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 Kwiziq 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 Kwiziq Spanish help me prepare for my Spanish proficiency test and citizenship interview?
The Spanish resources offered throughout Kwiziq 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. Kwiziq 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
- Arquitectura y pintura en España
Join this art student as they survey the many notable works of art and architectural marvels of Spain. This exercise can help you practise El Presente, using the preposition "de" with nouns for description, possessive adjectives, the regular adverbs, ir and ser in the preterite and tener in the preterite. - Desde mi balcón
instead of being a physical event, 2020's PhotoEspaña will be an online event. This reading and listening exercise can help you practise El Subjuntivo. - El nombre de La Alhambra
Conjugate the verb in the hint in El Pretérito Imperfecto, for example: hablar = hablaba
Employment
- ¡Por fin soy socorrista!
Choose the right past tense from the hint to fill in the blanks: El Pretérito Imperfecto (e.g. "trabajaba"), El Pretérito Indefinido (e.g. "trabajé") or El Pretérito Perfecto Compuesto (e.g. "he trabajado").
- Cómo escribir un correo electrónico formal
Read and listen to this text describing how to write a formal email. - Convertirse en autónomo/-a en España
Navigating the process of becoming self-employed in Spain can be a rewarding path to independence and opportunity. From registering with Social Security to understanding taxes, we’ll break it down step by step.
Famous People
- Ainhoa Arteta: a Spanish soprano
Learn about Ainhoa Arteta, a famous Spanish soprano. - ¡HELLO!
Sandra cannot wait to know who this week's ¡HOLA! exclusive is about. - ¿Quién es Alejandro Sanz?
Write the correct form of each verb in El Presente.
Film & TV
- ¿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. - A documentary about the Sun
Javier watched a documentary about the Sun last night. - A film review
Antonio makes us a review of a movie.
Food & Drink
- ¡A comer!
Learn how to make a Spanish potato omelette: una tortilla de patata. - Baby squid in its ink
Sergio tells us how to cook one of his favourite dishes. - La receta del gazpacho de Sonia
Choose the correct passive form from the hint.
Monuments, Tourism & Vacations
- ¿Cuál es la capital de Bolivia?
Do you know which city is the capital of Bolivia? Not as simple a question as you might think! This exercise can help you practise la pasiva de estado, por mí que vs para mí que, using ni... ni... and subordinate causal clauses. - Los Patios de Córdoba
Conjugate stem-changing verbs in El Presente
- Un viaje a Egipto
Choose the correct form of the demonstrative adjective given in the hint. Remember to look for gender and number clues in the rest of the phrase to make sure you get the agreement right.
Politics & History
- El nombre de La Alhambra
Conjugate the verb in the hint in El Pretérito Imperfecto, for example: hablar = hablaba
- ¿Cuál es la capital de Bolivia?
Do you know which city is the capital of Bolivia? Not as simple a question as you might think! This exercise can help you practise la pasiva de estado, por mí que vs para mí que, using ni... ni... and subordinate causal clauses. - A disappointing purchase
Sometimes we rush too much when faced with a bargain.
Celebrations & Important Dates
- La Tomatina
Let the hints guide you with exclamative and interrogative words required to fill in the blanks.
- Day of the Dead
Nelson gives us some tips to decorate our house with style for the Day of the Dead celebration. - ¿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.
Immigration & Citizenship
- Armed Forces
Learn about The Spanish Armed Forces - 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
- ¡Está como una cabra!
This C1 reading and listening exercise can help you practise idioms with animals. - Una carta importante
Choose either por or para to complete the text.
- Aulas virtuales
This reading and listening exercise can help you practise El Futuro Simple, El Condicional Simple and some expressions followed by El Subjuntivo.
Literature, Poetry, Theatre
- A lost diary
Lost diary panic! Here's how Greta found it again. - Juan Ramón Jiménez
Fill in the gaps with the right form of El Pretérito Indefinido. Pay attention to the hints!
- Bodas de Sangre
Fill in the gaps with the right form of El Presente. Note that there is one use of the "Present Historic" where in English we would use the simple past.
Music
- A magic piano
Learn about Pablo Alborán and his excellent piano skills. - J Balvin, el príncipe del reguetón
Fill in the gaps with the right form of the Spanish preterite (El Pretérito Indefinido)
- A rock 'n' roll grandmother
Sandra tells us about her unconventional grandmother, Carmen.
Sports & Leisure
- 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. - Recomendaciones para El Camino de Santiago
Test yourself on stem-changing verbs in the subjunctive: for example coger/coja.
- A beach day
Last weekend, Emilio escaped to the coast, arriving at sunrise for a day of relaxation and adventure.
Create your free Kwiziq 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.