There are five ways to get Spanish citizenship: by origin, by option, by residency, by royal letter of naturalization (carta de naturaleza) and by possession of status. For most foreigners living in Spain, the real route is residency. The general rule is ten years of legal and continuous residence, which drops to five, two or even one year depending on your nationality and your family situation.
Many people believe that marrying a Spaniard makes you Spanish. It doesn’t. Spanish citizenship by marriage doesn’t exist as such: being married shortens the residency requirement to one year, but you still have to live in Spain legally, pass the exams (unless you’re exempt) and show good conduct. And there’s a second point that decides many applications: not all the time you’ve spent in Spain counts.
This guide shows you how to get Spanish citizenship in your situation: the routes, the requirements, the exams, the documents, the process all the way to the oath, and the mistakes that sink applications.
Do you want a expert consultation? Contact us and we will help you.
The 30-Second Version
- Five routes: Spanish citizenship can be acquired by origin, by option, by residency, by royal letter of naturalization or by possession of status. Residency is the most common.
- Years of residency: 10 as a general rule, 5 for refugees, 2 for Latin Americans and a few other groups, and 1 in cases such as marriage to a Spaniard.
- Requirements and cost: good civic conduct, the CCSE and DELE A2 exams (citizens of Spanish-speaking countries skip the DELE) and a €104.05 fee.
- Timeline: you apply online, the law gives the government one year to decide and, once approved, you have 180 days to take the oath.
What Is Spanish Citizenship (and What It Isn’t)
Spanish citizenship, or Spanish nationality, is the legal bond between a person and the Spanish state that makes them a citizen with full rights: voting in general elections, holding a Spanish ID card (DNI) and passport, living in Spain without permits and moving freely around the European Union as an EU citizen. It’s governed by Articles 17 to 26 of the Civil Code.
It isn’t the same as long-term residency, which lets you live and work in Spain indefinitely, but as a foreigner: no vote in general elections and no Spanish passport. It also has nothing to do with the NIE (Foreigner Identification Number), the number Spanish authorities use to identify foreigners, which the DNI replaces once you become a citizen.
How to Get Spanish Citizenship: The Five Routes
The Civil Code sets out five routes with very different requirements and separates Spaniards by origin from people who acquire citizenship later. The difference matters: under Article 11.2 of the Spanish Constitution, a Spaniard by origin can’t be stripped of their citizenship.
1. Spanish Citizenship by Origin
Children of a Spanish father or mother are Spaniards by origin wherever they’re born, and so are minors under 18 adopted by a Spaniard (Articles 17 and 19 of the Civil Code). This is what people usually mean by Spanish citizenship by descent. It isn’t granted: it’s proven by registering the birth with the Spanish Civil Registry.
2. Spanish Citizenship by Option
You can opt if you are or were under the parental authority of a Spaniard, like the minor child of someone who just naturalized. So can children of a parent who was Spanish by origin and born in Spain, and adoptees over 18 (Articles 19 and 20). All it takes is a declaration before the Civil Registry, with no years of residency and no exams. Watch the deadline: in most cases it expires at age 20, but children of a Spain-born Spaniard by origin can opt at any age.
3. Spanish Citizenship by Residency
This is the route most foreigners living in Spain take. The Ministry of Justice grants it to people who have lived in Spain for the required time and show good civic conduct and integration (Articles 21 and 22). We cover it in detail below, and it’s what we handle through our Spanish citizenship by residency service.
4. Royal Letter of Naturalization (Carta de Naturaleza)
The government grants it by royal decree, at its discretion, in exceptional circumstances (Article 21.1). There are no set requirements and no deadline you can enforce, so it’s not something to plan around.
5. Possession of Status
It consolidates the citizenship of someone who has used it for ten years, in good faith and based on a title recorded in the Civil Registry, even if that title is later annulled (Article 18). You don’t apply for it: it’s a safeguard against government mistakes.
Can You Get Spanish Citizenship by Being Born in Spain?
Only in specific cases, because being born in Spain doesn’t make you Spanish automatically. A child born in Spain to foreign parents is Spanish by origin if at least one parent was also born in Spain, except children of diplomats. The same applies to children of stateless parents or parents whose law gives the child no nationality, and to children of unknown parentage (Article 17.1). Outside those cases, being born in Spain cuts the residency requirement to one year.
Spanish Citizenship Requirements by Residency
The Spanish citizenship requirements by residency are three: time as a legal resident, good civic conduct and integration. Time is what raises the most questions, because Article 22.3 of the Civil Code requires residence that is:
- Legal: backed by a valid residence authorization. Time spent on a student stay, as a tourist or without papers doesn’t count.
- Continuous: without significant breaks. The law sets no number of days for absences, and anyone who gives you an exact figure is oversimplifying.
- Immediately before the application: the period is counted backward from the day you apply.
