Added
added the ordinary residence pathway and set the default residence period to 120 months, with statutory exceptions documented Source
Minimum cost
$110
application fee
Timeline
10 years
residency required
Visa-free access
186
passport rank #3
Dual citizenship
Not allowed
renunciation required
Path to citizenship
- Residency10 years · legal
- Apply365-730 days
- Citizenshipafter the oath
Overview
- Country
- Spain
- Program
- Spanish Citizenship by Residence (Naturalization)
- Local name
- Nacionalidad española por residencia
- Type
- Naturalization
- Status
- Active
- Residency required
- 10 years
- Processing time
- 365-730 days
- Dual citizenship
- Not allowed
- Visa-free countries
- 186 destinations
- Passport rank
- #3 (Henley Index)
Foreign nationals may acquire Spanish nationality by residence after a required period of legal, continuous residence immediately before applying, subject to good civic conduct and sufficient integration in Spanish society. The general period is ten years, with shorter statutory periods for refugees and specified nationalities and circumstances.
Fees and costs
- Application fee
- $110
Eligibility and requirements
- Police clearance required
- Medical exam not required
- Language A2 (DELE A2)
- Language exemptions DELE exemption for nationals of the listed Spanish-speaking countries; other statutory exemptions or dispensation may apply.
- Civics test CCSE (Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de España)
- Oath required
- Renunciation required
Residency requirements
- Residency required
- 10 years
- Residency type
- Legal
- Continuous
- Must be unbroken
Passport and mobility
- Passport rank
- #3 (Henley Index)
- Visa-free access
- 186 countries
- Passport validity
- 10 years
- EU citizenship
- Yes
- Schengen access
- Yes
- US E-2 treaty
- Yes — eligible for US investor visa
Physical presence
- Must visit country
- Yes
How to apply
- Method
- Online
- Apply from abroad
- Must apply in-country
- Application type
- Open
- Official website
- administracion.gob.es
- Legal basis
- Código Civil Art. 22; Real Decreto 1004/2015
Notes and caveats
The general qualifying residence period is ten years; five years applies to recognized refugees, two years to nationals by origin of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea or Portugal and to persons of Sephardic origin, and one year applies to listed special categories. Residence must be legal, continuous and immediately before the application. Applicants generally pass DELE A2 and CCSE, subject to exemptions or dispensation. The official application fee is EUR 104.05 at the research date. Applicants must swear or promise allegiance and declare renunciation unless exempt; acquisition must be registered in the Spanish Civil Registry.
Also in Spain
Last verified Oct 9, 2026 Last changed Oct 9, 2026 Source