For Mexicans, Spain often starts with a master’s degree or a job transfer. Mexican passport holders enter visa-free, can apply for citizenship after 2 years without renouncing Mexican nationality, and benefit from a social security agreement. What is missing is a driving licence exchange, and consulates are strict about the criminal record certificate. Here is how the move usually works.
Key facts
- Entry: Mexican passport holders can stay in the Schengen area visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This does not allow work and does not, on its own, let you settle.
- Citizenship: as a national of an Ibero-American country you can apply for Spanish citizenship after 2 years of legal, continuous residence. There is no dual nationality treaty, but article 24 of the Civil Code exempts you from renouncing Mexican nationality.
- Documents: Mexico is party to the Hague Convention, so an apostille is enough and no translation is needed.
- Driving: there is no exchange agreement. Once resident you can drive for six months on your Mexican licence; after that you need a Spanish licence, with theory and practical tests.
- Social security: the Spain–Mexico agreement lets contributions paid in both countries count towards your pension.
How people usually move
- Studies. A master’s, degree or vocational course (FP) with a study authorisation, which allows work up to 30 hours a week. Time as a student does not count towards the 2 years for citizenship. Study permit
- Work in Spain. A contract with a Spanish company, a highly qualified professional profile, an intra-company transfer or an EU Blue Card. Employment permit
- Remote work. The digital nomad visa suits people working remotely for companies or clients outside Spain, with a relationship of at least three months. You can apply at the consulate or from Spain while legally there. Digital nomad
- Non-lucrative residence. For retirees or people with enough income of their own who will not work in Spain. It requires a consular visa and private health insurance with no co-payments or waiting periods. Non-lucrative residence
- Family. Marriage or registered partnership with a Spanish or EU citizen. Family member of a Spanish or EU citizen
- Ancestry. If your father or mother is Spanish by origin and born in Spain, you can opt for citizenship with no residence period. The grandchildren route under the Democratic Memory Law, used by many descendants of Republican exiles, closed in October 2025. If you were born outside Spain and your father, mother, grandfather or grandmother was originally Spanish, you can apply for citizenship by residence after just 1 year of legal, continuous residence. Spanish citizenship
Documents and apostille
- Federal criminal record certificate (Constancia de Antecedentes Penales Federales): issued online by the Secretaría de Seguridad y Protección Ciudadana (Prevención y Readaptación Social). The Consulate General in Mexico City requires the federal certificate, apostilled, printed in colour and issued within the last 180 days; state certificates are not accepted there.
- Apostille: federal documents, such as the criminal record certificate, are apostilled by the Secretaría de Gobernación; civil registry records and other state documents, by the government of each state.
- Birth and marriage certificates (actas), recent and apostilled by the issuing state.
- Degrees and cédula profesional, apostilled, if you plan to have them recognised or apply for a skilled visa.
- Health insurance with no co-payments or waiting periods where the visa requires it (for example, non-lucrative residence) and a passport valid long enough.
What to keep in mind
- Spain has Consulates General in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey, and yours depends on your state of residence. In Mexico City all visa appointments are booked and filed through BLS International; in Guadalajara you book an appointment with the consulate itself.
- How recent the certificate must be differs by consulate (Mexico City accepts up to 180 days; Guadalajara asks for no more than 90 days): read your consulate’s sheet before requesting it.
- No intermediary can get you a priority appointment: booking is free and the consulate warns that such offers are fraudulent.
- In Spain: register at the town hall (padrón), apply for your TIE within the first month if you came with a visa and, if you plan to drive, prepare for the test before six months have passed.
Frequently asked questions
Will I lose Mexican nationality if I become Spanish?
No. Although there is no dual nationality treaty, article 24 of the Civil Code does not require nationals of Ibero-American countries to renounce, and the Mexican Constitution does not strip Mexicans by birth of their nationality. You apply after 2 years of legal, continuous residence, with the CCSE test; the DELE is not required.
Can I exchange my Mexican driving licence?
No, Mexico has no exchange agreement with Spain. Once resident you can use it for six months; after that you must obtain a Spanish licence from the DGT with theory and practical tests.
Which criminal record certificate does the consulate ask for?
In Mexico City, the federal Constancia de Antecedentes Penales, apostilled by the Secretaría de Gobernación and issued within the last 180 days. It is required for stays of more than 180 days, together with certificates from any other country you have lived in over the last 5 years. In Guadalajara or Monterrey, check the visa requirements sheet.
Official sources
- Consulado General de España en México: citas para visados a través de BLS International
- Consulado General de España en México: visado de estudios (antecedentes penales federales)
- Consulado General de España en Guadalajara: visado de trabajo por cuenta ajena
- Embajada de México en España: Constancia Federal de Antecedentes Penales (CFAP)
- DGT: países con convenio de canje
- Código Civil, arts. 22 y 24