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Immigration lawyer preparing a Spanish citizenship application in Barcelona

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Spanish citizenship lawyers in Barcelona

We prepare your complete application, file it through the Ministry of Justice's online portal and follow it through to the oath and registration in the Registro Civil (Civil Registry).

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Residence periods

How many years do you need?

Woman holding her passport next to a suitcase

The most common route to Spanish citizenship is citizenship by residence. The time required depends on your nationality of origin and your personal circumstances. In every case, your residence must be legal, continuous and immediately prior to the application.

Information up to date as of September 2026.

10 yearsGeneral rule.
5 yearsPeople with refugee status.
2 yearsNationals by origin of Latin American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal, and Sephardic Jews.
1 yearPeople born in Spain, married to a Spanish citizen, widowed from a Spanish citizen and other cases we set out below.

One year of residence

The reduced cases

The Spanish Civil Code reduces the period to one year in these cases:

  • Being born in Spain
  • Having been married to a Spanish citizen for one year, without separation
  • Being the widow or widower of a Spanish citizen, with no prior separation
  • Being born outside Spain to a father, mother, grandfather or grandmother who were Spanish by origin
  • Not having exercised the right of option in time
  • Having been under the guardianship, custody or foster care of a Spanish citizen or institution for two years

Requirements

What you will need to prove

  • Legal, continuous and immediately prior residence
  • Good civic conduct: criminal record certificates
  • Integration: the Instituto Cervantes test of constitutional and sociocultural knowledge (CCSE)
  • Language: DELE A2 or higher, except for nationals of Spanish-speaking countries
  • Fee of €104.05 (form 790, code 026)

Other routes

Beyond residence

  • By option: children of, and people under the parental authority of, a Spanish citizen, among other cases, subject to age limits
  • By carta de naturaleza (discretionary grant), in exceptional circumstances
  • By possession of status (valor de simple presunción)
  • Sephardic Jews
  • Democratic Memory Law: the deadline closed on 22 October 2025

The procedure

From application to oath

The application is filed online through the Ministry of Justice's electronic portal. The legal deadline for a decision is one year: if there is no reply, the application is deemed refused by administrative silence and you can go to the contentious-administrative courts.

Once citizenship is granted, the countdown begins: you have 180 days to swear or promise allegiance and request registration in the Registro Civil. If you miss it, the grant expires. It is the step most often neglected and the most painful one to lose.

How we work

Your citizenship, step by step

  1. Preliminary reviewWe check that your residence genuinely counts —with no gaps or problematic absences— before filing.
  2. DELE and CCSEWe tell you which exams you need and when it is best to take them so you do not lose time.
  3. Application and filingWe gather certificates, translations and apostilles, and file through the Ministry of Justice portal.
  4. Follow-up to the oathWe answer requests for information, take action if there is no reply and support you through to registration.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Spanish citizenship

How long does Spanish citizenship by residence take?

The legal deadline for a decision is one year from the date the application is entered in the register of the competent authority; in practice it usually takes longer. If a year goes by without a reply, the application is deemed refused by administrative silence and you can take the case to the contentious-administrative courts.

Do I have to pass the DELE A2 and the CCSE?

The CCSE, yes, except for minors and people whose legal capacity has been modified by a court. The DELE A2 is not required for, among others, nationals of countries where Spanish is an official language. People who completed ESO (compulsory secondary education) in Spain can request an exemption from both tests.

I am from a Latin American country. How many years of residence do I need?

Two years of legal and continuous residence, if you are a national by origin of a Latin American (Ibero-American) country. The same period applies to nationals of Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal, and to Sephardic Jews.

I am married to a Spanish citizen. What do I need?

One year of legal and continuous residence in Spain and one year of marriage, without being legally or de facto separated. On top of that, the integration tests and the other general requirements.

What happens if I do not take the citizenship oath in time?

The grant expires. After notification you have 180 days to swear or promise allegiance to the King and obedience to the Constitution and the laws, and to request registration in the Registro Civil (Civil Registry). This can be done at the Registro Civil or before a notary.

Can I still apply for citizenship under the Democratic Memory Law?

No. The deadline to apply ended on 22 October 2025. Anyone who submitted their application within the deadline keeps the right to have it processed.

Speak to our team

Shall we talk about your case?

Book a consultation and we will look at your situation calmly: which route fits, what documents you need and what deadlines are ahead.

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Other services

Arraigo (residence through roots) Family members and EU residence card Extraordinary regularisation 2026 All services

The information on this page is for guidance only and is up to date as of September 2026. Spanish immigration law changes often and every case is different: before submitting any application it is worth having your situation reviewed individually. We work in English and Spanish.

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