Spanish Citizenship (Nationality) — Spain

Spanish citizenship formalizes your legal status and lets you obtain a Spanish national identity card and passport. You apply through legal pathways based on family ties, residence, or exceptional circumstances, submitting the required form and supporting documents to the competent Spanish authorities.

Who this covers

You may apply for Spanish citizenship if you qualify under one of the legally recognized routes. The form applies to individuals seeking nationality through:

• Family connections
• Lawful residence in Spain
• Extraordinary circumstances

This includes those who previously held residence authorization such as:

• Non-Lucrative Residence Visa holders
• Family Reunification Visa holders
• Individuals with Long-Term Residence
• Applicants regularized under Arraigo Familiar (Family Ties Regularization)

Your immigration history matters. You must hold or have held a valid status issued under Spain’s immigration framework overseen by the State Secretariat for Migration (Secretaría de Estado de Migraciones – SEM).

If you applied for your residence from abroad, a Spanish consulate handled your visa. If you obtained a foreigner identity number (NIE) or residence card (TIE), the National Police issued it.

What you gain

Once approved, you become a Spanish national with full legal recognition under Spanish law.

You gain the right to:

• Apply for a Spanish passport
• Obtain a Spanish national identity card (DNI)
• Be recognized as a citizen rather than a foreign resident

Citizenship changes your legal position. You no longer rely on residence permits such as Long-Term Residence or visas like the Non-Lucrative Residence Visa.

Your status shifts from immigration-based authorization to nationality. This removes the need to renew residence documentation tied to foreign national status.

You must still complete the formal citizenship procedure and pay the applicable administrative fee using Modelo 790 (Code 062). For the current fee amount, refer to the Spanish government’s published figures.

Main application routes

Spanish citizenship applications generally fall into three categories:

1. Citizenship by family connection

2. Citizenship by residence

3. Citizenship under extraordinary circumstances

Family-based applications apply when you have qualifying ties to a Spanish national. This route often connects to prior immigration status obtained through family sponsorship or Arraigo Familiar.

Residence-based applications apply if you have legally lived in Spain under an authorized status. Your residence history must be lawful and properly documented under SEM oversight.

Extraordinary circumstances apply in limited cases defined by law. You must demonstrate eligibility under the specific provision that applies to your situation.

Each route requires:

• A completed Spanish citizenship application form
• Supporting civil and identity documents
• Proof of your legal basis (family, residence, or special circumstance)
• Payment through Modelo 790 (Code 062)

You submit your application through the competent Spanish authority according to your place of residence.

You must budget for government filing fees and prepare for a multi‑year review period. Costs are fixed by regulation, while timelines depend on your category, location, and file verification by the authorities.

Application & exam fees

You pay a €200 government application fee when you submit your Spanish citizenship file using Modelo 790 (Code 062).

You must also pay any required examination fees. The amount depends on the testing body and is not included in the €200 government filing fee. Confirm current exam costs with the official examination provider before registering.

If you hold residence through a Non-Lucrative Residence Visa, Long-Term Residence, Family Reunification Visa, or Arraigo Familiar (Family Ties Regularization), your prior immigration fees do not reduce the citizenship filing fee. Citizenship is a separate procedure administered under the authority of the State Secretariat for Migration (Secretaría de Estado de Migraciones) (SEM).

Spanish consulates collect visa fees abroad, while the National Police issue your NIE or TIE. Those payments are separate from your citizenship application.

Processing time estimates

Under the standard procedure, citizenship applications take 12 to 36 months to process.

Expect a timeframe of 1 to 3 years from submission to final decision. The clock starts once you properly file your complete application and pay the required fee.

Processing includes background checks, review of your legal residence history, and confirmation that you meet the applicable legal category. Delays occur if your file is incomplete or if authorities request additional documentation.

Always verify current processing estimates with the issuing authority before you apply.

Variable timelines & verification

processing times vary based on:

• Your citizenship category
• Your place of submission
• The workload of the reviewing office
• The need for additional verification

Applicants with complex residence histories—such as time under different permits like Non-Lucrative Residence, Family Reunification, or Arraigo Familiar—may face longer review periods if authorities must reconcile records.

