How do I apply for Spanish nationality by residence?

Confirm that residence is the correct route and that you have completed the required legal residence period. Then prepare the documents and exams that apply to your case, pay form 790-026, arrange electronic access and submit the signed application with its attachments.

What documents do I need for a Spanish nationality application?

The exact list depends on your age, nationality, family circumstances and residence period. Common items include identity and residence documents, birth and criminal-record certificates, applicable Instituto Cervantes evidence and proof of payment. Foreign documents may need legalisation or an apostille and a sworn translation.

Can I apply for Spanish nationality online?

Yes. The Ministry of Justice provides an online nationality-by-residence application. If you file and sign it yourself, prepare an accepted Cl@ve method or electronic certificate and test AutoFirma before starting. An authorised representative uses their own electronic means.

Do I pay form 790-026 before submitting the application?

The nationality-by-residence application is subject to the 790-026 fee. Follow the current Ministry instructions, keep valid proof of payment and attach the required evidence when you submit.

Is a Spain citizenship application different from a Spanish nationality application?

People often use “Spain citizenship application” and “apply for Spain citizenship” for the same search intent. The official Spanish procedure uses the term “Spanish nationality”; this guide keeps both expressions in one application route rather than creating separate competing pages.

Spanish nationality application: how to apply

Follow the Spanish nationality application route: check eligibility, prepare documents, pay form 790-026, set up AutoFirma and submit online.

To apply for Spanish nationality by residence, first confirm that you qualify, then prepare the right documents, pay the 790-026 fee, set up electronic signing and submit through the Ministry of Justice service. This page is the starting point for the full Spanish nationality application — also commonly searched as a Spain citizenship application or how to apply for Spain citizenship.

This guide organises the process but does not replace individual legal advice. Always check the current requirements in the linked official sources.

The application route at a glance

Follow these steps in order. Each link opens the detailed guide for that stage:

Check eligibility: confirm the correct residence period and the earliest safe filing date in the eligibility guide.
Check exams and prepare documents: check whether CCSE and DELE A2 apply to you, then build a case-specific list with the Spanish nationality document checklist.
Pay the fee: complete form 790-026 and keep valid proof using the fee and payment guide.
Set up electronic signing: check the accepted identification method and test AutoFirma with the digital access guide.
Submit the application: review, sign and save the registration receipt by following the online submission guide.
Track the case and complete the route: use the case tracking guide and, if nationality is granted, continue with the oath and Civil Registry guide.

1. Confirm that residence is your route

Nationality by residence is only one way to acquire Spanish nationality. Before preparing documents, confirm which route applies to your case and from which date its requirements are calculated.

2. Check which exams apply

Depending on your personal circumstances, the Instituto Cervantes CCSE and DELE exams may apply, or you may qualify for an exemption or waiver. Do not book an exam based only on a generic checklist: verify what applies to your application.

3. Prepare the documents

Separate Spanish documents from those issued abroad and identify which may require translation, legalisation or an apostille. Record the issue date of each document and the official source confirming the requirement.

4. Pay, sign and submit

Pay form 790-026 through a current accepted channel, prepare electronic access and test AutoFirma before filing. The Ministry of Justice Electronic Office allows nationality-by-residence applications and digitised documents to be submitted online. Keep a copy of the application, the registration number, proof of payment and every related receipt.

5. Track your case

Record your case identifier and use the official tracking channel. If additional documentation is requested, read the full notice and its deadlines before responding.

6. Prepare the steps after approval

A favourable decision is not the final step. The oath or promise, registration with the Civil Registry and subsequent Spanish documentation are part of the final stage.

A practical checklist to keep the route clear

Before you submit

Confirm your route and filing date; do not use a generic list alone to decide which exams apply.
For every document, note what it proves, its issue date and whether it needs a translation, legalisation or apostille.
Make sure you can identify yourself and sign electronically before opening the application.

When you submit

Check the data and every attachment before signing.
Keep the submitted copy, registration number and payment receipt together.

After you submit

Record the case identifier, filing date and official tracking channel.
Read a document request and its deadline in full before responding.

Preparation is complete when: you have confirmed your route, checked the applicable exams, gathered valid documents, saved payment proof and checked how to identify yourself and sign. If something is missing, return to that step’s guide before submitting.

Your next step

Start with the eligibility guide to confirm your route and filing date. Once that is clear, continue to the document checklist; do not pay the fee or open an online draft before you know which route and evidence apply to your case.

How to apply for Spanish nationality by residence