Residency in Spain – The Legal Foundation
To apply for citizenship, you must first obtain legal residency and maintain it over time. The Spanish system offers several residency types:
Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV)
Student Visa
Work Permit
Family Reunification
Investor Visa (Golden Visa)
Permanent Residency is usually granted after 5 years of continuous legal residence.
Citizenship becomes an option after 10 years of residency.
Important: Your residency clock starts from the moment you legally enter and register in Spain.
Spanish Citizenship Pathway
Start as a Tourist – Grow into a Citizen
Many begin their journey in Spain with a simple tourist visa, but with the right legal planning, this short stay can turn into long-term residence and eventually full Spanish citizenship.
Spanish Citizenship Requirements
To apply for citizenship, you must meet specific legal and cultural criteria:
General Requirements:
10 years of legal and continuous residency in Spain
No long absences (stay compliant with presence rules)
Clean legal and police record
Pass the DELE A2 Spanish language exam
Pass the CCSE cultural knowledge exam (Constitutional & Sociocultural test)
Integration into Spanish society (demonstrated through residency, community ties, etc.)
Dual Citizenship Limitations
Spain is a monarchy and does not generally allow dual citizenship — especially with non-Ibero-American countries.
This means most applicants will be required to renounce their original nationality during the citizenship process.
- Exceptions may apply to nationals of countries like Latin America, Andorra, the Philippines, or Portugal.
Citizenship Services
We guide you through the entire journey:
Residency planning (from tourist to legal stay)
Monitoring legal stay duration and eligibility
Exam registration (DELE & CCSE) and preparation support
Application file preparation & document translation
Appointment scheduling and follow-up with Spanish authorities
Legal advice on dual nationality and renunciation steps
When Should You Start Counting Your 10 Years?
From the day you legally entered Spain with the right visa or permit and began accumulating uninterrupted residency.
Even your early tourist stay may count — if it was later regularized through proper procedures.
Dual Citizenship Limitations
Spain is a monarchy and does not generally allow dual citizenship — especially with non-Ibero-American countries.
This means most applicants will be required to renounce their original nationality during the citizenship process.
- Exceptions may apply to nationals of countries like Latin America, Andorra, the Philippines, or Portugal.
Citizenship Services
We guide you through the entire journey:
Residency planning (from tourist to legal stay)
Monitoring legal stay duration and eligibility
Exam registration (DELE & CCSE) and preparation support
Application file preparation & document translation
Appointment scheduling and follow-up with Spanish authorities
Legal advice on dual nationality and renunciation steps
Residency in Spain – The Legal Foundation
To apply for citizenship, you must first obtain legal residency and maintain it over time. The Spanish system offers several residency types:
Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV)
Student Visa
Work Permit
Family Reunification
Investor Visa (Golden Visa)
Permanent Residency is usually granted after 5 years of continuous legal residence.
Citizenship becomes an option after 10 years of residency.
Important: Your residency clock starts from the moment you legally enter and register in Spain.
Spanish Citizenship Pathway
Start as a Tourist – Grow into a Citizen
Many begin their journey in Spain with a simple tourist visa, but with the right legal planning, this short stay can turn into long-term residence and eventually full Spanish citizenship.
When Should You Start Counting Your 10 Years?
From the day you legally entered Spain with the right visa or permit and began accumulating uninterrupted residency.
Even your early tourist stay may count — if it was later regularized through proper procedures.