Spain citizenship through a parent
A Spanish parent opens one of two routes, and which one applies turns entirely on whether your parent was Spanish "by origin" (born a Spanish national) or became Spanish later by naturalisation.
Article 20: if your parent was Spanish "by origin" (a Spanish national from birth, not later naturalised), you have a standing, no-deadline right to Spanish nationality by declaration — no residency required.
Article 22.2: if your parent naturalised as Spanish rather than being born Spanish, Article 20 does not apply — but Article 22.2 does, opening naturalisation after one year of legal residency in Spain on the same parent connection.
Establishing whether your parent was Spanish "by origin" or by naturalisation is the single fact that decides which of these two routes to pursue.
Get your parent's Spanish nationality record from the Registro Civil to confirm whether they were Spanish by origin or by later naturalisation.
If by origin: file the Article 20 declaration — no residency needed.
If by naturalisation: plan for the Article 22.2 route, which requires one year of actual legal residency in Spain before filing.
Get a definitive read on your line
Take the free eligibility test — it walks through the exact rules above for your specific ancestor and dates.
Take the free test