How many years, which exams? Spanish nationality by residence

28 official lines quoted, each with its source. Last checked: 20 October 2026. Check the official page: sede.mjusticia.gob.es.

1. The checker

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Choose your nationality and your situation. You get the years of residence the Civil Code sets and which of the two exams, DELE A2 and CCSE, the regulation asks of you, with the official sentence under every answer. Free; nothing you choose is stored or sent.

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• The checker
• The years
• The exams
• Two years, but the DELE
• Exemption or dispensa from both exams
• What this page does not decide

2. The years of residence

The Civil Code sets ten years as the general rule.

It sets five years for those with refugee status, and two for nationals of origin of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea or Portugal, and for Sephardim.

One year is enough in six cases:

• Born in Spanish territory.
  Código Civil, art. 22.2.aOfficial wording

  El que haya nacido en territorio español.
• Did not use the right to opt in time.
  Código Civil, art. 22.2.bOfficial wording

  El que no haya ejercitado oportunamente la facultad de optar.
• Two consecutive years legally under the guardianship, custody or fostering of a Spanish citizen or institution.
  Código Civil, art. 22.2.cOfficial wording

  El que haya estado sujeto legalmente a la tutela, curatela con facultades de representación plena, guarda o acogimiento de un ciudadano o institución españoles durante dos años consecutivos, incluso si continuare en esta situación en el momento de la solicitud.
• One year married to a Spaniard, not separated.
  Código Civil, art. 22.2.dOfficial wording

  El que al tiempo de la solicitud llevare un año casado con español o española y no estuviere separado legalmente o de hecho.
• Widow or widower of a Spaniard.
  Código Civil, art. 22.2.eOfficial wording

  El viudo o viuda de española o español, si a la muerte del cónyuge no existiera separación legal o de hecho.
• Born outside Spain to a parent or grandparent who was originally Spanish.
  Código Civil, art. 22.2.fOfficial wording

  El nacido fuera de España de padre o madre, abuelo o abuela, que originariamente hubieran sido españoles.

In every case the residence must be legal, continuous and immediately before the application.

3. The exams

The rule is two exams: the DELE at level A2 or higher and the CCSE, both designed and run by the Instituto Cervantes.

The twenty nationalities listed below are exempt from the DELE, and so is anyone who already holds a DELE diploma of level A2 or higher: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Official certificates of Spanish at level A2, B1 or B2 from the education authorities can be used to show basic knowledge of Spanish.

Nobody is exempt from the CCSE because of their nationality: the list in article 6.5 mentions only the DELE, and the rule asks for both exams. That is our reading of the text. The CCSE certificate is valid for four years from the date of the certificate.

4. Two years, but still the DELE

The two-year list and the DELE list are not the same list. Equatorial Guinea is on both. Brazil, the Philippines, Portugal and Andorra get the shorter period but are not on the DELE list, so they sit the DELE like everyone else.

Brazil is the case people ask about. The Code says "países iberoamericanos" with no list of countries, but the Audiencia Nacional has applied the two-year period to Brazilian applicants in two judgments (SAN of 3 June 2025, rec. 1563/2022, ECLI:ES:AN:2025:3336; SAN of 11 December 2023, rec. 2820/2021, ECLI:ES:AN:2023:6904). Brazil is not on the DELE list, so a Brazilian applicant sits the DELE A2 too.

5. Exemption or dispensa from both exams

Orden JUS/1625/2016 sets out three situations. Minors and people whose capacity has been judicially modified are exempt. For the other two groups the Order provides a dispensa (a waiver).

• Under 18, or with judicially modified capacity.
  Orden JUS/1625/2016, art. 10.6Official wording

  Los menores de dieciocho años y personas con capacidad modificada judicialmente estarán exentos de la superación de estas pruebas para adquirir la nacionalidad
• If you cannot read or write, or have learning difficulties, you can ask the Ministry of Justice for the dispensa.
  Orden JUS/1625/2016, art. 10.5Official wording

  Las personas que no sepan leer ni escribir o tengan dificultades de aprendizaje podrán solicitar la dispensa de estas pruebas al Ministerio de Justicia
• If you were schooled in Spain and passed compulsory secondary education, the dispensa may be granted, and you can apply for nationality with the documents and no dispensa request.
  Orden JUS/1625/2016, art. 10.5Official wording

  Igualmente, podrá dispensarse de dichas pruebas a los solicitantes que hayan estado escolarizados en España y superado la educación secundaria obligatoria.
  Orden JUS/1625/2016, art. 10.5Official wording

  podrá presentarse solicitud de nacionalidad por residencia, sin necesidad de solicitud de dispensa, adjuntando la documentación correspondiente

A dispensa request must be made before the nationality application, and it is decided within six months; with no answer by then it counts as refused.

The DELE is necessary for applicants over eighteen and people whose capacity has not been judicially modified.

6. What this page does not decide

Whether your years count. The text asks for legal, continuous residence immediately before the application. How the authorities treat student stays, absences or the date the clock starts is not settled by the texts on this page: ask the Registro Civil or a lawyer. Our file clock works out the dates once you know them.

Whether you are a national of origin, or Sephardic, in the sense the Code uses: you will have to prove it in your file.

How much does it cost? Fees, exams and a total for your route

When the residence clock starts, student stays and absences, from the official texts

The nationality file, step by step, with the file clock

Years to Spanish nationality by country

Spanish nationality in two years: who qualifies

Spanish nationality in ten years: the general rule

Spanish nationality in five years: refugees

Spanish nationality in one year: the six cases

Filing online: the second surname field, Cl@ve and the 16 steps of the Ministry's form

Explanation written with AI from the official source cited on this page.

CiviqPass is an independent service. Built from the texts linked beside each line; rules change, so confirm on the official page.