SpainNaturalisation by period of residence

Citizenship by residence in Spain

The naturalisation programme allows foreign nationals living in Spain lawfully and continuously to acquire Spanish citizenship. The core requirement is continuous presence for the prescribed period, which may be reduced depending on nationality and personal circumstances. Applicants must show good civic conduct, integration into Spanish society and command of the Spanish language. The application is lodged only through the Spanish Ministry of Justice; embassies and consulates abroad do not accept applications. Citizenship is indefinite and cannot be withdrawn.

Visa term

Citizenship is indefinite.

Work

A Spanish citizen works without a permit.

Source: Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores — Servicios consulares: Nacionalidad española por residencia

Who may claim citizenship

The programme is open to residents in several categories. The length of residence depends on nationality and personal circumstances.

Standard category

Lawful and continuous residence in Spain
Passing the examinations on Spanish language and the constitution
Proof of integration into Spanish society

Reduced period

Nationality of a Latin American country, Portugal or Andorra
Recognised refugee status
Sephardic Jewish origin

Fast-track procedure

Birth on Spanish territory
Marriage to a Spanish national for at least a year
Widow or widower of a Spanish spouse

When the programme will not suit

Residence without lawful status

First obtain a residence permit through the long-term resident or temporary residence programmes

The minimum period of residence has not been reached

Continue living in Spain until the required period is met

Insufficient integration into society

Take integration programmes and language courses

Documents to gather

A complete set of documents must be filed with the Spanish Ministry of Justice. Every document issued abroad must be translated into Spanish and legalised.

Application on the official form
Valid passport of the country of origin
Previous passport (where held)
Birth certificate with apostille
Certificate of no criminal proceedings, or a consular certificate of good conduct
Foreigner identity card (TIE) or EU citizen registration certificate
DELE A2 diploma (command of Spanish) or an equivalent
CCSE diploma (knowledge of the constitution and social life) or an equivalent
Documents evidencing integration into Spanish society (where required)
Civil status certificate and family documents (for special categories)
Proof of lawful and continuous residence

How the process runs

Naturalisation runs through several stages, with checks on the documents and an assessment of whether the requirements are met.

1
Gathering and preparing the documents
varies from applicant to applicant
Gather every required document, have them translated into Spanish and obtain apostilles on foreign documents. Where necessary, sit the DELE A2 and CCSE examinations or request an exemption.
2
Paying the administrative fee
a few days
Complete form 790-026 and pay the prescribed administrative fee at an authorised financial institution. Keep the receipt to attach to the application.
3
Lodging the application through the Ministry's system
an electronic digital signature is required
Lodge the application solely through the Ministry of Justice's electronic system at sede.mjusticia.gob.es. Embassies and consulates do not accept applications.
4
Checking that the file is complete
up to several months to remedy defects
The Ministry checks the documents against the requirements. Where defects are found, a period is allowed to correct them and supply further material.
5
Assessment of good conduct and integration
runs alongside the examination of the file
An assessment of good civic conduct, integration into Spanish society, level of language and knowledge of the constitution and social life.
6
Decision of the Directorate-General for Legal Certainty
up to one year from the file's arrival
The Directorate-General decides to grant or refuse. If no decision is received within a year, the authority's silence counts as refusal.
7
Receiving the naturalisation certificate
after a favourable decision
Where the application is approved, the applicant receives the naturalisation certificate and may file the documents for registration in the civil register.

Who you can bring with you

Family members may acquire citizenship in particular circumstances.

Spouse of a foreign national

May acquire citizenship where the marriage has lasted at least one year, provided they are lawfully married to a Spanish national at the date of the application.

Children born in Spain

May acquire citizenship by birth on Spanish territory where at least one parent is a Spanish national or holds a residence permit.

Children born abroad to a Spanish parent

Are entitled to citizenship by option where they are registered at the consulate and claim the right within the prescribed period.

Widow or widower of a Spanish spouse

May acquire citizenship where the spouse was a Spanish national at the date of death and the marriage was in force on that date.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

Residence counts where it is lawful, continuous and falls directly in the period before the application.

Spanish citizenship acquired by naturalisation is permanent and cannot be withdrawn. It is not subject to renewal or re-certification. It can be lost only by voluntary renunciation, through an application to a consulate or to the Ministry.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Citizenship by residence	Protección Subsidiaria	Humanitarian protection
Visa term	Citizenship is indefinite	Residence and work permit (TIE) for about 5 years, renewable	Usually 1 year; annual renewal
Grounds	Acquisition of Spanish citizenship by period of residence	Threat to life	Humanitarian grounds
Work	A Spanish citizen works without a permit	Full right to work	Often includes a work permit
Residence	Residence counts where it is lawful, continuous and falls directly in the period before the application	Live mainly in Spain	Live mainly in Spain

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

Citizenship is usually preceded by long-term resident status — 5 consecutive years of temporary residence.

Route to citizenship

The general rule is «residir en España durante diez años de forma legal, continuada e inmediatamente anterior a la petición» (10 years). Reduced periods: 5 years — for people granted refugee status; 2 years — for nationals of Latin American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal, and for people of Sephardic origin; 1 year — for certain categories, including people born on Spanish territory who did not exercise the right to citizenship by option, people under Spanish guardianship for two consecutive years, people married to a Spanish national for at least a year, widows and widowers of Spanish spouses, and people born abroad to Spanish parents or grandparents.

Frequently asked questions about Citizenship by residence

What minimum period of residence is required?

The standard requirement is continuous residence for ten years immediately before the application. For nationals of Latin American countries, Portugal, Andorra, the Philippines and Equatorial Guinea, and for people of Sephardic origin, the period falls to two years. For refugees it is five years. One year applies to people born in Spain, spouses of Spanish nationals, widows and widowers of Spanish spouses and certain other categories.

May I apply through an embassy or consulate?

No. Spanish embassies and consulates abroad do not accept applications for naturalisation by residence. The application can be lodged only through the Ministry of Justice's electronic system from within Spain. Foreign nationals must approach the relevant civil register bodies in Spain.

What happens if I do not pass the DELE and CCSE examinations?

You may lodge a separate application for exemption from the examinations if you meet certain criteria: illiteracy, learning difficulties, being under eighteen, or limited legal capacity. A decision on exemption is taken within six months. Nationals of countries where Spanish is an official language are exempt from the DELE examination.

What does silence from the authorities on my application mean?

Under Spanish administrative law, if the Directorate-General for Legal Certainty does not decide within one year of the application's arrival, the authority's silence counts as refusal. Likewise, if a decision on exemption from the examinations is not taken within six months, silence means refusal.

How much does it cost to apply for citizenship?

The administrative fee for lodging the application is EUR 104.05. It is paid in advance using form 790-026 at an authorised financial institution, before the application is lodged with the Ministry of Justice. Once citizenship is granted, the civil register services are provided free of charge.

What are the requirements on integration into Spanish society?

Applicants must show good civic conduct, a sufficient command of Spanish and knowledge of the constitution and of Spanish social and political life. This is assessed through the results of the DELE A2 and CCSE examinations and through documents evidencing integration (work, education, social ties).

Other ways to move to Spain

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Spain.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.