Spanish nationality by residence (A2 + CCSE, Ministerio de Justicia) has 2 parts: DELE A2 o superior, Prueba CCSE. Cost: €104.05 fee (form 790, code 026). Decision: Legal maximum 1 year from the application; without an answer it counts as refused. Checked 2026-09-30.
Dates, places and waiting times
No exam dates: apply online at the Ministry of Justice e-office once you have your DELE A2 (or exemption) and CCSE. Residence: 10 years in general, 5, 2 or 1 year in some cases. source
- 1Check the conditionslegal residence in Spain and the other conditions: see the rules below
- 2ProofsDELE A2 or higher + CCSE (some people are exempt)
- 3Applyonline at the Ministry of Justice (sede electrónica)
- 4Oathjura (oath or promise) before the Registro Civil
Where
Online at sede.mjusticia.gob.es (Cl@ve or digital certificate). The oath is made before the Civil Registry or a notary. source
Waiting & results
Plan time for DELE (few dates, results in 2–3 months) and CCSE (monthly, results in about 20 days) before you apply. The CCSE is valid 4 years. source
Legal maximum 1 year from the application; without an answer it counts as refused. After approval: oath and registration within 180 days. source
At a glance
Exam parts45 min in total
DELE A2 o superiorKnowledge · 1 diploma—
- Format
- Language diploma from the Instituto Cervantes
- Questions / tasks
- 1 diploma
- Task types
- DELE A2 or any higher DELE level. Not needed for nationals of Spanish-speaking countries; minors and people with modified capacity give a school or centre certificate instead.
- Scoring
- APTO: 30 of 50 in both groups
- Allowed aids
- —[2]
Prueba CCSEKnowledge · 25 questions45 min
- Format
- 25-question test from the Instituto Cervantes
- Questions / tasks
- 25 questions
- Task types
- Constitution and institutions (60%), culture, history and society (40%).
- Scoring
- 15 of 25 correct
- Allowed aids
- —[2]
Scoring, results and retakes
A decision, not a test
Nationality by residence is granted by the Ministry of Justice. You must show legal, continuous residence immediately before the application, good civic conduct and sufficient integration (DELE + CCSE).[1]
Decision within one year
The legal maximum is one year from the date your application enters. Without an express decision in that time, the application counts as refused; you can go to court (contencioso-administrativo).[2]
After approval: 180 days
Within 180 days of notification you swear or promise loyalty to the King and obedience to the Constitution and laws, renounce your previous nationality if required, and register at the Civil Registry. Otherwise the grant lapses.[1]
Oath before a notary possible
Since the 2021 reform you can make the oath or promise before a Civil Registry official or a notary; the notary sends it to the Civil Registry.[4]
What is really tested
Derived from the official task descriptions and level descriptions — not from leaked questions.
Plan the two tests
- DELE A2 (or higher) and CCSE are separate exams; both are run by the Instituto Cervantes.
- The DELE diploma never expires; the CCSE certificate is valid 4 years.
- The nationality fee does not include DELE (A2 in Spain 2026: €138) or CCSE (€85).
- Results take time: CCSE about 20 days, DELE about 2–3 months.
Rules you need to know
Routes & levels5
The general residence period is ten years. It must be legal, continuous and immediately before the application.[1]
5 years for recognised refugees. 2 years for nationals by origin of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea or Portugal, and for Sephardic Jews.[1]
1 year if, for example, you were born in Spain, have been married to a Spanish national for 1 year, are the widow(er) of a Spanish national, were under Spanish guardianship for 2 years, or a parent or grandparent was originally Spanish.[1]
For Spanish nationality by residence you must pass a DELE of at least A2 and the CCSE (civic knowledge test). Both are set and run by the Instituto Cervantes.[2]
Spain has no national language or civic exam for residence permits: long-term residence asks for 5 years of legal residence, income and health insurance, not a test. DELE A2 and CCSE are for nationality.[6]
Registration1
Apply at sede.mjusticia.gob.es with Cl@ve or a digital certificate, for yourself, for a minor you represent, or through an authorised representative. Scan and attach the documents. A started application must be completed within 2 months.[5]
Costs & payment1
The application fee is €104.05, paid with form 790 code 026 (download, then pay at a bank). DELE and CCSE fees are paid separately to the Instituto Cervantes.[4]
Deadlines & fines1
After approval you have 180 days from notification for the oath, renunciation (if needed) and registration; otherwise the grant lapses.[2]
Exemptions2
Exempt from the DELE for nationality: nationals of countries where Spanish is official (e.g. Argentina, Colombia, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela…). They still take the CCSE. Minors and people with judicially modified capacity take no tests.[2]
People who cannot read or write or have learning difficulties can ask the Ministry of Justice for a dispensa. Holders of the Spanish ESO certificate can be exempted from the CCSE.[5]
Good to know1
You must declare that you renounce your previous nationality, except nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal, and Sephardic Jews originating from Spain.[1]
On the exam day
Frequently asked questions
What are the parts of Spanish nationality by residence?
DELE A2 o superior (—) · Prueba CCSE (45 min).
How much does Spanish nationality by residence cost?
€104.05 fee (form 790, code 026). DELE (A2 in Spain 2026: €138) and CCSE (€85) are paid separately. source
How do you apply for Spanish nationality by residence?
No exam dates: apply online at the Ministry of Justice e-office once you have your DELE A2 (or exemption) and CCSE. Residence: 10 years in general, 5, 2 or 1 year in some cases. source
How long do you have to wait for Spanish nationality by residence?
Plan time for DELE (few dates, results in 2–3 months) and CCSE (monthly, results in about 20 days) before you apply. The CCSE is valid 4 years. source
How long does a decision on Spanish nationality by residence take?
Legal maximum 1 year from the application; without an answer it counts as refused. After approval: oath and registration within 180 days. source
What if your application for Spanish nationality by residence is refused?
No separate exam: you attach DELE A2 and CCSE; both can be retaken before you apply (CCSE includes a free second attempt). source
Where do you apply for Spanish nationality by residence?
Online at sede.mjusticia.gob.es (Cl@ve or digital certificate). The oath is made before the Civil Registry or a notary. source
Official sources
Checked on 2026-09-30. Rules change — the official page always wins.
- [1]Código Civil, arts. 21–24 (texto consolidado, última actualización 03/01/2025) BOE (Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado) · page date 2025-01-03
- [2]Real Decreto 1004/2015: Reglamento del procedimiento de nacionalidad española por residencia (texto consolidado) BOE (Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado) · page date 2024-09-10
- [3]Calificaciones de la prueba CCSE Instituto Cervantes
- [4]¿Cómo se adquiere la nacionalidad española? Residencia Ministerio de Justicia
- [5]Nacionalidad española por residencia Ministerio de Justicia (Sede electrónica)
- [6]Hoja 50 – Autorización de residencia de larga duración UE Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones · page date 2025-05-01