Spanish Nationality by Residence
The legal procedure for obtaining Spanish citizenship and full European citizenship rights.
Evaluate my case →Obtaining Spanish nationality represents the definitive culmination of your life project in Spain. This route requires that the applicant has legally, continuously and immediately prior to the formal application resided in Spanish territory. Unlike consular visas, this administrative procedure is initiated and managed entirely from within Spain.
Required Legal Residence Periods
The Civil Code establishes different mandatory residence periods depending on the applicant's origin or personal and family situation:
General Rule
Standard legal and continuous residence period required for general applicants.
Refugees
Applicable exclusively for those who have officially obtained refugee status.
Ibero-America & others
Required for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal or persons of Sephardic origin.
Special cases
Born in Spain, married to a Spanish national for one year, widowed from a Spanish citizen, or born abroad to a parent or grandparent originally Spanish.
Integration Requirements and Official Tests
The applicant must demonstrate good civic conduct and a sufficient degree of integration into Spanish society, formalised by passing two official Instituto Cervantes tests:
CCSE Test
Mandatory exam for applicants over 18 on Constitutional and Socio-cultural Knowledge of Spain.
DELE A2 Test
Certification of knowledge of the Spanish language. Nationals of countries whose official language is Spanish are exempt.
Administrative Process Phases
The procedure consists of an ordered sequence of technical phases in which documentary thoroughness is critical:
Technical Computation & Analysis
Verification of strict compliance with the required residence period and analysis of absences from Spain to ensure legal, continuous and immediately prior residence.
Passing the Exams
Enrolment, formal preparation and passing of the mandatory CCSE and/or DELE A2 tests at accredited Instituto Cervantes centres.
Document Preparation & Translation
Obtaining, legalising or apostilling essential certificates from your country of origin (birth certificate, criminal record), ensuring their official sworn translation into Spanish.
Fee Payment
Formal payment of the mandatory administrative fee required by the Ministry of Justice to initiate the proceedings.
Digital Submission
Structured and telematic upload of the complete file to the official digital platform of the Government of Spain.
Resolution, Oath & Registration
Once the favourable resolution is issued, you have 180 non-extendable days for the formal Oath or Promise ceremony before the Civil Registry or Notary, culminating in the issuance of your Spanish birth certificate.
Our Technical Assistance
⚠️ Any material error, a prolonged absence incorrectly computed, or a document lacking proper international legalisation can result in the rejection of the application.
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Rigorously evaluating your legal residence history and the temporal validity of your background checks before initiating any administrative action.
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Providing professional guidance for the correct obtaining and quality control of the certificates that must form part of the formal file.
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Managing the official telematic submission on your behalf to the Ministry of Justice platform, with preventive technical monitoring throughout the entire processing of your file.
Do you meet the requirements for nationality?
We evaluate your residence history and confirm whether you are in a position to begin the application.
Evaluate my case →