Obtaining Spanish nationality is not only an important personal milestone, but it can also open new opportunities and provide greater legal and social stability. Below, we explain the main pathways to acquire it, along with the requirements and necessary documentation.

Main Pathways to Acquire Spanish Nationality

1. By Residence
This is the most common route. It requires having legally resided in Spain for a continuous period:

• 10 years: in general cases.  
• 5 years: for refugees.  
• 2 years: for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, and Sephardic Jews.  
• 1 year: in special cases (e.g., marriage to a Spanish citizen, being born in Spain, being the child of a Spanish national, etc.).

2. By Option
Available to individuals who have been under the legal custody of a Spanish citizen or are children of Spanish nationals.

3. By Naturalization (Carta de Naturaleza) ✉
Granted at the discretion of the Spanish Government in exceptional circumstances. No specific timeframe is established.

General Documentation Required

While the exact documents may vary depending on the pathway, the following are generally required:

• Official application form.  
• Valid and complete passport.  
• Residence card and certificate of registration (empadronamiento).  
• Birth certificate and criminal record certificates (from both the country of origin and Spain).  
• Proof of payment of the administrative fee (€104.05).  
• Certificates for the CCSE exam (constitutional and sociocultural knowledge of Spain) and, if applicable, the DELE A2 exam (basic Spanish level).  

Nationals from Spanish-speaking countries are exempt from the language exam.

How Long Does the Process Take?

The legal timeframe for resolving the application is 1 year, although in practice it may take longer.

If you have any questions or need help with your application, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Our team is here to support you every step of the way.