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Citizenship · Spain
For legal residents of Spain counting towards 10, 5, 2 or 1 year.
The general rule under article 22 of the Civil Code is 10 years of legal, continuous residence immediately before the application. Nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal, and Sephardic Jews, need 2 years; refugees 5; people born in Spain or married to a Spaniard, 1.
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How it works
Four periods exist in the Civil Code; which one you need depends on nationality and family ties.
10 years is the rule. 5 years apply to refugees; 2 to nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal, and to Sephardic Jews; 1 year to special cases such as being born in Spain or married to a Spaniard.
Years on a tourist stay do not count, and a gap breaks continuity. The period must run right up to the application.
Language and civics exam requirements are not covered in our reference; we check them for your case separately.
We work out which period applies to you, check continuity permit by permit and prepare the application with civil records.
What you getEUSchengen
Requirements
The period for your situation, and residence that is legal and unbroken.
Legal basis:Código Civil, art. 22 (nationality by residence)
Time without a residence permit does not count.
Gaps between permits and a wrongly chosen period.
Indicative prices; the final quote depends on your case. We usually reply within one business day.
Process
Four steps.
We identify your period and count the years.
Written note
You order birth and criminal record certificates; we arrange translations.
Records
We prepare the online application.
Filed application
Refusals
Two grounds.
Checked on
| Reason for refusal | What closes it | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Residence not continuous or not immediately prior | We check every permit date.10 years | Código Civil, art. 22 (nationality by residence) |
| Shorter period claimed without the right nationality or tie | We confirm the period against documents. | Not published |
Long term
Long-term residence comes after 5 years; nationality usually later.
Changes
Updated
Nationality by residence (Civil Code art. 22)Open
| Date | What changed | Applies to | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReformSupreme Court partially annulled RD 1155/2024 (Immigration Regulation): provisions on family members of Spaniards, automatic refusal for criminal records, and a ban on temp agencies holding seasonal-work permits. | Whole country | Boletín Oficial del Estado | |
| TransitionEnd of Spain's 18-month MiCA transitional period for crypto-asset service providers; CNMV authorisation (or EU passport) now required. | Whole country | Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores | |
| ClosureRD 316/2026 amended the Immigration Regulation and opened an extraordinary arraigo for foreigners present in Spain before 01.01.2026 (applications until 30.06.2026). | Whole country | Boletín Oficial del Estado | |
| ReformMinimum wage for 2026 set at EUR 1,221/month x 14 (EUR 17,094/year), raising the digital nomad income threshold to EUR 34,188/year. | Whole country | Boletín Oficial del Estado | |
| ReformReduced CIT for micro-entities fell to 19%/21% and for small entities to 23% for periods starting in 2026 (phase-in by Ley 7/2024). | Whole country | Boletín Oficial del Estado | |
| ReformNew Immigration Regulation (RD 1155/2024) entered into force: five arraigo types with 2-year stay requirement, changes to family reunification and renewals. | Whole country | Boletín Oficial del Estado | |
| ClosureGolden Visa (residence for investors) abolished: Law 14/2013 arts. 63-67 left without content by LO 1/2025; applications filed earlier and existing permits (including renewals) protected by transitional rules. | Whole country | Boletín Oficial del Estado | |
| ReformLey 11/2023 enabled fully online SL incorporation via notarial videoconference and reformed the EU Blue Card rules. | Whole country | Boletín Oficial del Estado | |
| ReformStartups Law (Ley 28/2022, in force 23.12.2022) introduced the international telework (digital nomad) visa, 15% CIT for certified startups and broader 'Beckham' regime eligibility. | Whole country | Boletín Oficial del Estado |
Documents
Four documents.
Checked on
| Document | Who issues it | Apostille | Translation | Who prepares |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applicant | ||||
| Residence card | Spanish police | No | No | You provide |
| Birth certificate | Civil registry of birth country | Yes | Yes | You provide |
| Criminal record certificate | Country of origin | Yes | Yes | You provide |
| Application | Ministry of Justice portal | No | No | We prepare |
Send us your nationality and permit history.Get a quote
Request
Nationality and permit history are enough.
The information on this site is general and is not legal advice for your specific situation.
Legal disclaimerQuestions
From the Civil Code art. 22.
10 as a rule; 5 for refugees; 2 for Ibero-American nationals, Andorra, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal and Sephardic Jews; 1 in special cases.
No. Residence must be legal and continuous.
No. The golden visa closed to new applications on 3 April 2025, and it never gave nationality directly.
Sources
Spanish law behind this page.
| Source | Publisher | Type | Checked on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laws and regulations | |||
| Código Civil, art. 22 (nationality by residence) | Boletín Oficial del Estado | Laws and regulations | Checked on |