How to pass my Spanish Citizenship Test and Interview

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.

Spanish Citizenship Test and Interview

Table of Contents

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.

  1. Level A1 - Gobierno, legislación y participación ciudadana

  2. Level A2 - Discrimination, National Police and Civil Guard

  3. Level B1 - Art, music, architecture and important events

  4. Level B2 - Spanish geography, weather and food

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

  • Un viaje a Egipto
    Subject mastery Kwiz

    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.

  • Arquitectura y pintura en España
    Reading exercise

    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.
  • 12 self-portraits by Pablo Picasso
    writing exercise

    Learn about Pablo Picasso's self-portraits.
More Spanish exercises about Art & Design >>

Employment

More Spanish exercises about Employment >>

Famous People

  • El papa Francisco
    Reading exercise

    Pope Francis sadly passed away on April 21. He was a remarkable figure whose life story unfolded like an inspirational journey of faith and humility. This exercise can help you practise using El Pretérito Imperfecto vs El Pretérito Indefinido, forming the imperative for usted, ustedes, nosotros affirmative and negative commands and difference between cómo and como, with and without an accent.
  • Javier Bardem y Penélope Cruz
    Subject mastery Kwiz

    Learn a bit about these two famous Spanish actors. Choose the right verb from the options given: saber or conocer

  • Alexia Putellas: icono del fútbol español femenino
    Reading exercise

    Alexia Putellas is a Spanish football icon who continues to showcase her talent and leadership on the field.
More Spanish exercises about Famous People >>

Film & TV

More Spanish exercises about Film & TV >>

Food & Drink

  • ¿De dónde vienen los deliciosos burritos?
    Reading exercise

    Have you ever wondered who invented burritos? This C1 exercise can help you practise the imperfect vs the preterite, using the imperative of mirar/oír with specific meanings and repetition to give emphasis.
  • Las Tapas
    Subject mastery Kwiz

    Choose either El Imperfecto or El Pretérito Indefinido to complete this story. Pay attention to the hints to use the right verb!

  • A creepy recipe for this Halloween
    listening exercise

    Enjoy a terrifying Halloween recipe!
More Spanish exercises about Food & Drink >>

Monuments, Tourism & Vacations

  • El clima
    Subject mastery Kwiz

    Choose either hace, hay, está or an impersonal verb to talk about the weather. See also Weather vocabulary in Spanish

  • A big surprise!
    listening exercise

    Adela tells us about an axciting surprise she got from her boyfriend.
  • ¿Beach or mountain?
    listening exercise

    Olivia has find the perfect summer destination that means not choosing between the beach and going to the mountains.
More Spanish exercises about Monuments, Tourism & Vacations >>

Politics & History

  • ¿Cuál es la capital de Bolivia?
    Reading exercise

    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.
  • El nombre de La Alhambra
    Subject mastery Kwiz

    Conjugate the verb in the hint in El Pretérito Imperfecto, for example: hablar = hablaba

  • A disappointing purchase
    listening exercise

    Sometimes we rush too much when faced with a bargain.
More Spanish exercises about Politics, History & Economics >>

Celebrations & Important Dates

  • La Tomatina
    Subject mastery Kwiz

    Let the hints guide you with exclamative and interrogative words required to fill in the blanks.

  • ¿Y a ti qué te ha dejado Santa?
    Reading exercise

    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.
  • Adviento
    Subject mastery Kwiz

    Fill in the gaps with the right form of El Presente.

More Spanish exercises about Celebrations & Important Dates >>

Immigration & Citizenship

  • Convertirse en autónomo/-a en España
    Reading exercise

    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.
  • El certificado de empadronamiento
    Reading exercise

    The Spanish "certificado de empadronamiento" is one of the first bureaucratic steps someone from abroad needs to get sorted when settling in Spain.
  • An experience in the Turkish bath
    listening exercise

    My holistic experience in a wonderful Turkish bath.
More Spanish exercises about Immigration & Citizenship >>

Language & Education

More Spanish exercises about Language & Education >>

Literature, Poetry, Theatre

  • Juan Ramón Jiménez
    Subject mastery Kwiz

    Fill in the gaps with the right form of El Pretérito Indefinido. Pay attention to the hints!

  • Almagro International Classical Theater Festival
    listening exercise

    Sol works for the Almagro International Classical Theater Festival, and will be on a radio show tomorrow to promote it.
  • Almudena Grandes
    Reading exercise

    Find out more about her life and work of author Almudena Grandes with this B1 reading and listening exercise that can help you practise the pasiva refleja, El Pretérito indefinido and El Pretérito imperfecto.
More Spanish exercises about Literature, Poetry, Theatre >>

Music

  • A rock 'n' roll grandmother
    writing exercise

    Sandra tells us about her unconventional grandmother, Carmen.
  • Ay mamá - Rigoberta Bandini
    Reading exercise

    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).
  • J Balvin, el príncipe del reguetón
    Subject mastery Kwiz

    Fill in the gaps with the right form of the Spanish preterite (El Pretérito Indefinido)

More Spanish exercises about Music >>

Sports & Leisure

More Spanish exercises about Sports & Leisure >>

 
 

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.

 
 
 

 

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