Spain Citizenship by Naturalization: How to Apply in 2026 

Spanish citizenship by naturalization, also often referred to as citizenship by residency, is the legal process of becoming a Spanish national. To qualify, you need to have lived in Spain legally and continuously for 10 years, but this is reduced to two years for nationals of Ibero-American countries, the Philippines, Andorra, Equatorial Guinea, or Portugal and to one year when married to a Spanish citizen. 

The process requires you to have valid permanent residency status, to pass language (DELE A2) and cultural (CCSE) exams, and to prove integration into the country but Ibero-American countries do not need to pass the language exam. The path gives you the full citizenship, including a Spanish passport, the right to vote, and in most cases, you will need to renounce your original nationality unless you are from Ibero-American countries, the Philippines, Andorra, Equatorial Guinea, or Portugal.  

1. Unrestricted EU mobility: With Spanish citizenship, you gain the right to live, work, and study in any of the 27 EU member states and the Schengen Area without the need for extra visas or residency permits. 
2. Full political participation: Citizenship grants you the right to vote and run for office in all Spanish local, regional, national, and European parliament elections. 
3. Powerful global access: Holding a Spanish passport gives you one of the strongest travel documents in the world, ranking 20th on the Global Passport Index by Global Citizen Solutions, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 184 countries. 
4. Absolute legal security: Unlike residency permits, citizenship is permanent and cannot be revoked because to long absences abroad, which ends any stress about staying in line with immigration authorities. 
5. Generational advantages: Being a Spanish citizen makes it easier for your children to get Spanish and EU nationality and helps speed up the process of bringing your family members to live with you in Spain. 

To determine how long you need to live in Spain for citizenship, you must look at your nationality and personal circumstances. While the standard requirement is 10 years, many people qualify for a faster route in as little as one or two years. 

• Maintain continuity rule: For the 10-year naturalization period, you cannot be outside Spain for more than six consecutive months. For the other shorter routes of one to two years, absences should be very minimal, ideally not more than three months total. 
• Legal status: Make sure you maintain and track your legal status. Your time only counts if you have a valid residency permit, such as the Spain Non-Lucrative Visa, Spain Digital Nomad Visa, and work visas like the Spain Self-Employed Visa or the Highly Qualified Professional Visa. The time spent on a student visa  does not count toward citizenship, only EU  permanent residency.  
• CCSE (Culture): A 25-question multiple-choice test on Spanish geography, government, and culture. You must answer at least 15 correctly. 
• DELE A2 (Language): A basic Spanish language exam. 
• Take an oath: After being approved you have to take an oath of loyalty to the King and agree to follow Spain’s Constitution and laws. 
• Give up your previous nationality: Renounce your previous nationality, unless you are from an Ibero-American country, Brazil, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, or are a Sephardic Jew of Spanish origin. 
• Register your citizenship: Register your Spanish nationality with the Spanish Civil Registry. 

Filing for Spanish citizenship by residency is almost entirely an online process done through the Ministry of Justice’s portal. The old paper forms like the EX-11 for permanent residency, still exist, but the citizenship application is built directly into the electronic platform. Here’s what to look out for when starting your online application:  

1. Before you even open the form, you must have: 

• A Digital Certificate or Cl@ve: You cannot access the application without a secure digital ID  
• AutoFirma: You must download and install the “AutoFirma” software on your computer to digitally sign the final submission. 
• Tasa 790-026: You must pay the €105 fee in advance and have the receipt ready, as you will need to enter the payment code. 

2. Accessing the portal 

1. Go to the Sede Electrónica del Ministerio de Justicia. 
2. Select “Nacionalidad española por residencia”. 
3. Click on “Solicitud de nacionalidad española por residencia” to begin a new file. 

Read our expert guide on the Spain Non Lucrative Visa

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• Step 1: Residency requirements: Make sure you meet the residency requirements, either the standard 10-year naturalization period, five years for refugees, 2 for Ibero-American nationals/Philippines/Equatorial Guinea/Portugal/Andorra/Sephardic Jews, and two years for those born in Spain or married to a Spaniard. 
• Step 2: Take your language and culture exams: Before applying to become a Spanish national, make sure you have passed the DELE A2 exam for language and CCSE for Culture  
• Step 3: Payment of the fee:  Before starting the online application, you must pay the required fee. This is paid at a bank or online, and the validated receipt must be attached to your digital application. 
• Step 4: The digital submission: Submit the application along with all the required documents via the Sede Electrónica del Ministerio de Justicia. You will need a Digital Certificate or Cl@ve to log in. You must upload high-quality PDF scans of all required documents 
• Step 5: The wait for approval: Once submitted, you can track your status on the “Cómo va lo mío” platform. The processing time for a final answer can be 8- 24 months. 
• Step 6: The favourable resolution and the oath: If approved, you will receive a digital notification. You then have 180 days to book an appointment at the Civil Registry or a Notary to take the Oath of Allegiance to the King and the Spanish Constitution.