Spanish nationality by residence
Nationality by residence is one of the longest files in Spanish administration, and one of the easiest to delay with a missing document. We check your eligibility, plan the exams, prepare and review every document, and follow the application through to the oath. Filing is made electronically with the Ministry of Justice, by our colegiado partner where professional submission is required.
Who it’s for
- Long-term legal residents approaching the residence period that applies to them
- Nationals of Ibero-American countries and others who may qualify for a reduced period
- Spouses of Spanish citizens and other people in situations with a shorter period
- Applicants who want their file checked before submission rather than after a request for documents
Documents you’ll usually need
- Valid passport and residence card
- Birth certificate, apostilled and translated where required
- Criminal-record certificate from your country of origin
- Padrón certificate showing your residence history
- DELE A2 and CCSE certificates, or proof of exemption
- Proof of means or employment
- Marriage certificate, if applying on a reduced period through marriage
What we handle
Eligibility review
Checking your period of legal, continuous residence and whether a reduced period applies to your nationality or situation.
Exam planning
Guidance on the Instituto Cervantes CCSE (constitutional and sociocultural knowledge) and the DELE A2 Spanish exam, and on exemptions where they apply.
Document preparation
Birth certificate, criminal-record certificates from Spain and your country of origin, and proof of integration and means, reviewed before use.
Apostilles and translations
Coordinating apostilles and sworn translations of foreign documents, and checking validity dates before filing.
Electronic filing
Submitting the application through the Ministry of Justice’s electronic channel, by our colegiado partner where required.
Follow-up and requests
Monitoring the file and answering requests for additional documents within the deadline.
Oath and registration
Preparing for the oath or promise (jura) and the registration of nationality at the Civil Registry once granted.
Last reviewed: Legal basis: Código Civil, arts. 17–28 · RD 1004/2015 (residence procedure)
Who does what — stated plainly
BorderConexion coordinates and prepares your case. Our founder is completing the official Máster en Gestión Administrativa (2026–27), the qualifying route to colegiación as a Gestora Administrativa in Spain. We are currently onboarding colegiado partners (abogados and gestores administrativos colegiados). Until those partnerships are in place, we offer consultations, route planning and document preparation; any filing that legally requires a colegiado professional will be submitted by a named partner, identified in your engagement letter.
Frequently asked questions
How many years do I need to live in Spain to get citizenship?
The general rule is ten years of legal and continuous residence immediately before applying. Reduced periods apply in some cases — for example, two years for nationals of Ibero-American countries and certain others, and one year for people married to a Spanish citizen or born in Spain. Each situation has its own conditions, so the right period should be confirmed for your case.
Do I need to pass the DELE A2 and CCSE for Spanish nationality?
Most applicants must pass the CCSE and, unless they are nationals of a country where Spanish is an official language, the DELE A2 or higher. Some groups, such as minors and people with certain disabilities, may be exempt. Both exams are administered by the Instituto Cervantes.
Can I apply for Spanish nationality online?
Yes. Applications are filed electronically with the Ministry of Justice, either by the applicant with a digital certificate or through a professional representative. Documents are uploaded as part of the application, so they need to be complete and valid at the time of filing.
Do I have to give up my US citizenship to become Spanish?
Spain asks applicants from most countries outside the Ibero-American group and a few others to declare that they renounce their previous nationality at the oath. Whether that declaration has any effect on your US citizenship is a question of US law, not Spanish law. Take advice on that point before you apply.
What is the jura de nacionalidad?
Once nationality is granted, you swear or promise loyalty to the King and obedience to the Constitution and laws, and the nationality is recorded at the Civil Registry. This must be done within a set period after you are notified of the grant, so keep an eye on the notification.
Tell us what you need
One short form. We'll route it to the right service and reply within two working days.