On top of that, you need good civic conduct, which goes beyond having no criminal record, and integration, which you prove with the Instituto Cervantes exams (Article 22.4).
Can You Get Spanish Citizenship After 2 Years?
Yes, if you’re a national of a Latin American country, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea or Portugal, or of Sephardic origin. For everyone else, the general rule is ten years, with the reductions set by Article 22 of the Civil Code:
| Years of Legal Residence | Who It Applies To |
|---|---|
| 10 years | General rule for any foreign national, including US citizens. |
| 5 years | People with refugee status. |
| 2 years | Nationals of Latin American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea or Portugal, and people of Sephardic origin. |
| 1 year | People born in Spain; people who didn’t exercise their right of option in time; people under the legal guardianship, custody or foster care of a Spaniard or a Spanish institution for two consecutive years; spouses of a Spaniard married for one year and not legally or de facto separated; widows and widowers of a Spaniard who weren’t separated; people born outside Spain to a parent or grandparent who was originally Spanish. |
Here’s how the numbers play out: a Colombian engineer moves to Barcelona in March 2024 with an EU Blue Card. As a Latin American, she can apply from March 2026, as long as she renewed on time and has no long absences. Her American colleague, with the same card and start date, will have to wait until 2034. For a company relocating talent, each employee’s nationality changes the timeline of their move to Spain.
The Spanish Citizenship Test: CCSE and DELE A2
The Spanish citizenship test is actually two exams run by the Instituto Cervantes: the CCSE, on constitutional and sociocultural knowledge, and the DELE A2, a Spanish language exam. They’re only required for citizenship by residency (Royal Decree 1004/2015), and some applicants can skip one or both:
- Citizens of countries where Spanish is an official language: they don’t take the DELE, but they do take the CCSE. Your valid passport is enough to prove it.
- Holders of the ESO diploma (Spanish secondary school): according to the Ministry of Justice, you just attach the diploma to your application, with no prior waiver request.
- People who can’t read or write or have learning difficulties: they can request a waiver on the Ministry’s official e-portal.
- Minors: their integration is mainly shown with a school enrollment certificate.
A tip that saves weeks: exam sessions run on fixed dates and results take time, so sign up first. The Instituto Cervantes sets the exam fees.
Documents and Fee for Your Spanish Citizenship Application
A Spanish citizenship application by residency needs six documents plus proof of the fee payment, according to the Ministry of Justice’s official list:
- The standard application form, which you fill out on the official e-portal.
- Your TIE (Foreigner Identity Card) or EU registration certificate, which you can replace by authorizing the Ministry to check it.
- Your full, valid passport, plus the previous one if you need it to cover the residency period.
- Your birth certificate, translated and legalized or apostilled.
- A criminal record certificate from your home country, translated and legalized, or a consular good conduct certificate.
- Your CCSE and DELE diplomas, unless you’re exempt.
Watch out for one detail that triggers document requests: translations must be sworn translations, and it’s smart to request your criminal record certificate close to your filing date.
How Much Does Spanish Citizenship Cost?
The government fee is €104.05, according to the Ministry of Justice. You pay it at a bank with Form 790, code 026, which you download from the official e-portal and can’t photocopy. The amount can change with Spain’s budget laws, so double-check it before paying. On top of the fee, budget for the exams, sworn translations and apostilles.
How to Apply for Spanish Citizenship Step by Step
The application for Spanish citizenship by residency is filed online and handled electronically from start to finish.
- Check your timeline and history: which authorizations you’ve held, since when, and whether there were gaps between renewals.
- Pass the CCSE and DELE A2, or gather proof of your exemption.
- Collect your documents, with sworn translations and legalization or an apostille.
- Pay the €104.05 fee with Form 790, code 026.
- File your application on the Ministry of Justice e-portal with Cl@ve or a digital certificate, or through a representative. You have two months to sign it from the day you create it.
- Respond to any document requests and track your file online.
- Receive the decision. If it’s approved, the 180-day clock starts.
- Take the oath and register your citizenship with the Civil Registry. Then you can apply for your DNI and passport.
Steps at a Glance
- Confirm the residency period that applies to you.
- Pass the CCSE and DELE A2, or prove your exemption.
- Collect translated and legalized documents.
- Pay the fee with Form 790, code 026.
- File the application on the e-portal.
- Answer any document requests.
- Receive the decision.
- Take the oath within 180 days and register your citizenship.
How Long Does It Take to Get Spanish Citizenship?
By law, the Ministry has one year to decide and notify you, counted from the day your application reaches the competent office (Article 11.3 of Royal Decree 1004/2015). If that year passes with no answer, the silence counts as a denial: your application is considered rejected, although the government still has to issue a decision and you can appeal. In practice, the best way to avoid delays is to file a complete application from day one.
Do you want a expert consultation? Contact us and we will help you.
