It allows you to acquire Spanish nationality after a period of legal, continuous residence immediately before the application, proving good civic conduct and a sufficient degree of integration.
The application is filed with the Ministry of Justice, preferably online, and ends with the oath or pledge before the Civil Registry.
- 10 years of legal residence: the general rule.
- 5 years: people with recognised refugee status.
- 2 years: nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, or people of Sephardic origin.
- 1 year: people born in Spain; those married to a Spanish national (with one year of marriage and no separation); widows and widowers of Spanish nationals; people born outside Spain to a Spanish-born parent or grandparent; and other cases set out in law.
- Legal, continuous residence immediately before the application for the period that applies to you.
- Good civic conduct: criminal and police records in Spain and in your country of origin are taken into account.
- A sufficient degree of integration: the CCSE test (constitutional and sociocultural knowledge) of the Instituto Cervantes and, if your mother tongue is not Spanish, the DELE A2 test or higher. There are exemptions for minors and for people whose legal capacity has been modified by a court.
- Being up to date with tax and social security obligations (checked automatically).
Nationality by residence application formIt is completed on the electronic office of the Ministry of Justice.Official link Proof of payment of fee form 790 code 026Fee for processing the nationality file.Official link Full passport, validA copy of every written page (including blank ones if the office asks for them) plus the original for checking. Many procedures require at least 4 months of validity. Valid TIE or registration certificateProving legal residence. Birth certificate from your country of originLegalised or apostilled and translated by a sworn translator. Criminal record certificate from your country of originValid, legalised or apostilled and translated. Birth certificates of Spanish children / marriage certificate if applicable In cases where the period is reduced because of a family tie.CCSE and DELE A2 diplomasIssued by the Instituto Cervantes. The CCSE is valid for 4 years.Official link Municipal registration certificate (empadronamiento) if applicable Up to date, to prove your address.
Application for Spanish nationality by residence (electronic office of the Ministry of Justice)
Always download the form from the Ministry website: the templates are updated and offices reject outdated versions.
| Form | What it covers | Who pays | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 790 código 026 | Processing of the nationality by residence file | The applicant | Generate fee form |
| Tasas del Instituto Cervantes | CCSE and DELE tests | The applicant | Generate fee form |
Amounts are updated periodically: the one shown when you generate form 790 is the one in force.
Electronic office of the Ministry of Justice
Filed online with a digital certificate or Cl@ve; it can also be filed by a representative (an agent or lawyer).
Civil Registry
Final stage: the oath or pledge and registration, within 180 days of notification of the decision.
- Maximum decision period: 1 year from when the application reaches the competent body. Silence means refusal, but you can appeal.
- After it is granted: 180 days to swear or pledge allegiance to the Constitution and the laws and to register with the Civil Registry.
Residence must be legal and continuous: periods spent in an irregular situation do not count, and long absences can break the continuity.
Check the status of your file on the Ministry of Justice website; actual times vary a lot depending on the number of files.