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.
- A big fan of Park Güell
Admire the unique Park Guell in Barcelona by Antoni Gaudí. - El nombre de La Alhambra
Conjugate the verb in the hint in El Pretérito Imperfecto, for example: hablar = hablaba
Employment
- Cómo escribir un correo electrónico formal
Read and listen to this text describing how to write a formal email. - 21st century shepherds
Rosa is changing her profession to became a shepherdess. - Child care "Madre de día"
Berta tells us about her profession.
Famous People
- A cup of water and a rose
Fabilola is contemplating a stunning masterpiece by Zurbarán. - El papa Francisco
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. - 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.
Film & TV
- 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. - Maxi Iglesias
Fill in the blanks with the right form of El Pretérito Indefinido. Pay attention to the hints!
Food & Drink
- A Christmas cocktail
Celebrate the season in style with our special cocktail. - ¡A comer!
Learn how to make a Spanish potato omelette: una tortilla de patata. - La receta del gazpacho de Sonia
Choose the correct passive form from the hint.
Monuments, Tourism & Vacations
- El clima
Choose either hace, hay, está or an impersonal verb to talk about the weather. See also Weather vocabulary in Spanish
- A big fan of Park Güell
Admire the unique Park Guell in Barcelona by Antoni Gaudí. - Los Patios de Córdoba
Conjugate stem-changing verbs in El Presente
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. - Adelitas
Iria talks about a female icon of the Mexican revolution.
Celebrations & Important Dates
- San Fermín
Choose the right expression to complete the text about San Fermin.
- 2021: the Year of the Ox
Learn about the new Chinese year for 2021. - ¿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
- Alquilo mi piso en Sevilla
Marcos is renting his apartment in Seville. Practise direct object pronouns: lo, la, los, las. Pay attention to the hints!
- Armed Forces
Learn about The Spanish Armed Forces - 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.
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. - En abril aguas mil
Fill in the gaps with the right form of El Presente.
- A Spanish course in Bogota
Patrick tells us about his Spanish course in Colombia.
Literature, Poetry, Theatre
- A lost diary
Lost diary panic! Here's how Greta found it again. - Almagro International Classical Theater Festival
Sol works for the Almagro International Classical Theater Festival, and will be on a radio show tomorrow to promote it. - 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
- 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. - A rock 'n' roll grandmother
Sandra tells us about her unconventional grandmother, Carmen. - A saeta
Jaime tells us about his experience in Seville during Easter celebrations.
Sports & Leisure
- A beach day
Last weekend, Emilio escaped to the coast, arriving at sunrise for a day of relaxation and adventure. - A day at the zoo
Palmira is excited about her upcoming visit to Cali zoo. - 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.
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.