Ten years of residence for Spanish nationality: the general rule
Sources: 6 links, read on 24 October 2026.
Código Civil, art. 22 (BOE, consolidated text); Real Decreto 1004/2015, art. 6 (BOE); Orden JUS/1625/2016, art. 10 (BOE); Ministry of Justice: application fee (tasa 790-026), read 22 Oct 2026; Instituto Cervantes: DELE A2 price table (copy of 21 May 2026); Instituto Cervantes: CCSE FAQ (copy of 7 Aug 2026), read on 24 October 2026.
Ten years of legal residence is the general rule: it applies to every origin that art. 22.1 and 22.2 of the Código Civil do not shorten.
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Origins in our table with ten years
These 13 origins carry ten years in our table, each with what it needs for the DELE A2:
- Algeria: DELE A2 required
- Bangladesh: DELE A2 required
- China: DELE A2 required
- Egypt: DELE A2 required
- Gambia: DELE A2 required
- India: DELE A2 required
- Mali: DELE A2 required
- Morocco: DELE A2 required
- Nigeria: DELE A2 required
- Pakistan: DELE A2 required
- Russia: DELE A2 required
- Senegal: DELE A2 required
- Ukraine: DELE A2 required
A nationality that is not in the table
A nationality that is not in our table follows this rule unless a group on the other pages fits you. The two-year period is for nationals of origin of those countries and for Sephardim: if you acquired a nationality later, the text we quote does not say whether it counts, so ask the Registro Civil or the Ministry of Justice.
Brazil is not named in art. 22.1 (it says "países iberoamericanos" with no list), but the Audiencia Nacional has applied the two-year period to Brazilian applicants in two judgments (3 June 2025, rec. 1563/2022; 11 December 2023, rec. 2820/2021).
Exams and fees
The CCSE is required in every group. The DELE A2 is waived for nationals of the 20 countries and territories in art. 6.5 of Real Decreto 1004/2015 and for holders of an earlier DELE diploma at A2 or higher. State and exam fees: €189.05 with the CCSE only, €327.05 with the CCSE and the DELE A2 (fee page).
Conditions in every group
Residence must be legal, continuous and immediately before the application (art. 22.3). You must show good civic conduct and a sufficient degree of integration (art. 22.4).
All origins in one table: Years to Spanish nationality by country. Your own dates: years-and-exams checker.
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Explanation written with AI from the official source cited on this page.
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