The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) oversees immigration policy, but different offices handle different stages of review. Administrative workload directly affects timing.

You must monitor your application status through the official government channel and respond quickly to any request for documents. Failure to respond on time can extend your timeline significantly.

You must prove your relationship, your lawful residence in Spain, or the exceptional grounds that support your application. Spanish authorities will not fill gaps in your file, so you need clear, complete documentary evidence from the start.

Proof of family ties

If you're applying for nationality by option or through a Spanish family member, you'll need to show documents proving your relationship to the Spanish citizen.

Gather:

• Birth certificates that demonstrate parent–child relationships
• Marriage certificates if you're applying as a spouse
• Any civil registry records linking you to the Spanish national
• Evidence that your Spanish relative is actually a Spanish citizen

For those applying under Arraigo Familiar (Family Ties Regularization), include proof of the qualifying family connection. If you previously had a Family Reunification Visa, add copies of the visa and related approvals to show the relationship is ongoing.

Authorities expect all names, dates, and registry details to match across your documents.

Submit official copies issued by the relevant civil registry.

Proof of residency & status

For nationality by residency, you have to show you've legally lived in Spain for the required time.

Collect:

• Residence authorizations under programs like the Non-Lucrative Residence Visa
• Evidence of Long-Term Residence status, if you have it
• Copies of your residence cards (TIE) from the National Police
• Official records confirming your immigration status from the State Secretariat for Migration (Secretaría de Estado de Migraciones, SEM)

Your documents should clearly show how long you've been allowed to stay. Gaps or expired permits can cause delays or even lead to denial.

You also need to show proof of payment for the administrative fee using Modelo 790 (Code 062). The exact amount is published by the competent authority.

Exceptional circumstances & special connections

Applicants using discretionary conferral need to document the exceptional circumstances supporting their request.

Provide:

• Official documents explaining your extraordinary situation
• Certifications from government or institutions backing your claim

If you're claiming Sephardic origin, submit proof of:

• Sephardic ancestry
• A current, demonstrable special connection to Spain

Authorities look for concrete, verifiable evidence of both historical roots and present-day ties.

If you're relying on a particular legal route, organize your file so each document clearly supports that ground.

Once your nationality application is approved, there are two final steps: taking the oath and registering your nationality in the Civil Register. Only after this registration can you get Spanish identity documents.

Oath of allegiance

You must personally declare loyalty to the King and promise to follow the Spanish Constitution.

This isn't optional—it's a legal step to finalize your Spanish nationality.

The oath happens at the Civil Register. You have to appear in person.

During the appointment, you:

• Swear or promise loyalty to the King
• Swear or promise to obey the Spanish Constitution
• Confirm your intention to become a Spanish national

If you held a residence status—like a Non-Lucrative Residence Visa, Long-Term Residence, Arraigo Familiar, or status from a Family Reunification Visa—that status becomes secondary once you acquire nationality. From then on, you're recognized as a Spanish national, not as a foreign resident under SEM.

Civil register entry and certificate

You're not fully recognized as a Spanish citizen until the Civil Register records your nationality.

The Civil Register creates an official entry showing your acquisition of Spanish nationality. This record is the legal basis for all future identity documents.

The process:

1. Take the oath

2. Complete the Civil Register entry

3. Receive a Spanish birth certificate reflecting your nationality

This certificate is essential; you'll need it to apply for your national identity card and passport.

The State Secretariat for Migration (Secretaría de Estado de Migraciones) (SEM) manages immigration policy, but nationality registration is handled by the Civil Register.

Receiving ID and passport

Once your nationality is recorded in the Civil Register, you can apply for Spanish identity documents.

Apply in person for:

• DNI (Documento Nacional de Identidad)
• Spanish passport

The National Police issue both.

Bring your Civil Register certificate. Without it, you can't get your DNI or passport.

After you receive them, you no longer use your foreigner identification number (NIE) or residence card. Your Spanish DNI is your main ID in Spain, and your passport confirms your Spanish nationality for travel.