Citizenship

Adults:

👮🏼‍♂️ Criminal record certificate from your country of origin, properly translated and legalised.

It is important to note that the Administration will automatically and independently review your Spanish criminal and police record during the citizenship application process.

⭐ Exception: In the case of nationals from EU member states, this can be replaced by the Spanish Central Criminal Record Certificate (Certificado de Registro Central de Penados español).

📚 Diplomas from the Cervantes Institute for the constitutional and sociocultural knowledge test (CCSE) and the Spanish language knowledge test (DELE).

⭐ Exception: Nationals from the following countries are exempt from the DELE test: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Equatorial Guinea, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

⭐ Exception: Knowledge of the Spanish language may be accredited by providing official certificates of Spanish as a foreign language, certificates of proficiency, and Academic Certifications of Elementary Cycle, issued by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport, the competent regional ministries, or Official Language Schools, in accordance with the current legislation.

⭐ Exception: Those holding qualifications in official studies conducted in Spanish at a medium or higher level, and those who have completed Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO) courses in Spain will also be exempt from both tests. Similarly, those who cannot read or write, or who have learning difficulties, may request an exemption by form to the Ministry of Justice.

📝 Authorisation of representation: mandate or power of the voluntary representative, if applicable, accompanied by their identity document.

Minors:

Depending on the age of the minor, or if they are a PCMJ (person with judicially modified capacity), the requirements differ.

Emancipated minor:

📃 In the case of legally emancipated minors, public deed of emancipation or Order from the Judge in charge of the Civil Registry.

Over 14 years but under 18 years old and without modified judicial capacity, who can act on their own assisted by their legal representative:

🪪 Identification document of the parents in the case of minors subject to parental authority or documentation proving legal representation (judicial order) in other cases, along with identification documentation of the corresponding representative. In this case, the representatives must sign the application form along with the interested party.

🏫 Certificate from the training center, residence, or foster home that certifies sufficient degree of integration.

Under 14 years or PCMJ required to act through legal representative:

🪪 Identification document of the representative or legal representatives, who must, in turn, complete the standardised application model on behalf of the interested party.

🏫 Certificate from the training centre, residence, foster care, special needs assistance, or education that certifies sufficient degree of integration, mandatory for school-age children.

⭐ Exception: In the case of PCMJ, the same certificate applies, without prejudice to the administration's own request for and obtain additional documents or reports on its own.

⭐ Exception: In the case of minors of preschool age, the submission of such a certificate will be voluntary.

🏛️ Authorisation from the Civil Registry officer of the minor's or PCMJ's residence will also be required, prior to the opinion of the Public Prosecutor, if at least one of the two circumstances applies to you:

1. In cases of guardianship, custody, or foster care by a person other than the parents, and in general, in all cases of legal representation other than parental authority; or

2. When the acquisition of Spanish citizenship requires renouncing the original citizenship.

Other cases

When one of the following cases applies, documentation proving one or more of the following circumstances must be provided:

Born in Spanish territory:

• Literal birth certificate of the interested party registered in the Spanish Civil Registry.

Those who have not appropriately exercised the option:

• Birth certificate of the Spanish father/mother.

• Literal birth certificate of the interested party registered in a Spanish Civil Registry or a judicial resolution documenting adoption by a Spanish citizen or recognition of filiation.

• Persons under guardianship, custody, or non-temporary foster care.

In cases of family foster care:

• Order from the competent Court designating the person who will exercise guardianship, custody, or foster care.

In cases of foster care by a Spanish institution:

• Resolution of that Institution assuming guardianship, custody, or foster care.

Married to a Spanish citizen:

• Literal birth certificate of the Spanish spouse, issued by the Spanish Civil Registry.

• Literal marriage certificate issued by the Spanish Civil Registry.

• Certificate of Cohabitation or joint registration with the spouse.

Widowed of a Spanish citizen:

• Literal birth certificate of the spouse issued by the Spanish Civil Registry.

• Literal marriage certificate issued by the Spanish Civil Registry, updated, i.e., issued shortly before the citizenship application.

• Death certificate of the spouse.

• Certificate of joint registration or cohabitation at the date of the spouse's death.

Descendant of a Spanish citizen:

• Literal birth certificate of the Spanish father/mother.

• Literal birth certificate of the grandparent, only when one of them, or both, are Spanish ancestors. In this case, the birth certificate of the parent who is a descendant of a Spanish citizen must also be presented, even if he/she has been or has not been Spanish.

Refugees/Stateless persons:

• Foreigners' Identity Card indicating their status as a refugee/stateless person.

• Blue Passport of the 1951 Geneva Convention (if available).

• Certificate from the Asylum and Refuge Office of the Ministry of the Interior (this certificate will be valid for six months from the date of issue), indicating:

  • Full name.

  • Date and place of birth.

  • Names of the parents.

  • That they maintain their status as a refugee.