Spanish citizenship for Russians: deadlines, exams and submissions

Q: What examinations are needed for Spanish citizenship?

DELE at or above A2 and CCEE, both run in-service examinations in private, with 20 nationals of Latin America and Equatorial Guinea, as well as DELE A2 or higher, not required to take courses. [2][3]

Q: How many applications for Spanish citizenship were pending?

According to the law, one year after the application was made to the Dirección General de Seguridad juridica y Fe Pública. If there is no solution, the application is considered to be rejected by silence (Real Decreto 1004/2015). No official figures on the actual average length were found, the numbers on blogs differed, so better planned for the whole year and longer. You can appeal, but this is not part of the NEXO [2][3].

Short

Ten years of legal, continuous and immediate pre-retention. Five years for refugees, two years for Latin American, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal and sefard, one year in several cases, including marriage to a Spanish citizen [1].
Two examinations are required for the Institute of Cervantes: DELE at or above A2 and CCSE (Constitutional and Sociocultural Knowledge). [2][3].
The application is submitted electronically through the Ministry of Justice's sede with payment of the duty. [2][3].
After a positive decision, you must report to the Encargado del Registro Civil within 180 days, swear your allegiance to the King and the Constitution, declare your previous citizenship and register the acquisition of citizenship on the register. [1][2].
Spain requires that its previous nationality be renounced by law (except in individual countries). [1].

Spanish citizenship for Russians: how many years of residence are required

Citizenship on residence is governed by articles 21 and 22 of the Código Civil, and article 22 sets a total of 10 years, and it is for citizens of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine that it is in force. [1]II. Residence must be lawful, continuous and immediately preceded by the filing of an application [1]The years of valid residence permits are considered to be years, not the time spent in the country at all.

Who	Duration	Norma
General rule	10 years	art. 22.1 Código Civil [1]
Refugee status	5 years	art. 22.1 [1]
Latin American, Andorra, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal and sefardam	2 years	art. 22.1 [1]
Born in Spain; married or married to a Spanish citizen for one year and not on a journey; widows and widowers; several other categories	1 year	art. 22.2 [1]

The Minister of Justice decides to refuse for reasons of public order or national interest, except for a period of time to be confirmed as "good civil conduct" and sufficient integration into society. Any decision, whether positive or negative, may be challenged before an administrative court. [1].

Which of your years will be 10 years old depends on the status. [4]We found nothing about student years for citizenship in public official sources, so we can't count ten years as "first entry." How do we count continuity for the PMA, as it is taken from the material PMTCT in Spain: How to count five yearsFor citizenship in the law the same words "legally and continuously", but there are no figures for exits to Código Civil [1].

Two examinations: DELE A2 and CCSE

Integration is confirmed by two examinations by the Instituto Cervantes: DELE at A2 or above and CCEE [2][3]II. Examinations, face-to-face courses not required [3]II. The citizens of 20 countries listed in the regulations of Latin America and Equatorial Guinea are exempt from DELE, as are those who already have a DELE degree of at least A2 level; and the certificates of A2, B1 or B2 of the State Escuelas Occupations de Idiomas are accepted [2][3]I. More detailed on formats and training: CCEE and DELE A2 examinations.

DELE is an unlimited degree [10], and the CCSE certificate is valid for four years from the date of issuance [3][6]If you pass CCSE and pass in four years, you have to repeat the examination, children under 18 and persons with legal disabilities do not pass the examination, and the school certificate is attached instead. [3].

Method of step application

Check the length of the resolutions and make sure that the last year of residence is legal and consecutive: residence must be immediately preceded by the delivery [1].
Take DELE A2 and CCSE. You have to register for the citizenship exam with NIE. [9].
Collect documents: birth certificate from the country of origin, legalized or apostilles and translated, passport, integration confirmation, fee receipt, adult criminal record certificate from the country of origin, legalized and translated [2]The Spanish authorities may request their own information on residence, card and criminal record if you have given consent in form. [2]For documents from Russia: criminal record and apostille.
Pay the fee and apply electronically through the Ministry of Justice sede.A person or representative is required to obtain an electronic certificate; professionals who have signed agreements with the Ministry (lawyers, gestores administrativos, procuradores, graduados sociales) may apply on your behalf. [2][3].
Answer the requerimiento if he comes: three months to correct, otherwise you will be dismissed. [2]How to answer, taken from material on requerimiento.
Wait for the decision: one year's time, then the application is dismissed by silence. [2][3].
After the decision, within 180 days, report to the Encargado del Registro Civil in your place of residence, swear your allegiance to the King and the Constitution, declare your previous citizenship revoked and request registration on the register. [1][2].

