How many years you specifically need
Article 22 of the Civil Code sets a general period of ten years and provides for three groups of exceptions. Five years is sufficient for those who have been granted refugee status. Two years applies to nationals by origin of Latin American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, and Portugal, as well as to Sephardic Jews.
The Civil Code grants a one-year path to citizenship to six categories: those born on Spanish territory; those who did not exercise their right of option in time; those who were lawfully under guardianship, curatorship with full powers of representation, protection, or fostering by a Spanish citizen or institution for two consecutive years; those who, at the time of application, have been married to a Spanish national for one year and are not separated — legally or in fact; widows and widowers of Spanish nationals, provided the spouses were not living separately at the time of death; and those born outside Spain to a father, mother, grandfather, or grandmother who were originally Spanish nationals.
For a Russian passport, this means one simple thing: there are two shortcuts — marriage and refugee status. Everyone else should count on ten years.
| Who it is for | Period of residence |
|---|---|
| General rule | 10 years |
| Those granted refugee status | 5 years |
| Latin America, Andorra, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, Sephardic Jews | 2 years |
| One year of marriage to a Spanish national, widows of Spanish nationals, descendants of Spanish nationals, born in Spain | 1 year |
What ’lawful, continuous and immediately preceding’ means
Article 22, paragraph 3 sets out the requirement for the residence itself: in all cases it must be lawful, continuous, and immediately preceding the application.
Each of the three words carries its own weight. Lawful — meaning under a valid permit: years without status do not count, regardless of how many there are. Continuous — without interruption. Immediately preceding — meaning it runs up to the date of application, not time accumulated in the past and then broken by several years abroad.
The Civil Code contains no table of permitted absences analogous to permanent residence rules. This means that extended time away is assessed on a case-by-case basis, and continuity of residence must be demonstrated with documents — registration records, payroll contributions, contracts.
Beyond the residency period, the Civil Code requires two additional things: good civic conduct and a sufficient degree of integration into Spanish society. The first is assessed partly through a mandatory opinion from the Ministry of the Interior; the second through examinations.
Two exams: DELE A2 and CCSE
The 2015 regulation requires passing both: a DELE diploma at level A2 or higher and the CCSE test on Spain’s constitutional and socio-cultural knowledge. Both are developed and administered by the Instituto Cervantes.
Those who already hold a diploma at level A2 or above are exempt from the DELE requirement, as are citizens of the Spanish-speaking countries listed in the regulations — from Argentina to Venezuela, including Equatorial Guinea. A Russian passport does not appear on that list: the DELE exam will need to be taken.
The content of the CCSE is defined directly in the regulations: 60% of questions cover the constitution and administrative-territorial structure of Spain, 40% cover culture, history and society. All questions are multiple-choice with one correct answer.
The Instituto Cervantes practice adds some figures worth knowing in advance. The test has 25 questions; 15 correct answers — 60% — are required to pass. Wrong answers carry no penalty. Results arrive approximately 20 days later. The certificate is valid for four years from the date of issue. Anyone who receives a ’fail’ or misses the first session is entitled to a second registration without paying again. Sessions are held monthly from January through November — there are none in August or December.
| CCSE parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Questions in the test | 25 closed-ended questions, each with one correct answer |
| For renting out | 15 correct answers, i.e. 60% |
| What’s included | 60% constitution and government structure, 40% culture and history |
| Result | approximately 20 days later |
| Certificate validity period | 4 years from the date of issue |
Documents
The list of documents is set out in article 5 of the regulation. Everything goes into an electronic file; the authority requests some data itself if permission to verify it is given in the application.
You do not need to provide paper proof of the exams: the application form allows you to authorise a direct query to the Instituto Cervantes databases, and the result of that check carries the same evidential weight as the certificate itself.
- Application on the prescribed form, and a power of attorney if a representative is acting
- Birth certificate from the country of origin, legalised and translated
- A valid passport
- Proof of passing DELE A2 and CCSE — or authorisation to verify results in the Instituto Cervantes database
- Criminal record certificate from the country of origin, legalised and translated
- Receipt of duty payment
- TIE card, EU citizen family member residence card, or EU citizen registration certificate
- Certificate of residence registration and certificate from the central Spanish criminal records registry — if permission to request them has not been granted
- Documents for special cases: marriage to a Spanish national, birth in Spain, Spanish ancestry, Sephardic status, widowhood
The procedure and the year of waiting
The procedure is fully electronic at every stage. The application is submitted through the Ministry of Justice app using the prescribed form; representatives whose profession requires compulsory membership in a professional body must work exclusively electronically, and notifications in such cases are sent to them.
