Deciding whether to naturalise

It is for anyone thinking about, planning or already carrying out a move to Spain. After reading, you should be able to decide whether to apply, when, and by which route.

Start with "Should you become a Spanish citizen?". It sets out the main benefits and costs for your situation. Then read "Which route to Spanish nationality fits you?" to compare residence, marriage, descent and option routes. The other pages cover what citizenship gives you, what you give up, and whether to take long-term residence first or go straight to citizenship.

Key rules

• Oath deadline: After a grant you have 180 days from notification to swear the oath and register, or the grant lapses.
• Residence period: Residence needs 10 years in general, 5 years for refugees, 2 years for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal, and 1 year in cases such as marriage to a Spaniard.
• Renouncing: Most applicants must renounce their previous nationality when they swear the oath, but nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal can keep it.
• Long-term permit: A long-term resident permit is not required for nationality by residence, and it does not shorten the residence period.
• Exams: Residence applicants pass the DELE A2 Spanish exam and the CCSE civic exam, which needs at least 15 correct answers out of 25.
• Renunciation: Most applicants must give up their previous nationality at the oath, but some nationalities can be kept.

Deciding whether to naturalise: the whole process, step by step

• Decide whether naturalising is right for you: read "Should you become a Spanish citizen?" and "What you give up by naturalising": Before you start any application

• Check what citizenship adds to your rights: read "What Spanish and EU citizenship gives you": Before you choose a route

• Choose your route: read "Which route to Spanish nationality fits you?". Descent or option applies if you have a Spanish parent. The grandchildren-of-exiles route closed on 22 October 2025: Before you gather documents

• Decide whether to take the long-term resident permit first: read "Long-term residence first or straight to citizenship?". It needs 5 years of continuous legal residence, but it is not required for nationality by residence: Once you have about 5 years of legal residence, or earlier if you go straight to citizenship

• Build up the residence period your route needs and prepare for the DELE A2 and CCSE exams: 10 years in general, 5 years for refugees, 2 years for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal, and 1 year in cases such as marriage to a Spaniard

• Apply for nationality under your chosen route: After the residence period and exams are complete

• Swear the oath and register the grant. Most applicants renounce their previous nationality at this point: Within 180 days of notification of the grant, or it lapses

Documents you may need

Identity and residence

• Spanish passport — What Spanish and EU citizenship gives you
• DNI, the Spanish national identity document — What Spanish and EU citizenship gives you
• Joint empadronamiento — Which route to Spanish nationality fits you?
• Valid ID or passport to enter another EU country — What Spanish and EU citizenship gives you
• Your long-term resident card — Long-term residence first or straight to citizenship?

Other documents

• A criminal record certificate — Long-term residence first or straight to citizenship?
• Marriage certificate — Which route to Spanish nationality fits you?

Deciding whether to naturalise: questions that cross several articles

Do I need a long-term resident permit before I can apply for Spanish citizenship?

No, a long-term resident permit is not required to apply for nationality by residence. Any lawful residence counts, as long as it is continuous and immediately before your application. Read "Long-term residence first or straight to citizenship?" to choose your sequence.

Is moving to another EU country easier as a Spanish citizen than as a long-term resident?

Yes, a Spanish citizen has free movement across the EU, while a long-term resident can move for more than 3 months only to work, study or similar purposes. A long-term resident must also apply for a new permit there and show resources and health insurance. See "What Spanish and EU citizenship gives you" and "Long-term residence first or straight to citizenship?".

Can I lose Spanish nationality after naturalising?

Yes, but only in limited cases, and only if a court declares it. These include using only your old nationality for 3 years after acquiring Spanish nationality, or fraud in obtaining it. Spaniards by origin cannot lose it this way. Read "What you give up by naturalising" and "Which route to Spanish nationality fits you?".

Does becoming Spanish change the tax I pay?

No, nationality does not change your tax obligations by itself, because Spain taxes by tax residence. A Spanish national living abroad is generally taxed only on Spanish-source income, with exceptions such as moving to a tax haven. Read "Should you become a Spanish citizen?" and "What you give up by naturalising" to weigh this.