Applying for Spanish Citizenship? Keep reading to learn about what your Spanish Citizenship Test and Interview will consist of and to get some helpful, practical tips to ace them!
Before diving in, you might want to take our Spanish proficiency level test to see where you stand.
Table of Contents
- How to get Spanish Citizenship
- Spanish Proficiency Test and Citizenship Interview
- How can Progress with Lawless Spanish help me prepare for my Spanish proficiency test and citizenship interview?
How to get Spanish Citizenship
Obtaining Spanish citizenship by residency requires living in the country legally (that is, in possession of a residency permit) for up to 10 years.
You will also need to pass a Spanish proficiency test as well as demonstrate your knowledge of Spanish history and culture.
For an overview of the requirements and procedures involved in applying for Spanish citizenship, check out our audio article La nacionalidad española por residencia. We created this feature to help you get the facts AND practise your Spanish at the same time!
For additional information about the conditions and requirements of obtaining Spanish citizenship, see the official sites for the Ministerio de Justicia and the Gobierno de España.
Spanish Proficiency Test and Citizenship Interview
In order to obtain Spanish citizenship, you need to prove your Spanish proficiency by either passing a test or meeting certain criteria (e.g., having a degree from a Spanish university). Understanding your proficiency level according to the CEFR framework can help you determine which test or diploma might be appropriate for you. If you're interested in understanding more about the different official tests and diplomas accepted by the Spanish Government, take a look at our Ultimate Guide to Spanish Tests and Diplomas.
The most daunting part of the citizenship process, however, may be the interview, during which you need to demonstrate your knowledge of Spanish history and culture. To learn this information, study the Manual para la preparación de la Prueba de Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de España (CCSE).
Our friend María Virginia went through this process a few years ago and shared her experiences and thoughts for our bilingual Reader: Ciudadanía española: la experiencia de María Virginia.
Spanish citizenship: Language proficiency test
The Spanish language level test includes both listening and speaking sections, but there’s a chance you might be eligible to be exempted from it by obtaining an official diploma or certificate to prove you have reached at least B1 level in all four competencies: listening, reading, writing and speaking.
If you're interested in understanding more about the different official tests and diplomas accepted by the Spanish Government, take a look at our Ultimate Guide to Spanish Tests and Diplomas.
Spanish citizenship: Constitution and Culture test
This is the time to demonstrate your knowledge of Spanish government and culture. As mentioned above, you can take a look at the Manual CCSE to discover the information you'll need.
You are expected to know about things like key dates in Spanish history, Spanish values, important symbols and governmental organisation, among other topics.How can Progress with Lawless Spanish help me prepare for my Spanish proficiency test and citizenship interview?
The Spanish resources offered throughout Progress with Lawless Spanish will help you steadily improve your language skills. We also have a series of Spanish kwizzes based specifically on the content from the Manuel CCSE so that you can put your Spanish to the test while simultaneously learning this essential information.
In addition to the facts and figures from the Manuel CCSE, you'll also need to demonstrate knowledge of and an appreciation for Spanish culture. Progress with Lawless Spanish has a huge body of content related to everything from art to sports that you can use to learn more about the richness of Spanish history and culture.
Art & Design
- La última cena
Fill in the gaps with the right form of the past participle. Watch out the agreement.
- A big fan of Park Güell
Admire the unique Park Guell in Barcelona by Antoni Gaudí. - 12 self-portraits by Pablo Picasso
Learn about Pablo Picasso's self-portraits.
Employment
- Carta para puesto de secretaria
Choose the right answer from the hint, consider carefully the position of the pronoun.
- 21st century shepherds
Rosa is changing her profession to became a shepherdess. - Cómo hacer un presupuesto para tu pequeña empresa
This reading and listening exercise can help you practise El Futuro Simple and El Condicional Simple.
Famous People
- Gisela Pulido
Fill in the blanks with the right form of El Presente. Pay attention to the hints!
- Alexia Putellas: icono del fútbol español femenino
Alexia Putellas is a Spanish football icon who continues to showcase her talent and leadership on the field. - A cup of water and a rose
Fabilola is contemplating a stunning masterpiece by Zurbarán.
Film & TV
- Maxi Iglesias
Fill in the blanks with the right form of El Pretérito Indefinido. Pay attention to the hints!
