In short: you can apply for Spanish nationality by residence depending on years of legal residence: 10 in general, 5 refugees, 2 Ibero-Americans and similar, 1 in cases with a Spanish link. You must pass the CCSE and DELE A2 exams and show good conduct.
In person or by representative? The procedure is telematic: it is filed online at the Ministry of Justice's electronic office (with a digital certificate or Cl@ve). Separately, the CCSE and DELE A2 exams are taken in person.
Continuous legal residence periods:
- 10 years — general regime.
- 5 years — refugees.
- 2 years — nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, and Sephardim.
- 1 year — those born in Spain; married to a Spaniard; children/grandchildren of a Spaniard by origin; widow(er) of a Spaniard, among others.
Exams (Instituto Cervantes):
- CCSE (constitutional and sociocultural knowledge): pass 15 of 25 questions; valid 4 years.
- DELE A2 (Spanish language): only if you come from a country where Spanish is not an official language.
Practise for free: interactive CCSE test — 25 practice questions with answers.
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Requirements for Spanish nationality (besides the years and exams): good civic conduct; birth certificate and criminal-record certificate (with Hague apostille or legalisation, and sworn translation).
How long does Spanish nationality take? Filed with the Ministry of Justice (electronic office). Legal resolution period: 1 year; in practice it usually takes 12-24 months. No answer within the legal period means the application is rejected by silence (and can be appealed).
How to check your case status ("cómo va lo mío"). Once filed, you can track which stage your file is at on the Ministry of Justice's electronic office —often searched as "cómo va lo mío" or telematic consultation of nationality cases—, using your case details. Remember the legal period is 1 year and silence is negative. Always check it from the official source.
After approval: the nationality oath (jura). Approval is not the end: within 180 days of notification you must request the oath or promise (loyalty to the King and obedience to the Constitution, and where applicable renunciation of your previous nationality) before the Civil Registry of your address or a notary. After the oath, your birth is registered in the Civil Registry and you can apply for the DNI. If you let the 180 days pass, the approval lapses.
Official source: Nationality by residence — Ministry of Justice.
Informational only; exact requirements and exemptions vary — check the official source and a professional for your case.