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
- La última cena
Fill in the gaps with the right form of the past participle. Watch out the agreement.
- 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
- Cómo hacer un presupuesto para tu pequeña empresa
This reading and listening exercise can help you practise El Futuro Simple and El Condicional Simple. - ¡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.
Famous People
- ¿Quién es Alejandro Sanz?
Write the correct form of each verb in El Presente.
- A cup of water and a rose
Fabilola is contemplating a stunning masterpiece by Zurbarán. - Jennifer López
Jennifer Lopez is a multifaceted artist whose career spans acting, singing, and dancing, making her a prominent figure in both the music and film industries.
Film & TV
- La Guerra de las Galaxias
Fill in the blanks with the right conjugation for each verb.
- A film review
Antonio makes us a review of a movie. - ¿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
- ¿Sabías cuál es el origen del turrón?
Discover the traditional Spanish Christmas nougat called turrón. - Las Tapas
Choose either El Imperfecto or El Pretérito Indefinido to complete this story. Pay attention to the hints to use the right verb!
- ¡A comer!
Learn how to make a Spanish potato omelette: una tortilla de patata.
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
- ¿Qué harías en Bilbao?
Learn about the delights of the Basque city of Bilbao while practising El Condicional.
Politics & History
- 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. - Arabismos
This B2 reading and listening exercise can help you practise El Pretérito Perfecto, and El Pretérito Indefinido.
Celebrations & Important Dates
- La Tomatina
Let the hints guide you with exclamative and interrogative words required to fill in the blanks.
- ¿Quién es la Fallera Mayor de Valencia?
Valencia's most spectacular, colourful and noisy celebration is Fallas, which takes place in March every year, culminating on 19 March: the feast day of Saint Joseph. Each year one lucky fallera is selected to be the Fallera Mayor de Valencia. This exercise can help you practise El Presente de Subjuntivo, El Futuro Simple, and the position of adjectives. - 6th of January
Eduardo is thinking about the 6th of January in order to get his Christmas presents.
Immigration & Citizenship
- 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!
- Armed Forces
Learn about The Spanish Armed Forces - El certificado de empadronamiento
The Spanish "certificado de empadronamiento" is one of the first bureaucratic steps someone from abroad needs to get sorted when settling in Spain.
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.
- ¡Somos la leche!
What if your best friend was also your sibling? This C1 exercise can help you practise idioms related to food.
Literature, Poetry, Theatre
- 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.
- Juan Ramón Jiménez
Fill in the gaps with the right form of El Pretérito Indefinido. Pay attention to the hints!
Music
- A saeta
Jaime tells us about his experience in Seville during Easter celebrations. - J Balvin, el príncipe del reguetón
Fill in the gaps with the right form of the Spanish preterite (El Pretérito Indefinido)
- Aguas de marzo
Listen to the Spanish-language version of a song originally written by the Brazilian Tom Jobim.
Sports & Leisure
- Campeones olímpicos de América Latina
Latin America has a rich history of producing outstanding Olympic athletes, and future generations are poised to continue this legacy. - San Fermín
Choose the right expression to complete the text about San Fermin.
- A day at the zoo
Palmira is excited about her upcoming visit to Cali zoo.
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.