The Oath, Registration and Dual Spanish Citizenship
Once your citizenship is granted, the oath (jura) is mandatory: if you don’t take it within 180 days of being notified, the grant expires (Article 21.4 of the Civil Code). That’s a huge consequence.
Article 23 of the Civil Code requires you to swear or promise loyalty to the King and obedience to the Constitution and the laws, to renounce your previous nationality and to register the acquisition with the Civil Registry. According to the Ministry of Justice, you can take the oath before the Civil Registry officer or a notary. Then you can apply for your DNI and passport.
Dual Spanish citizenship is the exception, not the rule. Nationals of Latin American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal don’t have to renounce, and neither do people of Sephardic origin or French citizens, under the Spain-France agreement in force since 2022. One point worth knowing early: whether your home country still treats you as its citizen after the renunciation depends on its own law, so check with your consulate before the oath.
Mistakes That Sink a Spanish Citizenship Application
Many delays and denials come from avoidable mistakes in a Spanish citizenship application:
- Counting time that isn’t legal residence: years as a student, a tourist or without papers don’t count.
- Leaving gaps between renewals: a card that expired before you renewed it can break the continuity.
- Applying too early: you must meet the full period on the day you file.
- Ignoring long absences: lots of time abroad casts doubt on continuity.
- Filing documents that aren’t legalized or properly translated: they trigger requests and months of delay.
- Not explaining a record or a fine: conduct is assessed as a whole, so explain it upfront.
If you’re still denied, you can file a request for reconsideration with the Ministry of Justice (Article 14 of Royal Decree 1004/2015) and then go to the administrative courts (Article 22.5 of the Civil Code).
Knowing your route is only half the answer. The other half is making sure your time, documents and exams line up before you file. This guide is general information and doesn’t replace a review of your case.
At ILLAY Legal, we review your residence history, calculate your exact timeline and prepare your Spanish citizenship application from the initial review to the oath and registration, 100% online and in your language. If you’re a company with relocated employees, we also map out the timeline for each person and their family. Contact us: tell us your nationality, which residence cards you’ve held and since when, and we’ll tell you which route fits you and when you can apply.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spanish Citizenship
Does Spain allow dual citizenship with the US?
Not as a general rule. The US isn’t on Spain’s list of countries whose nationals can keep their citizenship, so Americans who naturalize by residency must declare that they renounce their US citizenship when they take the oath. Whether the US treats that declaration as a loss of citizenship is a question of US law, so confirm it with the US Department of State before your oath. Americans who are Spanish by origin, such as children of a Spanish parent, are in a different position: they don’t go through naturalization or this renunciation.
Can you lose Spanish citizenship?
Yes, in specific cases. People who acquired it by residency, option or royal letter lose it if, for three years, they use only the nationality they renounced. The same happens if they join a foreign army or take a political post in another country against an express government ban (Article 25 of the Civil Code). Also, any adult Spaniard living abroad who voluntarily acquires another nationality loses Spanish citizenship unless they declare within three years that they want to keep it. The exception is acquiring the nationality of a Latin American country, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea or Portugal (Article 24).
Can I get Spanish citizenship without living in Spain?
It depends on the route. By residency, no: you need legal residence in Spain for the required period. By origin or by option, yes: if your parent is Spanish, or if you have a right of option, you can register or file your declaration at a Spanish consulate abroad. The royal letter of naturalization doesn’t require residence either, but it’s discretionary and exceptional, so it’s not a realistic plan for most people.
How many generations back can you claim Spanish citizenship?
Through descent, there’s no set limit on generations, but there is a catch many people miss. A child of a Spanish parent is Spanish by origin, so citizenship passes to the next generation as long as the parent is Spanish when the child is born. The catch is Article 24.3 of the Civil Code. Someone born and living abroad, whose Spanish parent was also born abroad and who also holds the nationality of their country of residence, loses Spanish citizenship unless they declare they want to keep it. They have three years from turning 18 or becoming emancipated.
Is Spanish citizenship by descent ending?
The special route has already ended. The window to claim citizenship under the eighth additional provision of Law 20/2022, the Democratic Memory Law known as the grandchildren’s law, closed on October 22, 2025, according to Spain’s embassies and consulates. Applications and appointment requests filed in time are still being processed. Standard descent by origin still applies, and a grandchild of a Spaniard by origin can also get citizenship by residency after one year living legally in Spain.
What is the fastest way to get Spanish citizenship?
It depends on your ties to Spain. If you have a right of option, for example because your parent naturalized while you were a minor, that’s the most direct route: no years of residency and no exams. Without that tie, the shortest path is one year of legal residence, reserved for cases like marriage to a Spaniard or being born in Spain. Avoid a mix-up that many online answers repeat: being born in Spain to foreign parents doesn’t give you a right of option, but it does let you apply by residency after one year.
