Kingdom of Spain
Kingdom of Spain settlement & citizenship
Spain's settlement ladder is unusual: permanent residence arrives at 5 years but Spanish citizenship by naturalisation typically requires 10 years of legal residence (reduced to 2 for Latin American nationals and certain others).
Last reviewed 1 June 2026.
Stages — from visa to passport
- 1
Temporary residence
1-year initial, 2-year renewals
- Who qualifies
- Digital Nomad, Non-lucrative, Highly Qualified Professional, self-employed, Golden Visa (closed April 2025), family reunion.
- Key gate
- Renew at the Extranjería office or UGE-CE (Startup Law routes).
- 2
Residencia de larga duración
Indefinite, renewed card every 5 years
- Who qualifies
- After 5 years of continuous legal residence.
- Key gate
- Continuous residence, clean record, no absences above 6 consecutive months or 10 months total in 5 years.
- 3
Spanish citizenship by residence
10 years for most nationalities; 2 years for Ibero-American (Latin America, Andorra, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal), Sephardic Jews; 5 years for refugees; 1 year for spouses.
- Who qualifies
- Continuous legal residents meeting the above durations.
- Key gate
- CCSE (constitutional/sociocultural test) and DELE A2 Spanish test (Latin American nationals exempt from DELE). Renouncement of prior nationality required for most, but waived for Ibero-American, Andorran, Filipino, Equatorial Guinean, Portuguese, and Sephardic-Jewish applicants.
Physical presence
Continuous legal residence. Absences over 6 consecutive months break continuity.
Language level
DELE A2 Spanish (Instituto Cervantes). CCSE civics test.
Test / oath
Oath of allegiance to the Constitution at the Registro Civil. Swearing requires renouncing prior nationality for non-exempt applicants (declared but rarely enforced by origin countries).
Dual citizenship
Only with Ibero-American countries, Andorra, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, and Sephardic-Jewish heritage descendants. Others must formally renounce.
Typical full timeline
Arrival → permanent residence (5 years) → citizenship (10 years for most nationalities; 2 for Latin American).
Primary source
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get Spanish citizenship after first arriving in Spain?
Arrival → permanent residence (5 years) → citizenship (10 years for most nationalities; 2 for Latin American).
How many days a year must I physically be in Spain to qualify?
Continuous legal residence. Absences over 6 consecutive months break continuity.
What language level do I need for Spanish citizenship?
DELE A2 Spanish (Instituto Cervantes). CCSE civics test.
Does Spain allow dual citizenship?
Only with Ibero-American countries, Andorra, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, and Sephardic-Jewish heritage descendants. Others must formally renounce.