Spanish citizenship by residence
This is the most common route for foreign nationals who have lived in Spain legally, continuously and immediately before applying for the required period.
Who may qualify
- General requirement: 10 years of legal residence.
- 5 years for people granted refugee status.
- 2 years for nationals by origin of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea or Portugal, and for Sephardic applicants.
- In certain cases only 1 year is required, for example for persons born in Spain or spouses of Spanish citizens when the statutory conditions are met.
Main requirements
- Legal, continuous residence immediately before the application.
- Good civic conduct.
- Sufficient degree of integration into Spanish society.
- Compliance with any specific conditions for a reduced residence period.
Documents
- Application and identity documentation.
- Birth certificate and, where relevant, civil-status documents.
- Evidence of residence and any reduced-period ground relied upon.
- Certificates and supporting documents required for the particular case.
- Fee payment and, where applicable, CCSE/DELE results or exemption/dispensation evidence.
How the procedure works
- Check the applicable residence period.
- Prepare and digitise supporting documents.
- File the application, including through the Ministry of Justice online procedure.
- Monitor the case and answer requests for further documents.
- After approval, complete the relevant Civil Registry formalities.
Routes to Spanish citizenship
Spanish citizenship by option
A right to opt for Spanish nationality in the situations expressly provided by the Civil Code.
ReadSpanish nationality by origin
Cases in which a person is Spanish by origin under the Civil Code.
ReadSpanish citizenship by carta de naturaleza
Exceptional and discretionary grant of Spanish nationality by the Government.
ReadSpanish nationality by possession of status
Consolidation of nationality after continuously using Spanish status in good faith.
ReadSpanish nationality by simple presumption
Civil Registry procedure for certain children born in Spain where the parents’ laws do not attribute a nationality.
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