Requirements to apply for Spanish nationality by residence in 2026

To apply for Spanish nationality by residence you need to live in Spain legally and without interruption for a period that depends on your case. The general rule is 10 years, but there are cases of 5 years, 2 years and 1 year. You also have to show good civic conduct and a sufficient level of integration. You normally prove integration with the CCSE exam and the DELE A2.

How many years of residence do I need?

Article 22 of the Código Civil (Spanish Civil Code) sets these periods:

• 10 years. This is the general case.
• 5 years. For people with refugee status.
• 2 years. For nationals of origin of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea or Portugal, and for Sephardic people.
• 1 year. For these cases:
  • You were born in Spanish territory.
  • You did not use your right of option in time.
  • You were under the guardianship, custody or foster care of a Spanish citizen or institution for two years in a row.
  • You have been married to a Spanish person for one year, without legal or de facto separation.
  • You are the widow or widower of a Spanish person, if you were not separated at the time of death.
  • You were born outside Spain and your father, mother, grandfather or grandmother was Spanish by origin.

In all cases your residence must be legal, continuous and immediately before the application.

What does good civic conduct mean?

It means having no criminal record and no problems with the law. During the process the Ministry checks the Registro Central de Penados (Central Criminal Records Register) in Spain and asks other bodies for reports. You have to provide the criminal record certificate from your country of origin. If it is impossible to get it for reasons of force majeure, you provide the certificates of the countries where you lived in the last 5 years. If your country is a federal state, such as Germany, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, the United States, India, Mexico, Russia or Venezuela, the certificate must be nationwide or from each state where you lived in the last 5 years. If the certificate does not state its validity, it is valid for 6 months from issue.

Which exams do I have to pass?

You show integration with two tests from the Instituto Cervantes (Spain's public institution for the Spanish language):

• CCSE. This is the test of constitutional and sociocultural knowledge of Spain. The certificate is valid for 4 years.
• DELE A2 or higher. This is the Spanish language exam.

Nationals of countries where Spanish is an official language do not take the DELE. These include Argentina, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela, among others. People under 18 are exempt from both tests. People who studied in Spain and finished the ESO (compulsory secondary education) can be exempted from both tests. In that case they do not need to request the exemption beforehand, it is enough to attach the documents to the application. People who cannot read or write can ask the Ministerio de Justicia (Ministry of Justice) for an exemption before they submit the nationality application.

To prepare for the CCSE you can practise with the 300 official questions and take a free mock exam. You can only register and pay for the exam on the Instituto Cervantes website.

What documents do I need?

According to the annex of Orden JUS/1625/2016 (Ministerial Order JUS/1625/2016), an adult presents:

• The application (on the online portal it is an online form).
• Birth certificate from your country, legalised or with an apostille, and translated if it is not in Spanish.
• Complete and valid passport.
• Criminal record certificate from your country, legalised and translated.
• Proof of payment of the fee.
• Marriage certificate, if you are married.
• The CCSE and DELE certificates, if you do not allow the Ministry to check them.

If you do not allow the automatic checks, you will also have to provide the certificado de empadronamiento (certificate of registration at your address), the certificate from the Registro Central de Penados and your residence card.

How much is the nationality fee in 2026?

The fee is form 790, code 026 (tasa 790). The Ministerio de Justicia states that the current amount is 104.05 euros. It can change with the Presupuestos Generales del Estado (State Budget), so check the figure on the Ministry website before you pay.

You pay it before you send the application, at a partner bank, on the Agencia Tributaria (tax agency) payment gateway or in your online banking, with form 790 downloaded from the online portal. The steps are in the guide nationality fee 790 código 026. Do not photocopy the form, because each one has a unique number. This fee does not include the price of the Instituto Cervantes exams.

How do I submit the application?

There are two ways:

• Online. You go to the Ministerio de Justicia online portal (sede.mjusticia.gob.es) with Cl@ve (the Spanish government's digital identity system) or a digital certificate, and you need the AutoFirma program. You create the application, attach the scanned documents and the fee receipt. From the moment you create the draft you have two months to complete it.
• On paper. You fill in the standard application form and submit it at an oficina de asistencia en materia de registros (public registry assistance office). The Ministry gives you the paper forms if you ask for them.

A lawyer, a gestor (administrative agent) or another representative can also submit it with your authorisation.

How long does it take and what happens if there is no reply?

The Regulation gives the Ministry one year to decide. That year counts from the day the application reaches the body that handles it, which today is the Dirección General de Seguridad Jurídica y Fe Pública (Directorate-General for Legal Certainty and Public Faith). If a year passes without a reply, the application is considered refused by administrative silence. In practice many cases take longer. You can appeal against a refusal. In that case it is a good idea to ask a lawyer for advice.

How do I check the status of my case?

On the online portal there is the "Consulta telemática de expedientes de nacionalidad española por residencia" (online check of nationality by residence cases), which many people call "Cómo va lo mío" (how is my case going). It shows you the stage your case is at. That information is not an official notification. Decisions arrive in a separate notification.

What do I do after nationality is granted?

1. Oath or promise. You have 180 days from the day after the notification. If you do not do it in time, the grant expires. You swear or promise loyalty to the King and obedience to the Constitution and the laws before the Registro Civil (Civil Registry) where you live or before a notary. In the same act you give up your previous nationality. Nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea or Portugal, Sephardic people and, since 2022, French nationals do not have to give it up. Children under 14 do not swear or renounce: their representatives accept for them. The details are in the guide Spanish nationality oath.
2. Registration in the Registro Civil. The Registry records your nationality. If you take the oath at the Registry, the law gives it five days to do this. Bring the original documents, because the Registry may compare them with the scanned copies.
3. DNI. Ask the Registro Civil for the full birth certificate (certificación literal de nacimiento) for the DNI (Spanish national identity card). Then book an appointment with the Policía (Police). You need that certificate issued less than six months before, the certificado de empadronamiento issued less than three months before, and your NIE (foreigner identity number).
4. Passport. With a valid DNI you can book an appointment for the Spanish passport.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to take the CCSE if I am from an Ibero-American country?

Yes. Nationals of Spanish-speaking countries are exempt from the DELE, but not from the CCSE.

How long is the CCSE certificate valid?

It is valid for 4 years from the date the results record is approved, not from the day of the exam.

What happens if I do not take the oath within 180 days?

The grant expires. So it is a good idea to book an appointment at the Registro Civil or at a notary's office as soon as you receive the notification.

Is Nacionaliza official?

No. Nacionaliza is an independent website for studying the CCSE. You can only submit the application, pay the fee and register for the exams on the official websites of the Ministerio de Justicia and the Instituto Cervantes.