Spanish nationality
Acquiring Spanish nationality through residence.
Start with this procedureRead it in more detail on our blog: Spanish nationality: how many years you need, based on your country of origin
Who it's for
People with continuous legal residence (between 2 and 10 years depending on country of origin) who meet the integration requirements.
Who CAN'T apply for it
- If you have a prior denial of citizenship or another immigration procedure, an ongoing appeal, an open expulsion order, or a criminal record, your case needs legal review before proceeding — it's not a fit for standard document preparation.
- If you don't yet meet the years of continuous legal residence your category requires — 10 years in the general case, fewer depending on your nationality — you can't apply yet.
Typical documentation
Apostilled and translated birth certificate
Requested from your country's civil registry; it must carry the Hague Apostille and a sworn translation.
Criminal record certificate from the country of origin and from Spain
The Spanish one is requested at the Ministry of Justice or at your consulate if you live abroad.
Historical municipal registration certificate (padrón)
Shows how long you've been living in Spain; we request it.
DELE A2 certificate
A Spanish-language exam run by the Instituto Cervantes; not required if Spanish is an official language of your country of origin.
CCSE certificate
An exam on the Spanish Constitution and society, also run by the Instituto Cervantes.
Passport
Valid.
Certificate of civil status or other civil registry documentation
Depends on your specific case; we tell you if you need it.
Official fees
These fees are charged by the administration, not by us. They're paid separately from our price.
Solicitud de adquisición de la nacionalidad española por residencia
104,05€
Modelo 790-026 · Ministerio de Justicia
El importe puede ser revisado conforme a las Leyes de Presupuestos Generales del Estado vigentes.
Official sourcePrueba CCSE (Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de España)
85,00€
Modelo N/A · Instituto Cervantes
Incluye derechos de examen, acceso a la plataforma de preparación, y dos convocatorias si no se supera la primera.
Official sourceExamen DELE A2
138,00€
Modelo N/A · Instituto Cervantes
Importe aplicable a centros examinadores en España; varía según el país donde se examine.
Official sourceEstimated timeframe
1-3 years, legal deadline 1 year (usually longer)
Estimated timeframe. It depends on the assigned immigration office and may vary.
Our price
350€
Includes preparing all your documentation and the official form already filled in with your details.
Start with this procedureFrequently asked questions about this procedure
How many years do I need for Spanish citizenship?
It depends on your nationality: 10 years is the general rule. It drops to 5 years if you hold refugee status, to 2 years if you're from an Ibero-American country such as Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, or Venezuela, or from Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, or Portugal, or of Sephardic origin. It drops to 1 year if you were born in Spain, spent 2 years under the guardianship of a Spanish person or institution, have been married to a Spanish national for 1 year without separation, are the widow or widower of a Spanish national, or were born abroad to a Spanish-born parent or grandparent.
Which countries get the 2-year benefit?
Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay, Venezuela, Brazil, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, and Portugal. Every other nationality falls under the general 10-year rule, unless you meet one of the other criteria, such as refugee status, marriage, or birth in Spain.
Do I have to take the CCSE and DELE exams?
The CCSE, on constitutional and sociocultural knowledge, is mandatory for everyone, with no nationality-based exemption. The DELE A2 in Spanish is only required if Spanish isn't an official language in your home country — that's why, for example, Brazil is in the 2-year residency group but still needs the DELE, since its official language is Portuguese.
How much does the citizenship fee cost?
The official fee, form 790, code 026, is €104.05, subject to revision under the current Budget Law. On top of that come the CCSE (€85) and, if applicable, the DELE A2 (€138 in Spain) — all charged by the administration or the Instituto Cervantes, not by us.
How long does it take to be resolved?
The legal deadline is 1 year, though in practice it usually takes longer.