Spanish citizenship in 2026: how to get it

Ten years in the country, two exams and an oath. Who needs only one year, what the government charges and why a Spanish passport cannot be bought.

In detail

A Russian citizen needs 10 years of lawful, continuous residence in Spain, a Spanish exam at A2 level, a test on the Constitution and culture, and an oath to get a Spanish passport. Spouses of Spanish citizens and people born in Spain qualify faster, after 1 year. Spanish citizenship cannot be bought: Spain has no citizenship by investment, and the golden visa closed on 3 April 2025.

Ten years sounds like forever, but the government costs at the finish line are modest, about $370. What costs more is a decade on the right residence permit and paperwork without mistakes.

How to get Spanish citizenship: all routes

Residence periods are set by Article 22 of the Spanish Civil Code. The period depends not on money but on the applicant's nationality and family.

A child born in Spain to foreign parents can get citizenship after a year of living in the country; this route is covered separately in Spanish citizenship by birth.

Spanish citizenship for Russians: what matters

All 10 years must be lawful residence on a residence permit, without breaks and immediately before the application. Tourist trips do not count, and long absences break continuity so the count starts again.

Residence for buying property is no longer granted. Working routes for Russians are the digital nomad visa, non-working residence for those living on savings, employment and study. All options are in how to get residency in Spain and on the page Spain digital nomad visa.

At the oath a Russian citizen declares renunciation of their previous nationality. Spain does not require proof of loss, and Russia does not end citizenship on the basis of that declaration: how this works with two passports is covered in dual citizenship of Spain and Russia.

How much Spanish citizenship costs

The government takes about $370 per adult: the Ministry of Justice fee and two exams at the Instituto Cervantes. The fee is not refunded even after a refusal.

Amounts in US dollars at the European Central Bank rate of 6 October 2026, rounded up. On top come an apostilled Russian police certificate, sworn translations and years of residence permit fees. A manager in the chat will calculate Murblz support at every stage, from choosing the permit to the oath.

Timeline and application steps

1. Exams. The Constitution test is held almost every month, the Spanish exam several times a year. Citizens of Spanish-speaking countries take only the test, and children under 18 take no exams.
2. Documents. Passport, residence permit, birth certificate, an apostilled and translated Russian police certificate, exam certificates and the fee receipt.
3. Filing. The application is filed online with the Ministry of Justice. The law gives it a year to decide, and silence after that counts as a refusal that can be appealed.
4. Oath. After approval the oath must be taken at the Civil Registry within 180 days. Miss the deadline and the decision lapses.
5. Passport. After registration at the Civil Registry come the Spanish identity card and passport.

Why Spanish citizenship is refused

• A break in residence. A late permit renewal or a long absence wipes out part of the record.
• Conduct. Criminal records, fines and immigration violations put good civic conduct in question.
• Documents. A certificate without an apostille or translation, or a surname spelled differently in the passport and the birth certificate.
• Taxes. Ten years in Spain mean ten years of tax residence with tax on worldwide income. Rates are on the page taxes in Spain.

The law does not forbid applying on your own. But mistakes cost more than the fee: a lost year of residence, a refusal over a certificate, a missed oath deadline. Murblz specialists choose a residence permit that works ten years ahead, track renewals and prepare a gap-free file. The country overview is on the page moving to Spain.

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