How long does the Spanish citizenship file take?

Real timelines in 2026

The legal maximum is one year from when the application is considered complete (Article 21.3 of Law 39/2015). In practice, current averages are:

• Online filing (with authorised representative or digital certificate): 6 to 10 months.
• Paper filing (physical registry or consulate): 12 to 24 months, sometimes longer.
• Priority cases (Sephardim, files involving minors): usually faster.

Times vary with caseload and your autonomous community. Madrid, Catalonia and Valencia tend to be slower because of higher demand.

How to check your file status

Two official ways to track your application:

• Ministry of Justice e-portal (sede.mjusticia.gob.es): you enter your NIE and the file number you got when filing.
• Citizen Folder (carpetaciudadana.gob.es) if you have Cl@ve, digital certificate or DNIe: shows all your files with the Administration.

To find your extranjería file number, you got it by email when filing and it also appears on the fee receipt. It starts with «N» or «NRC» followed by digits.

The 7 phases of the citizenship file

The file goes through several official stages. Knowing which one you're at helps you understand why it's moving (or not):

• 1. Application filed: the Administration acknowledges receipt and opens the file. Status: «In progress» or «Under processing».
• 2. Document subsanation: if anything's missing, you'll be asked for additional documents. You have 10 days to respond.
• 3. File study: an officer reviews your personal data, legal residence and ties to Spain.
• 4. Test verification: they confirm you have the CCSE and, where applicable, the DELE A2. The status «Pending tests» means one is missing.
• 5. Security reports: the Police, the CNI and the Public Prosecutor issue reports on records and civic conduct. This is the phase that gets stuck most.
• 6. Resolution: the Ministry of Justice signs the grant or denial. Status: «Resolved favourably» or «Resolved unfavourably».
• 7. Oath or promise: at the Civil Registry. After this you're a Spanish citizen.

Each phase varies a lot. 1-2 are fast (weeks). 3-5 is where months pile up. 6 is relatively quick once everything's right. 7 depends on your province's Civil Registry availability.

What each file status means

These are the statuses you'll see on the e-portal and what they actually mean:

If your file has been «Pending report» for months it isn't necessarily bad news: it's the normal queue. If it stays there beyond 6-8 months you can request information in writing from the Ministry.

Why is my file taking so long?

When you check your file and see «In progress» week after week, it's usually one of these reasons:

• Volume of files: in 2024-2025 over 200,000 applications were filed per year. Even with the digitised process, security reports (Police, CNI) are still manual.
• Pending background report: if you've lived in several countries or have any minor record, the reports take longer.
• Paper filing: if you submitted on paper instead of through the e-portal, expect 2-3× longer timelines.
• Heavy-load community: Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Alicante are the most saturated registries.
• Undetected missing documentation: sometimes the system marks the file as «under study» but is internally waiting on data nobody has asked you for.
• Political signature: the Ministry signs files in batches. There are periods (summer, end of year) when signatures slow down.

If you've gone over 12 months without visible progress, it's time to act: file a written complaint at the Ministry's e-portal or consult a lawyer about an administrative-silence appeal.

What happens after «Resolved favourably»

If your file is resolved favourably, there are still steps left:

• You'll get a notification with the citizenship grant.
• You have 180 days to take the oath or promise at the Civil Registry. It's a brief act swearing loyalty to the King and obedience to the Constitution.
• After the oath you're registered as a Spanish citizen and can apply for the DNI.

If you let the 180 days lapse without taking the oath, the grant expires and you'd have to start the file again.

If a year passes without a response

If the legal one-year period passes without a resolution, the negative administrative silence rule applies: the application is considered denied. You have several options:

• Reposition appeal before the Ministry of Justice (1 month from the silence).
• Contentious-administrative appeal before the National Court (2 months): the route immigration lawyers usually recommend because it speeds resolution.
• Wait and follow up in writing: many files end up resolving favourably even past the year.

If your situation is urgent (visa about to expire, foreign travel), check with an immigration lawyer before acting.

How to speed up your file

There are no legal shortcuts but there are good practices that reduce delays:

• Use the online route whenever possible. It's the fastest.
• Submit all documents correctly the first time. Any request for more docs adds months.
• If they ask for extra documentation, respond as soon as possible (you have 10 days).
• Keep your address up to date in the padrón: notifications are sent there.