Apply for Spanish Citizenship
Depending on your nationality and your situation, you can apply for Spanish citizenship after 10, 5, 2 or even 1 year of legal residence. We check which route applies to you, prepare your file and follow it until your oath and your Spanish passport.
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How long do you need to live in Spain?
The most common route is Spanish citizenship by residence. Your residence must be legal, continuous and immediately before your application — and the number of years depends on your nationality and your personal situation.
Spanish citizenship means no more residence permit renewals, the right to vote and one of the passports that lets you travel to the most countries in the world without a visa.
10 years — general rule
For most nationalities. Refugees can apply after 5 years.
2 years — Ibero-American & others
Nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal, and people of Sephardic origin.
1 year — special cases
Married to a Spaniard, widowed spouse of a Spaniard, born in Spain, or born abroad to a parent or grandparent who was originally Spanish.
Get your free 15-minute consultation
Tell us about your case and, if we can help, we'll send you a link to book a free call with our lawyers.
Spanish citizenship requirements
- Legal and continuous residenceThe required years of legal residence in Spain, without interruptions and immediately before you apply.
- Good civic conductClean criminal record certificates from Spain and your country of origin.
- CCSE examThe Instituto Cervantes test on the Spanish Constitution and Spanish society and culture.
- DELE A2 Spanish examOnly if Spanish is not your mother tongue. Nationals of Spanish-speaking countries are exempt.
- Integration in Spanish societyProof of your ties and means, such as your employment contract, payslips or tax returns.
Some applicants are exempt from the exams — for example, if you completed secondary school in Spain. We check exemptions and which documents need an apostille and sworn translation in your consultation.
Check if I can applyWhat our services include for your Spanish citizenship
In the first consultation we analyse your case and confirm whether you are entitled to apply for Spanish citizenship and by which route.
- Analysis of your case and the route that applies to you.
- Guidance on the CCSE and DELE A2 exams and possible exemptions.
- Preparation of all the documentation for your application.
- Help with apostilles and sworn translations of foreign documents.
- Payment of the government fee and online submission to the Ministry of Justice.
- Follow-up of your file and answers to any request for more documents.
- Appointment for your citizenship oath once it is approved.
- Appointment at the National Police for your Spanish ID card (DNI) and passport.
- Advice in English from the first call to your Spanish passport.
How we work: four simple steps
Tell us about your case
We check your years of residence, your nationality and the route that applies to you.
Proposal
We send you a quote with the procedure, the documents to prepare and the timeline.
Submission of the file
We prepare your full file and submit it online to the Ministry of Justice.
Follow-up and oath
We follow your file until approval and book your oath and DNI appointments.
Deadlines of the process
If there is no decision after one year, the application is legally considered rejected (negative administrative silence) and can be appealed — although many files are still approved later. Once your citizenship is granted, you have 180 days from the notification to take the oath.
Choose how much help you need
Full service
We handle your whole citizenship application
Personal quote
From the analysis of your case to your oath and your Spanish passport. Tell us about your case and we'll send you a clear, fixed quote.
- Case analysis and route that applies to you
- Documents, apostilles and translations prepared
- Online submission and follow-up
- Oath and DNI/passport appointments
Do it yourself
Document review
€250 + VAT
You prepare and submit the application yourself. Before you file, you upload your documents to our client platform and one of our lawyers reviews them and sends you a written report.
- Full review of your documents by a lawyer
- List of anything missing or incorrect
- Written feedback so you can fix it before filing
- Starts with an online consultation, where we confirm DIY suits your case. Its cost is deducted from your final fee.
Spanish citizenship: FAQ
Can't find your question? Ask us in a call — we'll look at your specific situation.
How many years do I need to live in Spain to apply for citizenship?
The general rule is 10 years of legal residence. It is 5 years for refugees, 2 years for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal and for people of Sephardic origin, and 1 year in special cases such as being married to a Spanish citizen or being born in Spain.
Can I apply after 1 year if I'm married to a Spaniard?
Yes, if you have lived legally in Spain for one year and you have been married to your Spanish spouse for at least one year, without being legally or de facto separated.
Which exams do I need to pass?
Most applicants need the CCSE exam on the Spanish Constitution and society. If Spanish is not your mother tongue you also need the DELE A2 Spanish language exam. Both are organised by the Instituto Cervantes, and some applicants are exempt.
Do I have to give up my current nationality?
Nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal and France can keep it. Other applicants must declare that they renounce their previous nationality at the oath. We explain what this means for your country in your consultation.
How long does the process take?
By law, the Ministry has one year to decide from the date your application is registered. In practice it usually takes between one and two years, depending on its workload.
Do I need a lawyer to apply?
It isn't mandatory, but a missing or incorrectly legalised document is one of the most common reasons for delays and requests for more information. We prepare and check your whole file so it goes in complete from day one.
What happens after my citizenship is approved?
You have 180 days from the notification to take the oath of allegiance to the King and the Constitution, at the Civil Registry or before a notary. Then you register your birth in the Spanish Civil Registry and apply for your DNI and passport.
Can I apply if one of my parents or grandparents was Spanish?
Possibly. Depending on your case, you may be able to opt for Spanish citizenship or apply after just one year of residence. We check your family history and documents in your consultation.
