Spanish Citizenship Requirements, Do You Qualify?
UNDERSTANDING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLYING FOR SPAIN CITIZENSHIP
Requirements for Spanish Citizenship
The process to become a Spanish citizen requires meeting specific requirements associated with the path you are applying through. Understanding the Spanish citizenship requirements and how to meet them is essential to becoming a Spanish national.
We made these easy for you to understand. In this guide, you’ll learn what’s needed for each path, and you’ll even learn Spain passport requirements. Because, after all, once you become a citizen, you’ll almost certainly want access to this world-class passport!
As always, you can schedule a free call with one of our USA experts to review any requirements that you are uncertain about.
Spanish Citizenship Requirements (Sorted by Path)
Spain offers multiple pathways to citizenship, each with its own Spanish nationality requirements. You can learn all the ways how to get Spanish citizenship.
1. Citizenship by Residency (Naturalization)
The most common route, this option requires continuous legal residency in Spain for a specific period, depending on your circumstances:
- 10 years: Standard requirement for most applicants.
- 5 years: For refugees.
- 2 years: For citizens of Ibero-American countries, Portugal, Andorra, the Philippines, or Equatorial Guinea.
- 1 year: For individuals who:
- Were born in Spain
- Have been married to a Spanish citizen for at least one year
- Are widows or widowers of Spanish nationals
- Were legally adopted by a Spanish citizen (if over 18)
- Are descendants of Spanish nationals, including grandchildren
Because legal residency is the major factor here, qualifying becomes a key issue. That’s why many people prefer the investment route to get a Golden Visa. Learn more about the Spain Golden visa program.
Key Spain Citizenship Requirements for Residency-Based Citizenship:
To qualify for citizenship by residency, applicants must:
- Have continuous legal residency in Spain—which means no absences over 6 months in a given year
- Keep a clean criminal record—you’ll need to actually prove this in your application with a certificate from your current home country
- Integrate into Spanish society
- Pass the language test DELE (Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera) at an A2 level or higher
- Pass the CCSE (Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de España), to show you have a strong understanding of Spanish culture, society, and Constitution
2. Citizenship by Descent
This route is based entirely in heritage—working a lot like citizenship by descent in other European countries.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Have a parent or grandparent who was a Spanish citizen at the time of your birth
- Were born to a Spanish parent who was born in Spain
- Were adopted by a Spanish citizen, even if the adoption occurred after age 18
Special provisions exist under Spain’s Historical Memory Law (2007) and Democratic Memory Law (2022), which enable descendants of Spaniards exiled during the Civil War or dictatorship to reclaim citizenship.
Required Documentation:
- Birth certificates proving lineage
- Records showing the Spanish citizenship of parents or grandparents
- Additional documents if applying under the Historical or Democratic Memory laws
We have an entire guide on Spanish citizenship through descent.
3. Citizenship by Marriage
Unlike some countries, Spain does not automatically grant citizenship upon marriage but allows spouses to apply after just one year of legal residency in Spain.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Be legally married to a Spanish citizen
- Reside with your spouse in Spain for at least one year without legal separation. Provide proof of a stable marriage, such as joint bank accounts or shared property ownership
Additional Benefits:
This route also facilitates family reunification, granting residence permits to spouses and dependents even before citizenship. In the vast majority of cases we’ve worked with, living together legally was the top priority.
Learn more about this route for Spanish citizenship through marriage.
General Spanish Citizenship Requirements
Regardless of the route you take, several overarching Spanish nationality requirements apply:
- Oath of Allegiance: Spanish citizenship requires swearing loyalty to the King of Spain, the Spanish Constitution, and the country’s laws.
- Renunciation of Previous Citizenship: While some nationalities (e.g., Ibero-American countries, Portugal, Andorra, the Philippines, and Equatorial Guinea) are exempt, most applicants must renounce their previous citizenship.
- Registration in the Civil Registry: This step is rote but still important. You need to register your citizenship with the Spanish Civil Register, which will get you a national identity card and set you up for a passport.
- Clean Criminal Record: A clean criminal record (both in your current home country and in Spain) is mandatory for the government to determine whether you are safe for society.
