The General Rule: Ten Years of Legal, Continuous Residency
To apply for Spanish nationality through residency, the general rule is ten years of legal and continuous residency in Spain. "Continuous" means that your actual gaps in residency do not exceed the legally permitted limit; short trips to Iran or other countries are usually not a problem, but long absences can call the continuity of your residency into question.
Spanish law reserves the reduced two-year period for citizens of Latin American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, and people of Sephardic origin. People granted refugee status or international protection also benefit from a five-year period. None of these reductions apply to Iranian citizens; the only exception is the one-year path of nationality through marriage to a Spanish citizen.
Requirements
- Ten years of legal, continuous residency in Spain, with no gap exceeding the permitted limit
- A passing grade on the CCSE exam (knowledge of the Spanish constitution and society)
- A passing grade on the DELE A2 Spanish language exam (except where a legal exemption applies)
- A criminal record certificate from Iran and from any country where you have resided in the last five years, with consular legalization
- A social integration report (informe de integración) in certain specific cases
- An oath or pledge of loyalty to the King and the Spanish constitution at the final appointment
The CCSE and DELE A2 Exams
Both exams are administered by the Instituto Cervantes, and passing them is mandatory for the vast majority of Iranian applicants, since no nationality-based exemption applies to Iranians. We explain the full content, passing score, and registration fee for both exams on our dedicated CCSE and DELE exams page.
Application Steps
The application for nationality through residency must be filed online (telemática) through the Spanish Ministry of Justice's electronic system. The general steps are as follows:
- Gather your identity documents, exam certificates, and criminal record certificates with consular legalization and official translation
- Register and log in to the Ministry of Justice's electronic system with a digital certificate or Cl@ve
- Upload your documents and pay the file's administrative fee
- Wait for the file to be reviewed, and respond to any requests for additional documents
- If approved, attend the oath of loyalty appointment and registration with the Civil Registry (Registro Civil)
| Stage | Approximate duration |
|---|---|
| Preparing and obtaining consular legalization for Iranian documents | 2 to 4 months |
| File review by the Ministry of Justice | 1 to 3 years |
| Oath of loyalty and Civil Registry registration | A few weeks after approval |
Since Iran is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, your birth certificate and criminal record certificate must go through the full consular legalization process, not simply receive an apostille stamp. Read the details of this process on our consular document legalization page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Iranian citizens use the reduced two-year period?
No. This reduction applies only to citizens of Latin American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, and people of Sephardic origin. Refugees benefit from a five-year period. Iranians must complete the full ten years, except through marriage.
Do years of non-lucrative residency count toward the ten years?
Yes, all years of legal, continuous residency count, regardless of the type of residency permit.
What happens if I fail the DELE A2 or CCSE exam?
Your file will be considered incomplete. You must retake the exam in the next sitting; there is no exemption for Iranians.
How long does the file take to be processed?
Usually between one and three years, depending on the Ministry of Justice's caseload and the completeness of your documents.
Do my Iranian identity documents need an apostille?
No, Iran is not a member of the Apostille Convention; your documents must go through consular legalization and then be officially translated into Spanish.