How to quickly get the Spanish Nationality: Being famous helps!

Last Friday the Spanish government decided to grant two Puerto Rican (American) artists the Spanish nationality.

Usually the process is complicated and takes a long time but after a Cabinet meeting presided by Prime Minister Jose Rodriguez Zapatero in the La Moncloa government building, the Spanish government decided to grant Spanish nationality to Ricky Martin and Benicio del Toro in recognition of their artistic talents.

Ricky Martin, a famous performer who first achieved fame as a member of the Latin boy band Menudo and went on to sell over 60 million albums in his career as a solo artist, is said to have sought out Spanish nationality in order to take advantage of Spain’s same sex marriage laws in order to marry his partner Carlos Gonzalez with whom he is raising his two 3 year old children that were born with the help of a surrogate mother.  Apparently he applied for Spanish nationality in March, citing that he has family members residing in Spain, such as his grandmother.  Some US states recognize same sex marriage, but Ricky Martin emphasized that he wanted to marry in Spain to show support for the government’s work towards gay rights.

The famous Puerto Rican actor Benicio del Toro was also granted Spanish citizenship at the same meeting, although the reasons for his request are not clear.

Despite the usual wait of over two years to get Spanish citizenship, usually the country also requires that new citizens renounce their previous nationalities before receiving a new Spanish passport. However, Spain extends special privileges to countries and former territories, such as Puerto Rico, by which they do not require this step.

The US State Department as a matter of policy frowns upon Americans who seek second nationalities but there is no explicit law against an American acquiring a second passport.