Hi everyone - my situation is fairly straightforward.  I was born in Spain to a Spanish father and American mother, and moved to the US as a child.  I had to give up my Spanish citizenship at age 18 (I believe…) and currently hold a U.S. passport.  I am currently in Sevilla visiting family and ultimately plan on living here long enough to become fluent in Spanish and possibly work here or abroad (in the EU.)

With the help of my aunt, I went to the oficina de empradanamiento this morning and filled out the paperwork to claim residency at her address.  Once I get this (4-6 weeks, loving the spanish bureaucracy already!!) I will stand in the long lines for my NIE.

Assuming this works out - my first question is, how long can I stay in Spain legally with this?  Do I need still need a visa to stay longer than 90 days (which wouldn’t make sense if I’m claiming residency, right)?

Secondly - as someone with citizenship by origin - what exact documents would I need to get permanent Spanish Citizenship?  From what I have gathered, it looks like my spanish birth certificate (check), residency proof (NIE), and a document from the US showing my (lack of) criminal record?  Assuming this is correct - what is the next step in this process?

Thanks for any help!

daninspain,
if you were born in spain to spanish parent, you are automatically a spanish citizen.
you would have a spanish birth certificate which you can apply for at the registro civil of the town you were born in or online if you know the book number and the page number if born in or after 1984 or judicial district or place if born before 1984,
http://esede.mjusticia.es/cs/Satellite/es/1200666550200/Tramite_C/1214483947232/Detalle.html?param1=1
http://esede.mjusticia.es/cs/Satellite/es/1200666550200/Tramite_C/1214483947232/Detalle.html?param1=2
https://serviciosportal.mjusticia.es/eCertificados/CertificadoNacimiento.do?lang=es_es&idpagina=1200666550200&idtramite=1214483947232&subseccion=4
when you have your spanish birth certificate “literal” you can go to any “comisar?a” and apply for your DNI and spanish passport.
when you have these two documents, you will then find out if you really did give up your spanish citizenship. 
the you can apply for SS number.
you do not have to fall in line for any nie number
if your cannot get the DNI and or passport because you really did give up your spanish citizenship & it was recorded somewhere, then check this
http://www.maec.es/subwebs/Consulados/Londres/es/MenuPpal/Servicios/Registro Civil/Paginas/recuperacionnacionalidad_registrocivil.aspx