Spanish citizenship by residence in 2026: 10, 5, 2 or 1 year — what counts

Spanish citizenship by residence is one of the main routes to Spanish nationality. The key issue is not simply how long you have physically been in Spain, but which periods qualify as legal residence and whether the required continuity has been maintained.

How many years of residence are required?

The general rule is 10 years of legal, continuous residence immediately before applying. Reduced periods apply in specific cases: 5 years for recognised refugees, 2 years for nationals by origin of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea or Portugal and persons of Sephardic origin, and 1 year in certain cases expressly established by the Civil Code.

Not every period in Spain counts

Residence must be legal, continuous and immediately prior to the application. Physical presence in Spain does not automatically mean that every period qualifies. The exact start date of residence and absences from Spain should be checked before filing.

Common mistakes

Applying too early, counting non-qualifying periods, overlooking lengthy trips, using expired or improperly legalised documents, and treating the online case status as an official notification can cause avoidable problems.

What to check before applying

Check the residence category and qualifying start date, travel history, criminal-record certificates, civil-status documents and CCSE/DELE requirements or exemptions. VMG Servicios Jurídicos can review the qualifying period and documents before filing.