- A horror film
Marta watched a terrifying film yesterday. - ¿Harás caso a todo lo que se dice? Coca-Cola Light advert
This advert for Coca-Cola Light can help you practise El Imperativo and El Futuro.
Food & Drink
- ¡A comer!
Learn how to make a Spanish potato omelette: una tortilla de patata. - La receta del guacamole
Turn the infinitive given in the hint into its imperative form for "tú". Be careful because there are regular and irregular verbs!
- Baby squid in its ink
Sergio tells us how to cook one of his favourite dishes.
Monuments, Tourism & Vacations
- Los Patios de Córdoba
Conjugate stem-changing verbs in El Presente
- A big surprise!
Adela tells us about an axciting surprise she got from her boyfriend. - ¿Beach or mountain?
Olivia has find the perfect summer destination that means not choosing between the beach and going to the mountains.
Politics & History
- Mayo, el mes de las flores
Fill in the gaps with the correct conjugated form of the verb. You need to use the pronoun "se" with all verbs.
- A purple tide
Learn about the purple tide in Spain. - 23-F: Coup d'Etat in Spain
This exercise is based on events that occurred on 23 February 1981, when Lieutenant-Colonel Tejero led 200 civil guards in a coup d'État against the recently-formed Spanish democracy.
Celebrations & Important Dates
- ¿Y a ti qué te ha dejado Santa?
It's Christmas morning! Our gift to you is this reading and listening exercise that can help you practise El Pretérito Perfecto and El Imperfecto Progresivo. - 6th of January
Eduardo is thinking about the 6th of January in order to get his Christmas presents. - Adviento
Fill in the gaps with the right form of El Presente.
Immigration & Citizenship
- En la consulta del médico
This exercise can help you practise the difference between “poco” and “un poco”, the position of pronouns with conjugated verbs and past participles as adjectives. - Ciudadanía española: la experiencia de María Virginia
Listen to María Virginia's experience of applying for Spanish nationality and, in particular, the types of questions that came up in the General Culture exam. This A2 exercise can help you practise El Indefinido, El Imperfecto, and the use and position of the preposition de for descriptions. - Una queja por ruido
Carlos asks his friend Merche for some advice about some noisy neighbors. Practise El Condicional Simple with this gapfill exercise. Pay attention to the instructions!
Language & Education
- Aulas virtuales
This reading and listening exercise can help you practise El Futuro Simple, El Condicional Simple and some expressions followed by El Subjuntivo. - A change of career
Discover Vanessa's career plans. - A gift voucher to learn Spanish
What's a better gift than a Kwiziq voucher!
Literature, Poetry, Theatre
- Juan Ramón Jiménez
Fill in the gaps with the right form of El Pretérito Indefinido. Pay attention to the hints!
- Consultorio de libros
There’s a website, Te receto un libro, where you can consult an expert who “prescribes” the book that suits you best. This reading and listening exercise can help you practise El Presente and El Futuro Próximo. - La intrigante novela
Blanca is reading a new novel and it's a real page-turner! Complete the exercise with the correct structure given in the hint.
Music
- Ay mamá - Rigoberta Bandini
This reading and listening exercise can help you practise no sé vs no lo sé = I don't know, using the neuter article "lo" to refer to a clause, verb, adjective or adverb and using the infinitive after prepositions (not present participle). - Alaska y Dinarama - Mi novio es un zombi
The song "Mi novio es un zombi" was released in 1989 by new wave band Alaska y Dinarama. This B2 exercise can help you practise the Spanish Preterite, using hacer with the subjunctive/infinitive = to make [someone] do something and prepositions followed by infinitives. - ¿Quién es Alejandro Sanz?
Write the correct form of each verb in El Presente.
Sports & Leisure
- A beach day
Last weekend, Emilio escaped to the coast, arriving at sunrise for a day of relaxation and adventure. - ¿Me apunto o no me apunto?
Choose between "saber" and "conocer" from the hint to fill in the gaps.
- San Fermín
Choose the right expression to complete the text about San Fermin.
Create your free Progress with Lawless Spanish account here to get your Spanish level and start practising your reading and listening skills while learning about all the topics you’ll need for your Spanish citizenship test and interview.