LumenWhat documents do I need to apply for Spanish citizenship by residence?
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Spain's regulation lists the official application form, your legalised and translated birth certificate, your passport, proof of integration (DELE A2 and CCSE results), the fee receipt, and a legalised and translated criminal record certificate from your country of origin for adults. Add proof of any special case, such as marriage to a Spaniard.
Key facts
| What | The law says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Application form | Standard form, plus the power of attorney if a representative applies | Real Decreto 1004/2015, art. 5.1.a |
| Birth certificate | From your country of origin, legalised and translated where needed (not for refugees or stateless people, on the ministry’s terms) | Real Decreto 1004/2015, art. 5.1.b |
| Passport | Required (not for refugees or stateless people, on the ministry’s terms) | Real Decreto 1004/2015, art. 5.1.c |
| Integration | DELE A2 and CCSE results, or your authorisation in the form to check them with Instituto Cervantes | Real Decreto 1004/2015, arts. 5.1.d and 6 |
| Fee | Proof of payment of the fee | Real Decreto 1004/2015, art. 5.1.e |
| Criminal record (adults) | Certificate from your country of origin, legalised and translated; EU nationals can use the Spanish Central Criminal Register certificate instead | Real Decreto 1004/2015, art. 5.3 |
| Special cases | Proof of the circumstance you rely on, e.g. marriage to a Spaniard | Real Decreto 1004/2015, art. 5.1.f |
| Missing documents | Three months to provide them after the request, or the application is treated as withdrawn | Real Decreto 1004/2015, art. 10.2 |
The core list
The regulation lists these documents for every application (Real Decreto 1004/2015, art. 5.1):
- the standard application form and, if someone represents you, the power of attorney;
- your birth certificate from your country of origin, legalised and translated where needed;
- your passport;
- the documents on your integration into Spanish society (the DELE A2 and CCSE exams);
- proof that you paid the fee.
Refugees and stateless people don’t need the birth certificate or passport, on the terms the Ministry of Justice sets.
Authorisations instead of certificates
The form includes authorisations for the ministry to check your registered address, the Spanish Central Criminal Register and the immigration database. You can replace these authorisations with the documents themselves: the padrón (registration) certificate, the Central Criminal Register certificate, and your foreigner identity card (TIE) or EU registration certificate or card (art. 5.1.a). Likewise, you don’t need to upload the exam certificates if you authorise a check with Instituto Cervantes (art. 5.1.d).
Criminal record from your country
Applicants who are adults or emancipated, and are not refugees or stateless, must add a criminal record certificate from their country of origin, legalised and translated. Nationals of an EU country can replace it with the Spanish Central Criminal Register certificate, if it states that the country of origin was consulted (art. 5.3).
Special cases and children
If you rely on a shorter residence period, add proof of it: refugee or stateless status, birth in Spain, Sephardi status, marriage to a Spaniard, widowhood, Spanish descent, failure to use the right to opt, or guardianship or foster care by a Spanish citizen or institution (art. 5.1.f). Applications for children need extra documents, including the guardian’s authorisation and school or centre certificates (art. 5.2).
How you submit
Ley 19/2015 says the procedure is electronic. The regulation says documents that need your signature are signed with a recognised electronic certificate, and that professionals with compulsory membership of a professional body who represent you must use electronic means (Real Decreto 1004/2015, arts. 3.1 and 5.4).
Sources
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This is general information, not legal advice, and Lumen is not a law firm. Rules change and offices differ: check the official sources above before you act. Found something wrong or out of date? Write to support@lumen.observer.