Spanish nationality by residence: how many years you need depending on your origin

The general period for applying for nationality by residence is ten years of legal and continuous residence. However, nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal may apply after two years.

There are also reduced periods of five years for recognized refugees and one year in specific situations, such as people born in Spain or married to a Spanish citizen.

Residence must be maintained with a valid authorization during the whole required period. Long absences can break continuity and periods of irregular stay do not count for the application.

For that reason it is advisable to review expiration dates, renewals and departures from Spain in advance to confirm whether the exact period has already been met.

Usual documents include the passport, apostilled and translated birth certificate, criminal record certificate, historic registration record, proof of legal residence and DELE and CCSE certificates where applicable.

The application may be filed online or before the competent registry office, and the decision often takes between twelve and twenty-four months depending on the administrative workload.