Hi,

My husband is an Australian Citizen and was also registered in his parents family book with Spanish Citizenship. We recently went to the Spanish Consulate and registered our marriage (of 14 years) and our 2 children’s births.  My husband applied for and received his Spanish Passport and should shortly receive his own family book, hopefully with our marriage and children registered in it. 

Does having his own family book with our marriage and childrens births registered entitle me as his spouse and our two children to spanish citizenship.? If not what process do we need to go through to acquire it..?

Any help would be appreciated
Thanks
Kim

Hi Kim,

I’m a New Zealander who just married a Spanish citizen (in Spain), and have been going through heaps of info to try and find out this kind of thing (since embassies are never much help and the Spanish system is a nightmare).
Being married to a Spanish citizen gives you right to residency in Spain (sorry don’t know about your chidren, but I imagine that the same applies).
I don’t know if you or your husband speak Spanish but the infomation below pretty much sums it up. As a spouse of a Spanish citizen you could gain Spanish citizenship after living ‘legally and continually in Spain for one year’ (doesn’t matter that you’ve been married for 14).
Same goes for your children.
Organising your Libro de Familia is a good start.
The best advice I can give you if you are wanting to move to Spain and/or process any kind of paperwork is to be verrrrrry patient….

Nacionalidad
Por residencia

Para la concesi?n de la nacionalidad por residencia es necesario que ?sta haya sido legal y de forma continuada y haya durado, al menos, 10 a?os.

En el caso de las personas que hayan obtenido asilo o refugio ser? suficiente el transcurso de 5 a?os y se exigir?n 2 a?os en el caso de nacionales de pa?ses iberoamericanos, Andorra, Filipinas, Guinea Ecuatorial, Portugal o los sefard?es.

El periodo de residencia se reducir?:

  * A un a?o para los nacidos en Espa?a, tambi?n para los hijos de padres extranjeros con residencia legal en Espa?a.
  * A un a?o para el que haya estado sujeto legalmente a tutela, guarda o acogimiento de una persona o instituci?n espa?ola durante dos a?os consecutivos,    incluso si continuara en esta situaci?n en el momento de realizar la solicitud.
  * A un a?o de residencia legal y continuada para los c?nyuges de espa?oles.
  * Un a?o para el que no ejerci? en plazo su derecho a adquirir la nacionalidad por opci?n.
  * Un a?o al viudo o viuda de espa?ol, si al momento de producirse el fallecimiento no se encontraban separados de hecho o judicialmente.
  * Un a?o al nacido en el extranjero, hijo de padre o madre, abuelo o abuela que hubiesen sido espa?oles.
  * El nacido fuera de Espa?a de padre o madre, abuelo o abuela, que originariamente hubieran sido espa?oles.