Spanish citizenship for Russians: timescales, exams and application

Spanish citizenship for Russians: how many years of residence you need

Citizenship by residence is governed by Articles 21 and 22 of the Código Civil. Article 22 sets the general period of ten years, and that is the one that applies to nationals of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine [1]. Residence must be legal, continuous and immediately precede the application [1]. What counts is the years covered by valid residence permits, not time spent in the country in general.

The decision is taken by the Minister of Justice, who may refuse on reasoned grounds of public order or national interest. Besides the residence period, you must show “good civic conduct” and a sufficient degree of integration into society. Any decision, positive or negative, can be challenged in the administrative courts [1].

Which of your years count towards the ten depends on your status. The Reglamento calls a study permit an “autorización de estancia”, not “residencia” (Article 52) [4]. We found nothing in open official sources about counting student years towards citizenship, so you cannot count the ten years “from your first entry”. How continuity is counted for permanent residence is covered in Permanent residence in Spain: how to count the five years; for citizenship the law uses the same words, “legal and continuous”, but the Código Civil gives no figures on absences [1].

Two exams: DELE A2 and CCSE

Integration is shown by passing two Instituto Cervantes exams: DELE at level A2 or higher and CCSE [2][3]. The exams are taken in person, and preparation courses are not compulsory [3]. Exempt from DELE are nationals of the 20 Latin American countries listed in the regulation and of Equatorial Guinea, as well as anyone who already holds a DELE diploma at A2 or higher; A2, B1 or B2 certificates from the state Escuelas Oficiales de Idiomas are also accepted [2][3]. More on the formats and preparation: CCSE and DELE A2 exams.

The DELE diploma never expires [10], while the CCSE certificate is valid for four years from the date of issue [3][6]. If you passed the CCSE and apply more than four years later, you will have to retake the exam. Children under 18 and people whose legal capacity has been modified by a court do not take the exams; certificates from their educational institutions are attached instead [3].

Applying step by step

1. Check your residence record against your resolutions and make sure the last year of residence was legal and unbroken: residence must immediately precede the application [1].
2. Pass the DELE A2 and CCSE. To register for the exam for citizenship purposes you need your NIE [9].
3. Gather your documents: birth certificate from your country of origin, legalised or apostilled and translated; passport; proof of integration; fee receipt; and, for adults, a criminal record certificate from your country of origin, legalised and translated [2]. The ministry can obtain data on your place of residence, your card and any criminal record in Spain itself if you give consent on the form [2]. For documents from Russia: criminal record certificate and apostille.
4. Pay the fee and file the application online through the Ministry of Justice sede. You need a digital certificate for the applicant or a representative; professionals who have joined agreements with the ministry (lawyers, gestores administrativos, procuradores, graduados sociales) can file on your behalf [2][3].
5. Reply to the requerimiento if one arrives: you have three months to correct the application, otherwise you will be deemed to have withdrawn it [2]. How to reply is covered in our article on the requerimiento.
6. Wait for the decision: the period is one year, after which the application is deemed refused by silence [2][3].
7. After the decision, within 180 days appear before the encargado del Registro Civil for your place of residence, swear the oath or promise of loyalty to the King and the Constitution, declare that you renounce your previous nationality and request the entry in the register. The entry is made within five days after that, and the procedure is complete [1][2].

The fee is paid at the rate in force on the date of filing: without payment the application is not processed. It does not cover exam fees or representatives’ services. According to the Ministry of Justice page as of 2 October 2026 it is €104.05, but the amount may be revised by the budget law, so check it on the form on the ministry’s sede [11].

Timelines: what the law says and what happens in practice

The law sets one year for a decision from the moment the application reaches the Dirección General de Seguridad Jurídica y Fe Pública (formerly the Dirección General de los Registros y del Notariado), after which the application is deemed refused by silence [2][3]. The Ministry of Justice does not publish actual average processing times in the open sources we checked, and figures in blogs vary. Plan for the full year and longer, and do not trust promises of “a few months”.

If the application is refused, you can file a recurso de reposición under the general rules of administrative procedure or go to the administrative courts [1][2]. The outcome depends on the grounds for refusal. Appeals are not included in ReloVictory’s fees and need to be discussed separately with a lawyer.

In 2024 the Supreme Court annulled part of a sentence in Article 12.1 of Real Decreto 1004/2015: the words setting the condition that “the applicant has not, up to that point, committed acts incompatible with good civic conduct” [5]. Ask a lawyer how this has affected practice.

Renouncing your previous citizenship and dual citizenship

Article 23 of the Código Civil requires the applicant to swear the oath, declare renunciation of their previous nationality and register the acquisition in the Registro Civil. An exception is made for natives of the countries listed in Article 24.1 (Latin America, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal) and for Sephardic Jews [1]. Spanish law requires Russians, Belarusians, Kazakhstanis and Ukrainians to make this declaration.

What your country does after such a declaration is determined by its law, not Spanish law. The rules of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine on giving up citizenship and on dual citizenship need to be checked against those countries’ official sources and discussed before you apply, not after the oath. We do not assess the laws of other states here.

Common mistakes

• Counting the ten years from the first entry or the first NIE rather than from the start of legal residence.
• Applying when the last year of residence was interrupted by an overstay.
• Taking the CCSE too early: the certificate is valid for four years [3][6].
• Underestimating the time needed for documents from Russia: the apostille and sworn translation take weeks [2].
• Forgetting to renew the residence permit before citizenship is granted: the residence permit must remain valid.
• Missing the deadline for the oath: 180 days after notification, the decision granting citizenship lapses [1].

When you need an individual review

An individual review is needed if your history includes study, overstays, absences of more than a few months, a change of grounds, or if you are claiming a shorter period (marriage, birth in Spain, origin). The Código Civil periods are strict and processing is long, so a mistake in calculating your residence costs you a year of waiting.

How we can help

We check your residence record against your resolutions, explain how the exams work, arrange translations and the apostille, and prepare the online application. Appealing a refusal is not included in the fee, and the Ministry of Justice’s decision time does not depend on us. Book a consultation. Comparison with permanent residence: Residence permit or citizenship. While you build up your years, do not lose your legal residence: “Residence permit renewal” route card, service renewal and permanent residence.

Frequently asked questions

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ReloVictory · Sources reviewed 02.10.2026 · Not a substitute for individual legal advice.