Spanish nationality by residence: how many years are needed
September 15, 2026 · 1 min read
Nationality by residence requires having resided in Spain legally, continuously and immediately before the application for a period that depends on your situation (article 22 of the Civil Code):
| Situation | Years of legal residence |
|---|---|
| General rule | 10 |
| Refugees | 5 |
| Nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal or Sephardic Jews | 2 |
| Born in Spain, married to a Spaniard for one year, widowed from a Spaniard, children or grandchildren of Spaniards by origin | 1 |
The exams
- CCSE (constitutional and sociocultural knowledge): mandatory, except for exemptions (for example minors or people with proven studies in Spain).
- DELE A2 or higher: mandatory except for nationals of countries where Spanish is an official language.
Both are held by the Instituto Cervantes several times a year; book a place early.
Usual documents
Full passport, valid TIE, legalised and translated birth certificate, legalised and translated criminal record from the country of origin, historical municipal registration, proof of means of living and the fee (form 790, code 026).
When to apply
You can file on the day the period is completed. At ResiLegal we calculate that date from your profile and notify you in advance so the exams and certificates are ready.
General information, pending legal review. Every application is studied on its own circumstances.