Filing your citizenship application online step by step

Terms used

• NIE — The NIE is the identity number for foreigners that you need for tax, work and contracts.
• DNI — The DNI is the national identity card of Spanish citizens.
• Cl@ve — Cl@ve is the Spanish government system for identifying yourself online.
• CCSE — The CCSE is the Spanish constitutional and sociocultural knowledge test required for citizenship.
• DELE A2 — The DELE A2 is an official Spanish language exam certificate, required for some applicants.
• Requerimiento — A requerimiento is an official request to correct or add documents to your file.
• Gestor administrativo — A gestor administrativo is a professional who handles official paperwork on your behalf.
• Procurador — A procurador is a court representative who can act for you in formal procedures.

Key rules

• Identification: You cannot sign or submit without a digital certificate or Cl@ve.
• Proof: Save the registry receipt, because the file number appears only later.
• Corrections: Ignoring a request to correct your file gets it archived and means a new application.
• Representative: A lawyer, procurador or gestor can file for you but must prove authority.

Where you file

File online through the Ministry of Justice electronic office, under the nationality by residence procedure. Online is the normal route. Paper is not. In principle you can use a registry office, but the Ministry handles the file electronically, so the documents would have to be digitised. Most applicants file online, often through a lawyer or gestor.

How you identify yourself

You need a digital certificate (this includes the electronic DNI) or Cl@ve to sign and submit. Set this up before you start, because you cannot file without one.

Filing yourself or through a representative

You can file personally. You can also use a lawyer (abogado), a procurador or a gestor administrativo. They must prove they act for you, usually with a power of attorney (poder notarial) or a signed representation document registered in the electronic registry. Your own signed application and identity documents are still required.

Children and people with limited capacity are represented by their parents or legal guardians.

The steps

Do it in this order:

1. Pass the CCSE and, if required, the DELE A2, and keep the certificates.
2. Collect your documents. The list is in the documents section below.
3. Pay the fee with modelo 790 código 026 and keep the receipt.
4. Open the Ministry's electronic office and log in with your certificate or Cl@ve.
5. Fill in the form and attach scanned copies of your documents.
6. Sign and submit electronically.
7. Download your receipt.

Proof of filing

After you submit, you get a receipt (justificante) showing the date, time and registry entry number. Download the PDF and save it.

Your file number (número de expediente) comes later, once the file is started. It can take a while to appear. Until then, use the registry entry number. You can follow the file in the Ministry's online tracking with that number or your DNI/NIE. The file number also appears in later notifications.

If the Ministry asks you to correct something

If documents are missing or wrong, the Ministry sends a requerimiento by electronic notification, usually to the address or electronic mailbox you gave in the application. You normally have 10 working days to respond, and the deadline in the notice prevails. You can ask for an extension.

Open notifications as soon as they arrive. One that stays unopened for 10 calendar days is treated as rejected, but the process carries on without you. If you do not respond, the file is archived as withdrawn and you must apply again.

Other routes to nationality, such as option or carta de naturaleza, follow different procedures.

Timeline and deadlines

• The Ministry sends a request to correct or add documents by electronic notification: after you file, if documents are missing or defective

• Open the notification: within 10 calendar days, or it counts as rejected (the process continues)

• Respond with the corrected or missing documents, or ask for an extension: within 10 working days of receiving the request

• If you do not respond, the file is archived as withdrawn and you must apply again: after the response deadline passes

Documents you need

• A digital certificate (including the electronic DNI) or Cl@ve, the Spanish government system for identifying yourself online, to sign and file

• Passport and residence card (TIE)

• Birth certificate

• Criminal record certificate from your country of origin, apostilled or legalised and translated

• Spanish criminal record certificate, if it applies to you

• Empadronamiento certificate (proof of where you are registered to live)

• CCSE certificate and, if required, DELE A2 certificate

• Receipt for the fee payment

• If a representative files for you: a power of attorney (poder notarial) or a signed representation document registered in the electronic registry

Checklist

• Collect your passport, residence card (TIE), birth certificate, criminal record certificates and empadronamiento certificate

• Open the Ministry of Justice electronic office (the official website) with a digital certificate or Cl@ve

• If a lawyer, procurador or gestor files for you, give them proof of authority such as a power of attorney

• Sign and submit the application electronically

• Download and save the receipt (justificante) showing the registry entry number

What to watch out for

• Missing the deadline to answer a request: If the Ministry asks you to correct or add documents and you do not answer, your file is treated as withdrawn and archived. You would have to start a new application. Answer within 10 working days of receiving the request, or ask for an extension before the deadline passes.

• Not opening the electronic notification: A notification you do not open within 10 calendar days counts as rejected, but the process continues, so the deadline to respond can still run. Check the electronic mailbox or address you gave in the application regularly after filing.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still file my citizenship application on paper?

Paper is not the normal route, because nationality by residence is filed online. In principle you can use a registry office (oficina de registro), but the Ministry processes the file electronically, so your documents would be digitised.

Who can file my application for me?

A lawyer (abogado), procurador or gestor administrativo can file as your representative. They must prove their authority, usually with a power of attorney (poder notarial) or a signed representation document. You still need to provide your own signed application and identity documents.

Where do I find my file number after filing?

Your file number (número de expediente) is not on the receipt you download at filing; it is assigned later, when the file is started. It then shows in the Ministry's online tracking and in later notifications, where you can look it up with your registry entry number or DNI/NIE. Keep the receipt meanwhile.

What happens if I do not answer a request to correct my file?

Your file is treated as withdrawn (desistimiento) and archived, and you would need to submit a new application.

References

1. sede.mjusticia.gob.es