Hello San Diego and Emmettdc,

As long as the Philippine Passport is valid, you can use the Philippine nationality to apply for the Spanish citizenship, regardless the fact you used the US passport to apply for Spanish residency and the reason for this is that you are Philippine by origins. San Diego, if there is the possibility for you to recover your Philippine nationality you could consider it if your intention is to eventually become a Spanish citizen.

Once you become a Spanish resident; that is, you get your residence visa stamped on your passport to enter Spain, you are allowed 3 months to apply for the residence card at the corresponding Police Station of the province where you are settling. That card will prove you are a resident, but you will have to respect the 185 days per year in Spain and Schengen area to be able to keep that status. After 2 years you must file the renewal application for two additional years, and the documentation required will be the one that proves your financial situation remains the same as when you initially applied.

You do not need to pass a Spanish language and History exam when you file your Spanish citizenship application but you will be interviewed about your profile, current financial and personal situation and time you have spent in Spain. Additionally, you will be asked questions related to contemporary Spanish culture and events, as well as names of Spanish Popular People ( Monarchy, Politics, Culture, Celebrities, etc ). There is no age limit to apply for the Spanish Nationality.

The Nationality application can take about two years to be resolved after its application but this time cannot be reduced as you are not eligible until you have completed two years of legal residency in Spain; that is, two years since your residence card has been issued. If you apply after one year of legal residency your application will be turned down as you are not eligible at that moment.

Regards,