The fee is paid at the rate at the time of application: no application is considered without payment; it does not include examination fees and representatives ’services. On the 2 October 2026, the Ministry of Justice page, it is 104.05 I, but the amount can be reviewed by the Budget Act, so check it in form at the Ministry ’s Sede. [11].

Timeline: What the law says and what practice

The law calls for one year of a decision from the time the application was made to the Dirección General de Seguriidad Juridica y Fe Pública (formerly the Dirección General de los Registros y del Notariado), and then the application is rejected by silence. [2][3]The Ministry of Justice, in the open sources we have opened, does not publish the numbers and blogs differ.

If the application is rejected, you can apply to the administrative court for recurso de reposión under the general rules of administrative procedure or to the administrative court [1][2]The result depends on the grounds for refusal, the appeal is not part of the cost of the NEXO services, but it must be discussed separately with the lawyer.

In 2024, the Supreme Court declared invalid the part of the phrase in article 12.1 Real Decreto 1004/2015: the words "the applicant himself has not, until then, committed acts incompatible with good civil conduct" [5]As this has affected practice, please clarify with counsel.

Renunciation of former nationality and dual nationality

Article 23 Código Civil requires that the applicant swear to, declare the renunciation of his previous nationality and record the acquisition in Registro Civil, except for the nationals of the countries referred to in article 24.1 (Latin America, Andorra, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal) and for the sefards [1]Russians, Belarusians, Kazakhs and Ukrainians are required to file such a declaration.

What your country does after such a declaration is determined by its right, not by Spanish; the rules of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine on withdrawal from citizenship and dual citizenship need to be checked by official sources of these countries and discussed before, not after, an oath; the laws of other States are not evaluated here.

Typical Errors

They count ten years from the first entry or the first NIE, not from the first legal residence.
They serve when the last year of residence was interrupted by delay.
CCSE is too early: certificate is valid for four years [3][6].
Underestimates the time for Russian documents: Apostille and juror translation take weeks [2].
They forget to renew their residence permit until citizenship is obtained: residence permit must remain in force.
Pass the deadline for taking the oath: 180 days after notification, the decision to grant citizenship is no longer valid [1].

When Individual Review Is Needed

Individual review is needed if history has been about studying, late leaving, changing the basis for more than a few months, or if you claim a shorter period (marriage, birth in Spain, descent). The Código Civil is hard, and the review is long, so the error in calculating the length of the period is worth a year waiting.

What can we help you with?

We're checking your records, explaining the procedure for the examinations, arranging translations and apostilles and preparing an electronic application. Book a consultationI. Comparison with the MJM: Residence permit or citizenshipWhile your years are up, do not lose the legitimacy of your residence: "Extension of residence permit" route, the service Extension and VJM.

Frequent issues

How many years does it take to live in Spain for a Russian to be a citizen?

Ten years of legal and continuous residence immediately before the application is made (art. 22 Código Civil), the reduced periods of five, two and one year are for refugees, Latin American and several countries, sefards, spouses of Spanish nationals and other categories. [1]

What examinations are needed for Spanish citizenship?

DELE is at the level of A2 and CCEE, both of which are run by the Institute of Cervantes. Examinations are held in private. 20 Latin American and Equatorial Guinean nationals are exempted from DELE, as well as holders of the DELE A2 or higher diploma. [2][3]

How many applications for Spanish citizenship were pending?

One year after the application was filed with the Directorate General de Seguridad juridica y Fe Pública. If there is no solution, the application is considered rejected by silence (Real Decreto 1004/2015) · NEXO [2][3].

Should Russian citizenship be renounced when it comes to Spanish?

Spanish law (art. 23 Código Civil) requires the withdrawal of the previous nationality, with the exception of Ibero-American, Andorra, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal and sefard nationals. [1].

What happens after a positive citizenship decision?

You have to go to the Encargado del Registro Civil within 180 days, swear your oath or promise of loyalty, declare your previous citizenship and request a register. The record is entered within five days. If you miss the deadline, the decision is no longer valid. [1][2]

Were the years of study considered ten years for citizenship?

The law refers to "legitimate residence", and Reglamento refers to the educational permit "estancia" rather than "residencia" (art. 52). How does the agency count the student years at the age of 10, does not say in public official sources, so that 10 years from the first entry cannot be counted, and the history of the status and the gaps between them should be shown to the lawyer before the application is filed. [1][4].

Could you acquire Spanish citizenship one year after marriage?

One year of legal residence is sufficient if you are married to a Spanish citizen at the time of the application and do not have legal or de facto separation, which does not exempt you from examinations and integration tests; other conditions are assessed by documents. [1][2]

Based on source

Sources are viewed on 02.10.2026. Consolidated texts and departmental reference pages are informative: legal application takes into account official publications, changes and specific circumstances. Material has not been personally checked by counsel.

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