HEALTHPLAN MAGAZINE

Are you a foreign national living in Spain?

Perhaps you have gained Spanish citizenship and want to know if you are now eligible to apply for a Spanish passport?

Below we help you to understand the process of obtaining a passport in Spain, including the costs involved, the validity of a Spanish passport and the benefits of having one.

We will help to answer the following questions.

• What are the different types of passports in Spain?
• What format do they come in?
• Who is eligible to obtain a Spanish passport?
• The benefits of being a holder of a Spanish passport?
• What is the validity of the passports?
• How do I apply for a passport in Spain?
• Can I get a passport if I have dual nationality?
• How do I renew my Spanish passport?
• What do I do if it is lost or stolen?
• How much do Spanish passports cost?

Let’s take a look!

The different types of Spanish passport

There are currently four different types of passports available in Spain.

These are:-

• The Standard Passport (Pasaporte Ordinario): This is a biometric passport which is issued to Spanish citizens for ordinary travel.
• Collective Passport (Pasaporte Colectivo): A limited passport with a three-month validity. These are usually issued to under 21s for occasions such as pilgrimages and where there is a reciprocal agreement with the destination country.
• Diplomatic Passport (Pasaporte Diplomático): These are issued to diplomats and government officials.
• Official and Services Passports (Pasaporte Oficiales y de Servicio): This type of passport is issued to representatives of the Spanish government who are on official business.

What format do they come in?

The standard Spanish passports which are issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation are burgundy in colour, measure 125mm x 88mm and have 32 pages.

All of the latest passports are biometric and contain an RFID chip in the back cover.

This stores data on the individual including a digitised image, biography and fingerprints of both index fingers.

The very latest passports (Version 3.0) were issued in 2015 and contain a faster chip for processing, new holographic images, a voluntary point of contact for any emergencies, as well as ultraviolet and infrared integration.

Am I eligible for a Spanish passport?

All Spanish nationals along with foreigners who have lived in Spain for more than 10 years and have Spanish citizenship are entitled to apply for a Spanish passport.

Furthermore, in some circumstances, the 10-year threshold can be reduced further to either five, two or even one year.

There are some cases where you will not be granted a passport in Spain which include for reasons of national security, you have been ordered by a judge or court not to leave the national territory or have been limited due to a state of alarm.

If applying for a minor or an incapacitated person, both parents or where appropriate, all legal guardians, must give their consent.

What are the benefits of being a holder of one?

Spain is one of the highest-ranked countries when it comes to passport ownership.

Some of the many benefits include:-

• Free movement within the EU and Schengen Area
• Visa-free access to 189 countries
• The right to live, work and study in any country within the EU, EEA or Switzerland.
• Access to free healthcare within the EU.

How long are Spanish passports valid for?

As a rule, Spanish passports have the following validity.

• Two years for children under the age of five
• Five years if the holder was under 30 when the passport was issued
• Ten years if the holder was over 30 when the passport was issued

Passports may also be renewed if the existing one has less than 12 months of validity remaining.

A new passport may also be requested if you have exhausted all of the pages. In such cases, the validity of the passport will remain the same as the existing one.

A judicial authority also has the power to limit a passport's validity and/or the countries or territories it can be used in.

What is the cost?

As of September 2022, the price of a Spanish passport is €30. This fee applies to first passports, renewals and replacements for both adults and minors.

The fee is waived if you qualify as a beneficiary of the large family status.

If paying during your appointment, you will need to pay in cash. Make sure you have the exact amount. Alternatively, you can pay online when making an appointment. (See further below)

Can I get a passport in Spain if I have dual nationality?

Yes, if you have dual nationality you can have two passports, however, this is only available to those who are from certain countries.

Spain has agreements with a number of Latin American countries and former Spanish colonies. Citizens of these countries do not need to give up their current citizenship and are therefore granted dual citizenship rights.

Below you can see a list of the current list of exempt countries.

Andorra, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Ecuador, Philippines, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Uruguay, Venezuela and France.

Those who are of Sephardic Jewish descent are also eligible.

Spanish citizens who are originally from other countries must renounce their original nationality and passports.

As a Spanish citizen, you do not need to have a passport to travel to certain countries. You may use your DNI (Documento Nacional de Identidad) to travel around Europe, the EEA (European Economic Area) and Switzerland.

Learn more about dual citizenship in Spain.

What is the process to renew a passport?

If you have less than 12 months' validity remaining on your passport, you may renew it.

The process is pretty much the same as obtaining one for the first time. You will need to make an appointment online.

The only difference between getting your first passport and renewing one is that you will need to take your old passport with you when renewing.

What do I do if it is lost or stolen?

The process is the same, however, you must first file a police report (Denuncia).

The validity of the replacement passport will be the same as the existing one. In the event of subsequent loss or theft, the validity of duplicates may be limited to six months.

How can I apply?

In accordance with Royal Decree 896/2003 of July 11, anyone who wishes to apply for a Spanish passport must do so in person. The process cannot be performed online.

During your appointment, you must also make the relevant payment (cash or electronically) and provide the following documentation.

• A valid national identity document, for example, DNI or TIE.
• Your expired passport if it is being renewed. If you are replacing a passport which has been lost or stolen, you must obtain a police report or provide a statement that your passport is lost or was stolen.
• A recent colour photograph measuring 32 x 26mm. You must not be wearing a hat or dark glasses in the photo. (If you have obtained or renewed a DNI on the same day the photo will not be required)
• Proof of payment in either cash or via electronic transfer.

If the application is for a minor and does not possess a national identity document, they must provide a valid birth certificate which has been issued by the Civil Registry.

Once you have all your documentation ready, you will need to make an appointment at your nearest passport office. You may also make an appointment by calling 060.

Payment for your passport may also be made when making the appointment online. See the following page for details.

How to apply if you are abroad

If you are a Spanish national abroad, you can apply at your nearest Spanish embassy or consulate in your current country of residence.