Citizenship
Marriage triggers a reduced period, not an automatic grant
Check the year of marriage and the year of legal residence before filing. Video in Spanish.
The exact rule in the Civil Code
Article 22 of the Civil Code lets someone apply for citizenship with one year of residence if, at the time of applying, they have been married for one year to a Spanish national and are not legally or de facto separated. They are two separate clocks and both must have run.
Example: marrying today does not let you apply tomorrow even if you have been in Spain for years. A year of marriage must also pass. And a year of marriage outside Spain does not replace the required year of legal residence.
Residence must be legal, continuous and immediately before the request. Being on the padrón helps prove address, but the padrón alone does not turn an irregular stay into legal residence.
The answer in 25 seconds
Documents that usually decide the file
- Full passport and valid TIE.
- Full birth certificate from your home country, legalised or apostilled and translated where required.
- The criminal record certificates required, properly formalised.
- Full marriage certificate and current proof that there is no de facto separation.
- The spouse's Spanish birth certificate and joint padrón where applicable.
- CCSE diploma and, unless exempt, DELE A2 or higher.
The final list changes with nationality, age, capacity, studies in Spain and documents the administration can already verify.
Mistakes that cost months
Confusing marriage with automatic citizenship. Marriage reduces the residence period, but does not remove the requirements of good civic conduct and integration.
Filing on the wrong day. If one of the two years has not yet run, the file is born too early.
Ignoring absences or gaps. Continuity is reviewed against migration movements and permit validity, not just the padrón.
If the period that applies to you is not the one-year one, see the general guide to Spanish citizenship by residence.
Want a review before filing?
Registered gestora administrativa, ICGA Valencia. Free first consultation and a fixed quote before we start.
Frequently asked questions
Do I get citizenship for marrying a Spanish national?
No. Marriage does not grant citizenship automatically. It gives access to the reduced period of one year of residence if, when filing, you have been married for a year and there is no legal or de facto separation.
Does the year start on the wedding day?
Marriage and residence are separate requirements. When filing, one year of marriage and one year of legal, continuous residence immediately before must both have run.
Is being on the padrón for a year enough?
No. The padrón proves address, but the Civil Code requires legal residence. The residence permit and its continuity must be reviewed.
Do I have to sit the CCSE and the DELE?
As a general rule integration is proved with the CCSE and, where applicable, DELE A2 or higher. There are exemptions and dispensations depending on nationality and personal circumstances.
What happens after the grant?
You must complete the oath or promise and registration in the Civil Registry within the applicable period. A favourable decision does not end the process by itself.
Legal basis
- Spanish Civil Code, arts. 17 to 26, on acquiring Spanish nationality
- Royal Decree 1004/2015, procedure for acquiring Spanish nationality by residence
- Law 39/2015 on Common Administrative Procedure, art. 14 on electronic dealings with the administration
- Royal Decree 203/2021, Regulation on public sector action by electronic means
Official sources
- Ministry of Justice: citizenship by residence
- Ministry of Justice electronic office: citizenship application
Written by Irina Klein. Reviewed by Elena Alonso Volostnova, registered gestora administrativa (ICGA Valencia). Updated on 5 October 2026. This page is general information and does not replace personalised advice on your case.