Denouncing my Cdn citizenship a gesture no ramifications

@oceanstar343ex

In most cases when one takes spanish nationality they are required to ‘renounce’  their existing nationality.

There are some exemptions

Yes, there are ramifications. If you're found out, at a minimum, you will lose your Spanish citizenship. Being that it's not all that easy to obtain (you'll need to pass a level A2 language test and a geography/culture test plus various bureaucratic hurdles) this may not be "no ramifications." There may be other penalties, eg being arrested and deported.

If you drive in Spain with your Canadian license and you're in a traffic accident or violation, you will be discovered.

Dual nationals MUST exclusively use that nation's passport when entering/exiting their home countries. If you travel to Canada and get a stamp in your Canadian passport, when you return to Spain and there's no stamp in your Spanish passport, you could get caught at that point. Although the Spanish entry system is heavily automated; and while getting caught at the point of entry is low, all it would take is a machine-read error and you will face an immigration official.

Mostly, be aware that it's illegal.  Personally, I'm a *legal* dual national (I'm among the exceptions mentioned by Johncar), but I've communicated with people who are not. I am also a law-abiding person who obeys the laws of both Spain and the USA. The risk of getting caught may be quite low, but will never be zero.

I agree with @Phil722. There is no fake renunciation of citizenship, such as "oh yeah, I did that already" being acceptable. Formal documents are required. Once you do it there is no going back. In my experience the effects are not worth it. If one tries to hide it, it is fraud, and at some point it will be exposed because we live in a connected world now where every government dept links to the other. You can always stay in Spain as a Permanent Resident with most of the same privileges as a citizen. Just my five cents.

Great answers, thank you!

@oceanstar343ex

• taking another nationality is always “discouraged”  however, double nationality is totally legal between many countries. ive got 2 passports (French and American).  i just read an article statung that Spain doesn’t recognize dual citizenship, except if you have Spanish roots from parents, for example.