Spanish nationality for Venezuelans: requirements and routes

If you are Venezuelan and have been living in Spain for some time, you have probably wondered when you will be able to apply for Spanish nationality. The good news is that, because Venezuela is an Ibero-American country, you have access to a much shorter period than most foreigners and you can keep your nationality of origin. The less simple part is usually documentary: obtaining and apostilling the Venezuelan papers. In this guide we explain the requirements, the most common routes and how to get ahead of the documentation challenge.

The great plus for Venezuelans: only 2 years of residence

The general rule in Spain is that a foreigner needs ten years of legal and continuous residence to apply for nationality by residence. However, Venezuela is an Ibero-American country, and that radically changes the period: Venezuelan nationals can apply for Spanish nationality by residence after only 2 years of legal and continuous residence in Spain.

Those two years are counted from the moment you obtain your first residence authorisation and you must remain in a regular situation uninterruptedly. Prolonged absences from Spanish territory may interrupt the count, so it is advisable to be careful with long trips during that period.

Dual nationality: you do not have to renounce being Venezuelan

One of the most frequent doubts is whether you have to renounce the nationality of origin. In the case of Venezuela, the answer is reassuring: there is a dual nationality agreement between Spain and Venezuela, signed in 1974, so that you do not lose your Venezuelan nationality when acquiring the Spanish one.

Thanks to that agreement, when swearing or promising Spanish nationality you are not required to formally renounce your Venezuelan status, unlike what happens with nationals of countries that do not have this type of agreement with Spain.

Entry and residence: the visa question

For short stays of up to 90 days, Venezuelans are exempt from the Schengen visa, so they can enter Spain as tourists without processing a prior visa. That said, that exemption serves only for short stays: to reside in Spain it is essential to obtain a residence authorisation, which is precisely the one that will later allow you to add up the two years needed for nationality.

Common routes before nationality

Nationality is the last step. Before it you have to obtain and maintain legal residence. In the Venezuelan community, two routes are especially frequent:

• Arraigo social and other arraigo modalities, very useful for those who have already spent time in Spain and want to regularise their situation.
• International protection and asylum, which many Venezuelans have accessed in recent years given the situation of the country.

In practice, it is very common for a Venezuelan to first gain access through arraigo or through international protection, consolidate their legal residence and, once the two years in a regular situation are completed, make the leap to nationality.

Requirements for nationality by residence

In addition to the two-year period, to obtain Spanish nationality by residence you must prove the following:

• Legal, continuous and immediately prior residence to the application for those two years.
• Pass the CCSE and DELE A2 exams, unless you are exempt. The CCSE assesses knowledge of the Spanish Constitution and culture, and the DELE A2 certifies your level of Spanish.
• Good civic conduct and no record that may harm the application.

As for the language, since Spanish is your mother tongue, it is common for Venezuelans to be exempt from the DELE A2, although they do have to take the CCSE exam. It is advisable to confirm your personal situation, because exemptions depend on each case.

The documentary challenge: SAIME, passport and apostille

This is where Venezuelans usually encounter the greatest difficulty. For nationality you will need, among others, the Venezuelan criminal record certificate and the birth certificate, both duly apostilled.

The problem is that obtaining and renewing Venezuelan documents (passport, criminal record, registries) through SAIME can be a slow and unpredictable process. For this reason, the most important recommendation of this guide is clear:

1. Start the documentary procedures well in advance, even before completing the two years, so that the papers do not become the bottleneck.
2. Always verify that your passport is valid and renew it in time, since its expiry may hold up other procedures.
3. Whenever possible, use the electronic apostille, which speeds up the international validation of the documents.

Planning the documentation with months to spare prevents a situation where, having already met the residence requirements, you cannot submit the application because of a pending certificate.

How nationality is applied for

Spanish nationality by residence is applied for electronically, submitting the application with the personal documentation and the apostilled certificates. After a favourable resolution, the last step is to swear or promise nationality before the Registro Civil, the moment at which, thanks to the 1974 agreement, you will not have to renounce your Venezuelan nationality.

Frequently asked questions

How many years of residence do I need for nationality as a Venezuelan?

Since Venezuela is an Ibero-American country, 2 years of legal and continuous residence in Spain are enough, compared to the 10 years that are generally required.

Do I have to renounce my Venezuelan nationality?

No. There is a dual nationality agreement between Spain and Venezuela from 1974, so that you keep your Venezuelan nationality when acquiring the Spanish one.

Do I need a visa to enter Spain?

For short stays of up to 90 days, Venezuelans are exempt from the Schengen visa. To reside, on the other hand, it is necessary to obtain a residence authorisation.

Which documents from Venezuela do I need and how do I prepare them?

Mainly the criminal record certificate and the birth certificate, both apostilled. As SAIME can be slow, it is advisable to start early and, if possible, use the electronic apostille.

Do I have to take the CCSE and DELE exams?

The CCSE exam is necessary unless exempt. The DELE A2 certifies the level of Spanish, but those who have Spanish as their mother tongue are usually exempt; confirm your specific case.

Bear in mind that the requirements, timeframes and procedures may change over time, so it is advisable to always confirm them with official sources (Ministry, Registro Civil and consulates) or with a professional before starting the application.