🇪🇸 Spain · Citizenship
Naturalization rules: required residence years, language and civics requirements, and each country's dual-citizenship policy.
Quick answer
Naturalization by residence normally requires 10 years of legal residence, but only 2 years for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal or people of Sephardic origin (and 1 year in some family cases). You pass the DELE A2 Spanish exam and the CCSE culture/constitution test. Spain requires renouncing your prior nationality except for those dual-nationality countries.
Spanish citizenship by residence generally requires ten years of legal residence, reduced to two years for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal, and one year for spouses of Spanish nationals. Applicants pass the DELE (Spanish language) and CCSE (culture/constitution) exams. Spain permits dual nationality for those reduced-period countries; others must generally renounce. The Ministry of Justice decides.
- Generally ten years' legal residence; two years for Ibero-American/Andorra/Philippines/Eq. Guinea/Portugal; one year for spouses.
- Pass the DELE (language) and CCSE (culture/constitution) exams.
- Dual nationality is allowed for the reduced-period countries; others must generally renounce.
Step-by-step
- 1
Confirm your route and residence
Confirm your qualifying period (10 years generally; 2 years for Ibero-American/Portugal/etc.; 1 year in some family cases).
- 2
Meet language and knowledge tests
Pass the DELE A2 Spanish exam and the CCSE test on Spanish constitution and culture (some exemptions apply).
- 3
Meet good-character and other conditions
Show good civic conduct and sufficient integration into Spanish society.
- 4
Apply to the nationality authority
Apply to the Ministry of Justice (electronic file) with residence, civil-status and exam certificates.
- 5
Attend interview / test and ceremony
After approval, swear allegiance to the King and constitution before the Civil Registry within the deadline.
- 6
Receive citizenship and a passport
You become a Spanish citizen; renounce your prior nationality unless it is a dual-nationality-treaty country, then apply for a Spanish passport and DNI.
Checklist
- Eligible route + qualifying residence period
- Continuous / legal residence conditions met
- Language + civic knowledge test passed
- Good character / clean record
- Application + documents + fee
- Interview / ceremony completed
- Dual-nationality / renunciation rule handled
- Citizenship confirmed; passport applied
Official authorities
- Ministry of Justice — nationality (mjusticia.gob.es)
Official nationality-by-residence authority.
Frequently asked questions
How long must I live in Spain to naturalize?
Ten years of legal residence in general, but only two years for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Portugal, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea or Sephardic Jews.
Does Spain allow dual nationality?
Only with certain countries (Ibero-America, Portugal, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, France); others must formally renounce their prior nationality.
What exams are required?
The DELE A2 Spanish-language exam and the CCSE test on Spanish constitution and culture (nationals of Spanish-speaking countries are exempt from DELE).
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
Government portals
- General Access Point (administracion.gob.es) — Central portal for Spanish public administration services
- Immigration e-Office (Extranjería) — Residence, foreigner ID (NIE/TIE) and immigration procedures
- Tax Agency (Agencia Tributaria) — Spanish income tax (IRPF) and VAT (IVA) filing
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs (visas) — Visa applications abroad and consular services