Spanish Nationality Procedures

Reference guide to the main procedures concerning the acquisition, retention, loss and recovery of Spanish nationality.

This page provides structured access to institutional information concerning the main
Spanish nationality procedures and to the official sources relevant to them.

Spanish nationality by residence

A procedure for acquiring Spanish nationality based on legal and continuous residence
in Spain immediately prior to the application, for the period required by Spanish law
in each particular case.

Official information — Spanish Ministry of Justice

Spanish nationality by option

Option is a method of acquiring Spanish nationality available to certain persons who
fall within the circumstances of personal or family connection with Spain established
by the Spanish Civil Code.

Official information — Spanish Ministry of Justice

Nationality by discretionary naturalisation (carta de naturaleza)

An exceptional and discretionary method of acquiring Spanish nationality.
It may be granted by the Spanish Government by Royal Decree where exceptional
circumstances are deemed to exist.

Official information — Spanish Ministry of Justice

Spanish nationality by origin

The Spanish Civil Code determines the circumstances in which a person is considered
a Spanish national by origin, taking into account, among other matters, parentage
and circumstances of birth.

Official information — Spanish Ministry of Justice

Acquisition by continuous possession and use of Spanish nationality

Spanish law provides for the consolidation of Spanish nationality where it has been
possessed and used continuously for the legally prescribed period and under the
conditions established by the Spanish Civil Code. This institution is known in
Spanish law as posesión de estado.

Official information — Spanish Ministry of Justice

Recovery of Spanish nationality

Procedure available in certain circumstances to persons who previously held Spanish
nationality, subsequently lost it and seek to recover it in accordance with the
conditions established by Spanish law.

Official information — Spanish Ministry of Justice

Retention of Spanish nationality

In certain circumstances established by the Spanish Civil Code, a formal declaration
of the intention to retain Spanish nationality may be required in order to prevent
its loss.

Official information on Spanish nationality — Spanish Ministry of Justice

Loss of Spanish nationality

Spanish law establishes different grounds and conditions under which Spanish nationality
may be lost. The applicable rules differ depending, among other factors, on whether
the person is a Spanish national by origin.

Official information on Spanish nationality — Spanish Ministry of Justice

Oath or declaration and Civil Registry registration

For certain methods of acquiring Spanish nationality, completion of the procedure
following a favourable decision requires the declarations prescribed by Spanish law
and the corresponding registration with the Spanish Civil Registry.

In nationality-by-residence proceedings, the required oath or declaration may,
where legally permitted, be made before the Civil Registry or before a Spanish Notary.

Official information — Spanish Ministry of Justice

Cervantes Institute examinations

Where required by law, applicants for Spanish nationality by residence must provide
evidence of the relevant level of Spanish-language proficiency and of their knowledge
of Spain’s constitutional and sociocultural framework.

CCSE examination

The CCSE examination assesses knowledge of the Spanish Constitution and the social
and cultural context of Spain. It is administered by the
Instituto Cervantes (Cervantes Institute).

Official CCSE information — Cervantes Institute

DELE A2 or higher

The Diploma of Spanish as a Foreign Language (DELE), at level A2 or higher,
is used where required to demonstrate Spanish-language proficiency for nationality
purposes.

Official DELE information — Cervantes Institute

Examination dates, centres and registration

The Cervantes Institute publishes official examination dates, accredited examination
centres and registration information for CCSE and DELE examinations.

Official examinations portal — Cervantes Institute

Exemptions, waivers and adapted examinations

CCSE and DELE requirements do not apply in the same manner to every nationality
application or to every applicant. Spanish law provides for exemptions, waivers
and adaptations in certain circumstances, which must be assessed according to the
applicant’s individual situation.

Exemptions and waivers

Official information — Cervantes Institute

CCSE examination for non-literate applicants

The Cervantes Institute provides specific information concerning the CCSE examination
for non-literate applicants in the circumstances in which the relevant procedure applies.

Official information — Cervantes Institute

DELE A2 for non-literate applicants

Official information — Cervantes Institute

Official sources and legal analysis

Spanish nationality is a legal status whose acquisition, retention, loss or recovery
depends upon the personal and family circumstances of each individual and the
application of Spanish law.

This page is intended as a reference and gateway to official institutional sources.
Identification of a particular nationality procedure does not replace individual legal
analysis and does not, by itself, establish that a particular route is applicable to
a specific case.

EBAN Abogados
Spanish Nationality · Nationality Procedures · Civil Registry · Cervantes Institute