank you for the information regarding the B1 Level 😊
I used to work for an airline as a Flight Steward and now looking for Front Office/Receptionist for hotels 😊

If you are a Filipino citizen, if im not mistaken you need two years of residency in Spain for naturalization. 

Persons who are former nationals of Portugal, the Philippines, or certain South American countries need only reside for two years.

simon_b - 23 July 2010 07:25 AM

-Philippine National
-No Spanish lineage
-No
-Philippines

Thank you for the information regarding the B1 Level 😊
I used to work for an airline as a Flight Steward and now looking for Front Office/Receptionist for hotels 😊

you can apply for a student visa, and when you have completed 3 years as a student, you can look for an employer and so you can change your student status to a working resident status.

the ff links can guide you but you have to consult with the spanish consulate in manila

http://www.maec.es/subwebs/Consulados/SanFrancisco/en/MenuPpal/ServiciosConsularesVisados/Visados/Documents/StudentVisa.pdf

or if you have enough money try applying for the non lucrative residence visa

http://www.maec.es/subwebs/Consulados/SanFrancisco/en/MenuPpal/ServiciosConsularesVisados/Visados/Documents/NonLucrative.pdf

Hate to barge in the thread but i’m wondering the same for my case,

US National (Formerly Philippines - was born in Subic Bay to a US serviceman)
has Mexican (dad) and Spanish lineage grandfather on moms side
Been in Spain over at Rota Naval Base for a 6 month duty tour. 
I currently reside in the US

Is it possible to get Spanish citizenship and RETAIN my US Citizenship?

USNCorpsman - 24 July 2010 03:11 AM

Hate to barge in the thread but i’m wondering the same for my case,

US National (Formerly Philippines - was born in Subic Bay to a US serviceman)
has Mexican (dad) and Spanish lineage grandfather on moms side
Been in Spain over at Rota Naval Base for a 6 month duty tour. 
I currently reside in the US

Is it possible to get Spanish citizenship and RETAIN my US Citizenship?

yes, it is.
you can recover your filipino citizenship.
apply for spanish citizenship as filipino.
that way, you do not renounce neither american nor filipino.

aritz - 24 July 2010 03:43 AM

USNCorpsman - 24 July 2010 03:11 AM

Hate to barge in the thread but i’m wondering the same for my case,

US National (Formerly Philippines - was born in Subic Bay to a US serviceman)
has Mexican (dad) and Spanish lineage grandfather on moms side
Been in Spain over at Rota Naval Base for a 6 month duty tour. 
I currently reside in the US

Is it possible to get Spanish citizenship and RETAIN my US Citizenship?

yes, it is.
you can recover your filipino citizenship.
apply for spanish citizenship as filipino.
that way, you do not renounce neither american nor filipino.

So does that mean I would have three citizenship/nationalities ?

i will be studying in Instituto Cervantes for business spanish because their branch here in Manila is taking a long time to open that course. It will be 4 week course in Spain. While I’m studying there I plan to open office also. As far as I read in the thread I don’t need student visa for less than 3 mos study. My question is, can I change my visa from tourist visa to a resident visa by having a business in Spain? Can I apply citizenship after 2 years of residence? Are Filipino national allowed to have business in Spain?

my advance thank you for any replies…

aishar,
what office are you opening?
what business are you setting up?
visas (tourist or residence) are issued by consulates.
if you want a resident permit, apply for a resident visa.

aishar: I see that you are planning to take up a special course in Instituto de Cervantes.
Good luck on your 4 week course & plan to set up a business in Spain. Keep us updated with your application process.
Cheers!