When applying for Spanish citizenship by residence, having lived in Spain for long enough is not sufficient on its own. Article 22 of the Spanish Civil Code requires applicants to show a sufficient degree of integration into Spanish society. Under Royal Decree 1004/2015, this is shown through two exams: DELE A2 for Spanish language skills and the CCSE on Spain's constitutional order and culture. Both are designed and run by the Instituto Cervantes.
Where the exams fit into the application
For Turkish nationals the general rule is ten years of legal and continuous residence. The period drops to one year for people born in Spain and for those who have been married to a Spanish national for at least a year and are not separated, and to five years for refugees. Whatever the period, the exam requirement is the same.
The exam results form part of the application file. Applications are made through the Ministry of Justice's online system; if you authorise access to the Instituto Cervantes records in the application form, you do not need to upload the certificates separately. Planning the exams a few months before the residence period is completed means the file can be submitted without waiting for exam results.
DELE A2: the language exam
DELE is the official Spanish language diploma, awarded at six levels under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Citizenship requires at least level A2; a DELE diploma at a higher level (such as B1 or B2) is also accepted.
The A2 exam has four parts, divided into two groups:
- Group one: reading comprehension and written expression and interaction
- Group two: listening comprehension and oral expression and interaction
- Each group is marked out of 50 points; to pass, you need at least 30 points in each group separately
DELE diplomas do not expire; once obtained, a diploma can be used in any later application. The exam is held at Instituto Cervantes centres and authorised exam centres in many countries, including Türkiye. Fees vary by country and centre.
Nationals of countries where Spanish is an official language are exempt from DELE; this exemption does not apply to Turkish nationals.
CCSE: the constitution and society test
The CCSE (Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de España) tests knowledge of Spain's constitutional and administrative order and of its culture, history and society. As of 2025, its main features are:
- 25 closed questions (multiple choice or true/false), 45 minutes
- 60% of the questions cover the constitution and the administrative and territorial organisation of the state, and 40% cover culture, history and society
- At least 15 correct answers are needed to pass
- The exam fee is €85
- The pass certificate is valid for four years from the date the results are approved
The questions are drawn from the question bank in the official manual published by the Instituto Cervantes, so preparation largely consists of studying the current manual. Exams are held every month except August and December, usually on the last Thursday of the month; registration closes about two weeks before the exam. Most exam centres are in Spain.
Exemptions and special cases
- Under-18s: they do not take the exams; their integration is shown through certificates from their school or educational institution. For school-age children this certificate is mandatory.
- People whose legal capacity has been modified by a court: certificates from the relevant institutions are used for them too.
- People who completed compulsory secondary education (ESO) in Spain: they can request an exemption from the exams by submitting their certificate.
- Candidates with disabilities: the Instituto Cervantes provides suitable arrangements, such as extra time, during the exam.
- Other special cases: in very particular situations, such as people who cannot read or write, an exemption (dispensa) can be requested from the Ministry of Justice; these requests are assessed individually on the basis of the person's circumstances and documents.
Preparation and what comes next
- Register for DELE a few months in advance; results also take time to be published
- For the CCSE, use the official manual for the current year; questions from earlier years may have changed
- On exam day, bring the valid identity document you used to register
- Work out the four-year validity of the CCSE certificate against your planned application date
- Check that the name and surname on your certificates exactly match your passport
Once the application has been filed, the Ministry of Justice has one year by law to decide. If no decision is issued in that time, the application is deemed refused and the case can be taken to the administrative courts. After notification of a favourable decision, the applicant must, within 180 days, swear allegiance to the King and obedience to the Constitution and declare that they renounce their previous nationality; if this deadline is missed, the grant lapses. The effect of this last step on Turkish citizenship needs to be assessed separately.
When to get advice
The exams themselves call for practical preparation; legal advice is more useful for the issues around them. If you think there may be a break in your residence period, if you plan to request an exemption, if the personal details on your certificate do not match your passport, or if your application has been pending for more than a year, it is worth having your situation reviewed by a specialist. The question of whether you will keep your Turkish citizenship should also be settled before you reach the oath stage.
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This article is for general information and is not legal advice. Legislation and case law may have changed since it was written.