During the proceedings, opinions are sought. The opinion of the Ministry of the Interior is mandatory: it contains an assessment of the foreign national’s conduct and their position with regard to the obligations imposed by entry and residence in Spain.
The decision is made by the Minister of Justice. The deadline is no more than one year from the date the application is received. Here the rule is the direct opposite of that which applies to permanent residency: if a year passes with no decision, the application is deemed rejected. Silence works against the applicant.
A refusal can be appealed: first by way of review by the same authority, then through the administrative-judicial route, which the code expressly leaves open.
| Stage | Duration |
|---|---|
| Correcting documents on request | 3 months, otherwise the case is closed |
| Decision on the application | no more than 1 year |
| The authority’s silence after one year | is considered a refusal |
| Oath upon a positive decision | 180 days |
| Registration in the register after taking the oath | 5 days |
Oath, renunciation of previous citizenship, and 180 days
A positive decision is not yet citizenship. Article 23 of the Civil Code sets out three conditions for a valid acquisition: an oath or pledge of loyalty to the King and compliance with the Constitution and laws; a declaration renouncing the previous citizenship; and registration of the acquisition in the Spanish Civil Registry.
Those from the countries listed in Article 24(1) — Latin American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal — and Sephardic Jews of Spanish origin are exempt from the renunciation requirement. Russian citizenship does not appear on that list: the renunciation declaration is made before a registry official. What happens to the previous citizenship afterwards is governed by the law of that country, not Spanish law — that is a separate question, and one to put to a lawyer specialising in your country’s law.
All of this must be completed within 180 days from the day following notification of the decision. The Code is unambiguous: the grant of citizenship lapses one hundred and eighty days after notification if the person has not appeared before the competent official within that period. After the oath, the registry enters the record within five days, and the procedure is complete.
- Oath or pledge of allegiance to the King and commitment to uphold the Constitution
- Declaration of renunciation of previous citizenship — required for applicants from Russia
- Recording the acquisition in the civil registry
- Total time allowed — 180 days from notification, otherwise the decision lapses
Spanish citizenship by residence: preparation and application
- Calculating your timeline and checking which years count as lawful residence
- Assessing continuity during extended absences and selecting supporting evidence
- Checking eligibility for a reduced qualifying period: marriage, descent, or status
- Preparation plan for DELE A2 and CCSE, aligned with exam session schedules
- Gathering and legalising a birth certificate and criminal record clearance
- Submitting the electronic file and managing correspondence with the authority
- Support through to the oath and registry entry within the 180-day window
A legal consultation — 80 €.Credited toward the full service fee if you continue with us.
During the consultation the lawyer reviews your situation based on your documents and provides filing route: which basis, what will be needed and in what order.
Government fees, notarisation, certified translations and apostille, where required, billed separately at actual cost — we will itemise them for your situation. Processing time depends on the authority and its workload, which is why we do not publish an average figure.
Frequently asked questions
How many years does a foreign national need to live in Spain before applying for citizenship?
Ten years of lawful, continuous residence immediately preceding the application. One year is sufficient for those who have been married to a Spanish national for at least a year at the time of application; five years for those granted refugee status.
Do years spent in Spain without a legal status count?
No. The Code requires lawful residence. Time before your first card does not count toward the qualifying period, even if it formed the basis of an arraigo application.
What exams do you need to pass?
Two: a DELE at level A2 or higher and the CCSE test. Holders of an A2 diploma or above are exempt from the DELE, as are nationals of the Spanish-speaking countries listed in the regulations — Russia is not on that list.
What happens if the authority does not respond within a year?
The application is considered rejected: under this procedure, silence is negative. A refusal may be appealed — first through a review process, then through administrative and judicial channels.
Is it necessary to give up Russian citizenship?
The Spanish civil code requires a declaration of renunciation of the previous citizenship upon taking the oath; only nationals of Latin American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, and Sephardic Jews are exempt. The consequences under the law of the previous country are governed by that country’s law, not Spain’s.
Verified September 6, 2026. The thresholds and amounts are tied to indicators that are reviewed annually — check the official source for your country before filing.
- Civil Code of Spain, consolidated text — Articles 21–24 on acquisition of citizenship
- Real Decreto 1004/2015 — regulations governing the procedure for acquiring citizenship through residency
- Supreme Court ruling of 15.07.2024 — annulment of a fragment of Article 12.1 of the regulations
- Instituto Cervantes — CCSE test assessment: 25 questions, passing threshold 15, certificate validity period
- Spanish Ministry of Justice — citizenship by residency
Services and prices — openly, before any conversation
People usually add: opening a bank account — 250 € · obtaining the tie — resident card — 200 €. Two or more services — 5% off each.
Prices are all-inclusive; 21% VAT is included.