A British councillor who was born in Malaga and has spent his entire life in the province has finally been granted Spanish citizenship.

It comes after he was initially told he had failed to prove he was sufficiently integrated.

Scott Marshall, a Partido Popular councillor in Benahavis, successfully appealed the decision to reject his application, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed.

Marshall had failed to provide two key certificates to prove he had a sufficient knowledge of the Spanish language and history.

These are the CCSE test, which examines knowledge of Spain’s constitution, society and culture, and the DELE Spanish-language qualification.

The politician, who was born in Malaga, educated in Spain and speaks Spanish as his main language, argued that they were not necessary.

Marshall was married in Spain, his two children were born and live in the country, and he has been registered as a businessman here since 1999.

His original citizenship application was rejected because officials concluded he had not demonstrated the ‘sufficient degree of integration into Spanish society’ required under the Civil Code.

However, he appealed the decision, pointing to his Spanish educational qualifications as evidence that the tests should not have been necessary, and the government has now agreed.

‘Logic has finally prevailed’

According to the official decision obtained by EFE, officials established that Marshall already possessed a Spanish Bachillerato qualification before submitting his citizenship application.

‘Having verified that the appellant possesses the Bachillerato qualification from a date prior to the application, the integration of the interested party into Spanish society is considered sufficiently accredited,’ the resolution states.

Officials also found that Marshall had demonstrated the required period of continuous legal residence immediately before his application and was of good civic conduct.

The ministry therefore concluded that he met the requirements of Spain’s Civil Code and granted his citizenship appeal.

Marshall welcomed the reversal, telling EFE he was pleased that officials had ‘finally corrected it and realised’.

He said he was relieved that ‘logic has prevailed’, although he expressed surprise that the decision arrived ‘in the middle of August’.

The case had previously triggered debate on social media, including a public disagreement with former Andalucian president Susana Diaz over the requirements Marshall needed to meet.

Marshall said Diaz had been ‘one of the least understanding people’ he encountered during the process.

Brexit prompted citizenship application

Marshall, whose father is Scottish, said Brexit was the principal reason he decided to formalise his status as a Spanish citizen.

His father has held Spanish citizenship for around 25 years and encouraged his son to apply following the UK’s departure from the EU.

Given Marshall’s lifelong connection to Spain, he said he never expected the application to encounter such difficulties.