All the options to become a Spanish citizen: requirements, timelines and steps for each route, explained by specialised immigration lawyers.
Spanish citizenship is the legal bond between a person and Spain that gives you the same rights as any Spaniard: to live and work without permits, to vote and to move freely across the European Union.
Living in Spain under a residence permit is a great opportunity for many foreigners, but it also has limitations, such as the need to renew it periodically or not being able to work freely in other EU countries. Spanish citizenship is the ultimate solution, providing full rights and long-term stability.
While most Spanish citizens acquire their nationality by birth to Spanish parents, foreigners can also apply through four different legal pathways. Understanding how to get Spanish citizenship and selecting the right option for your case is essential for a smooth process.
Is Spanish citizenship the same as Spanish nationality? In practice, yes. Technically, nationality is the legal bond with the State and citizenship refers to the rights that come with it, but in Spain both terms are used interchangeably.
If you want to become a Spanish citizen, there are four main pathways to obtain nationality. The one you follow will depend on your specific situation, including the time you have spent in Spain, your family connections or exceptional circumstances. Below, we break down the four ways to become a Spanish citizen and their requirements.
The most common way of getting Spanish nationality. After living in Spain for a certain time with your residence permit, you can apply for citizenship by residency. The time required depends on your case:
If you are married to a Spanish citizen, you only need to live legally in Spain for one year to qualify for nationality, as long as you are not separated. The marriage must be registered in the Spanish Civil Registry.
Read the full guideIf you have been under the parental authority of a Spaniard, you can opt for citizenship until you turn 20. And if your father or mother was Spanish by origin and born in Spain, you can do it at any age.
Read the full guideThe Democratic Memory Law (Grandchildren's Law) allowed children and grandchildren of Spaniards to apply for nationality until 22 October 2025. If you applied on time, we can help you follow up on your application.
Even though there are 4 different paths to get citizenship and each one has its own requirements, some are common to almost every case. These are the main ones.
Don't forget the feeTo apply for citizenship by residency, you must pay the application fee (form 790, code 026) before submitting. Check the updated amount in our guide to the Spanish citizenship fee.
You must have lived in Spain legally, continuously and immediately before applying, with a valid residence permit. Any irregular situation will make your application ineligible.
You must show a clean criminal record, both in Spain and in your country of origin. Minor and isolated offences do not always lead to rejection.
You will need to pass two exams: the DELE A2 (Spanish language) and the CCSE (constitutional and sociocultural knowledge). If you are a national of a Spanish-speaking country, you only need to take the CCSE.
This requirement does not apply to citizenship by option or by descent, and there are cases of exemption from the exams. Learn more about the Spanish nationality test.
Your census registration certificate (empadronamiento), including previous records, proves your continuous residence and that you have not left Spain for long periods.
You must prove good civic conduct and a sufficient degree of integration into Spanish society. Some applicants must also show sufficient financial means.
As a general rule, you must renounce your previous nationality. You will not have to if you are a national of an Ibero-American country, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal or France, or if you are a Sephardic Jew. Learn more about dual citizenship in Spain.
This is the process from the moment you prepare your documents until you collect your Spanish passport.
First of all, you need to gather all the required documents: passport, birth certificate and criminal record certificate (legalised and translated), census registration and your DELE and CCSE certificates.
Pay the Spanish citizenship fee (form 790, code 026) before submitting your application.
Then, you must submit your application to the Ministry of Justice. You can do it online to speed up the process.
The legal deadline to resolve is one year, although in practice it may take longer. Meanwhile, you can check the status of your application.
Once approved, you will have 180 days to take the oath of allegiance at the Civil Registry or before a notary.
Finally, after registration in the Civil Registry, book an appointment at a National Police station to get your DNI first and then your Spanish passport.
Do you have any questions?Let us help you with your Spanish citizenship application, step by step.
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The most common questions before, during and after applying for Spanish nationality.
After submitting your application, the Ministry of Justice usually takes from 1 to 2 years to issue a response. If you apply online, chances are you will get it faster. Meanwhile, you can check the possible status of your citizenship application.
Once you receive a favourable resolution, there is still an extra step: taking the oath of allegiance to the Spanish Constitution. You can do it before a notary, at the Spanish consulate or at the Civil Registry, and the timing will depend on appointment availability.
After that, you will be ready to get your DNI, your Spanish passport and your "certificado de concordancia".
As of today, the application fee for Spanish nationality is €104.05. Bear in mind that this fee can be updated each year, usually by a few cents or a couple of euros. More details in our guide to the Spanish citizenship fee.
Each type of nationality has its own documents and requirements. Nevertheless, as a general rule, you will always need:
If you apply through marriage, you will also need a marriage certificate registered in Spain; and if you include your children, their birth certificates.
There are two different nationality exams you will need to pass, both from the Cervantes Institute:
There are 3 groups that don't need to take these exams after requesting an exemption from the citizenship exams.
The Spanish Ministry of Justice created an online platform, known as "Cómo va lo mío", that lets you follow your application online. We explain how to use it in our guide on how to check your citizenship application status.
Yes, if you are a national of an Ibero-American country, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal or France, or if you are a Sephardic Jew. In any other case, you will generally have to renounce your previous nationality.
All the details in our guide to dual citizenship in Spain.
Not automatically. Being born in Spain does not make the child of foreign parents Spanish. However, the child can apply for citizenship by residency after just 1 year of legal residence.
There is one exception, known as nationality by presumption (article 17 of the Civil Code): if the child would otherwise be left stateless, Spain grants citizenship to protect their rights. This depends on the parents' country of origin, and some countries, such as Ecuador, do not allow it.
Yes. You can travel, go on holiday or visit your family in your home country. Occasional, short trips will not affect your application.
What matters is your residence card, since you are still a legal resident while you wait. For example, with a temporary card you cannot leave Spain for more than 6 months within a year, and with a long-term card you cannot leave the EU for more than 1 consecutive year. Check the maximum time outside Spain without losing residency and our guide on leaving Spain while waiting for citizenship.
Yes, it is entirely possible to lose your Spanish nationality. For example:
There are 7 typical mistakes that may get your application rejected:
No. The Democratic Memory Law allowed children and grandchildren of Spaniards to apply for nationality until 22 October 2025. If you applied on time, we can help you follow up on your application.
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