Spanish Nationality Requirements - Language & Cultural Tests
- DELE Language Exam
The Instituto Cervantes gives this test to find out your Spanish language skills—which will obviously be quite necessary to participate in society. Unlike many European countries, you’ll only be expected to have a basic understanding of the language. This is defined as the ability to carry on rudimentary conversations about routine situations (labeled as the A2 level or higher). Citizens from Spanish-speaking countries are typically exempt.
- CCSE Cultural Test
Along with language, you’ll also have your understanding of Spain’s culture tested. The CCSE evaluates applicants’ knowledge of Spanish constitutional principles, cultural norms, and societal structures. It’s a 25-question test with a minimum passing score of 15. The questions are formatted in both multiple-choice and true/false. 60% of the questions are about the country’s government, laws, and citizenship. The other 40% covers culture, history, and society.
Spain Citizenship Requirements - Necessary Documents
Meeting Spain citizenship requirements involves submitting a comprehensive set of documents:
- Valid passport
- Proof of legal residency (e.g., residency card, empadronamiento certificate)
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Criminal record certificate from your home country and Spain
- Proof of financial stability
- Results from the DELE and CCSE tests
If you are qualifying by descent for Spain and USA dual citizenship, then another set of documents specific to your case is required.
Application Process for Spanish Citizenship
The application process may seem daunting, but breaking it into manageable steps simplifies the journey:
- Determine Eligibility: Choose the appropriate pathway (residency, descent, or marriage) and get together your documentation. If this step feels a bit confusing, contact us for help.
- Prepare for Tests: Enroll in language and cultural courses specifically to pass the CCSE and DELE.
- Submit Your Application: File your application at the Civil Registry nearest to your Spanish address—including the delivery of required documents.
- Attend the Interview: This is where you have biometric data taken.
- Wait for Approval: Processing times often take 1–2 years.
Benefits of Spanish Citizenship
Obtaining Spanish citizenship unlocks numerous benefits, including:
- A Spain passport, one of the world’s most powerful, granting visa-free travel to over 190 countries.
- Full rights within the EU, including freedom to live, work, and study anywhere in the Union.
- Access to Spain’s public healthcare and education systems.
- The ability to vote in Spanish and EU elections.
Check out our full write up on all the benefits of Spanish citizenship.
Spain Passport Requirements
Before you can apply for a Spanish passport, you first need to be recognized as a Spanish citizen, which we’ve covered above. But once you’ve done this, you get to enjoy one of the major reasons people become a citizen in the first place—getting a hold of a Spanish passport!
Requirements for a Spanish Passport
- Valid Spanish national ID card (DNI)
- Proof of citizenship registration from the Spanish Civil Register
- Recent passport-sized photographs
- Completed passport application form
- Payment of applicable fees
Applications must be submitted in person at a local passport office in Spain or through a Spanish consulate if applying abroad.
Get Help Meeting Spanish Citizenship Requirements
Are you struggling to fully understand or meet some of these requirements?
Then get support from the leading team of experts that specialize in obtaining Spanish citizenship for clients in the USA and worldwide. At SDC, we have professionals available to confirm your eligibility free of charge.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How long does it take to get Spanish citizenship?
This depends on the path you take to apply for Spanish citizenship. Naturalization could take more than 10 years, but Citizenship by Descent might only take 6 months.
Can I hold dual citizenship with Spain?
Spain allows dual citizenship only for nationals of specific countries—including Latin American nations, Portugal, Andorra, and the Philippines. Everyone else will need to renounce their citizenship.
What are the costs associated with applying?
Fees range from €60 to €100, but you’ll also want to factor in additional costs for translations, certifications, and tests.
What are the requirements for Spanish citizenship?
Of course, it depends how you’ll be getting citizenship. But you’ll definitely need a clean criminal record, a passing grade on the CCSE (history and culture) and DELE (language) tests, to swear allegiance to Spain and its king, and to register in the Civil Register. Other requirements will draw on the pathway you take (like marriage, proof of Spanish ancestry, or meeting residency requirements). Renouncing prior citizenship is typically required unless you’re from specific countries.
Do I need to learn Spanish?
Yes, passing the DELE A2 exam is mandatory unless exempt for purposes of age, disability, or origin in a Spanish-speaking country.
This page was last updated with help by Marco Permunian
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