Moroccan Applicants Excel in Spanish Nationality Exam, Boasting Over 90% Pass Rate
Maroccan citizens remain one of the largest groups applying for Spanish citizenship, with over 90% managing to pass all necessary examinations.
As reported by Spain’s Ministry of Justice, more than one million individuals have acquired Spanish citizenship since 2019 due to residence, including 221,466 who gained it just in 2024.
The success rate continues to be high, with the leading three nationalities receiving Spanish citizenship last year being Colombians, Mexicans, and Moroccans.
Since 2018, more than 237,000 Moroccan citizens have obtained Spanish nationality, primarily due to their compliance with the "good civic conduct" requirement for naturalization.
This increase started under Pedro Sánchez’s administration, exceeding the 130,000 permits issued during Mariano Rajoy’s term.
In 2023, a total of 45,799 Moroccans obtained citizenship, with the majority being 19 years old, indicating their smooth assimilation and Spain’s enduring dedication to this group.
Spanish legislation similarly streamlines citizenship processes for unaccompanied Moroccan minors reaching adulthood within the country. As of 2023, Moroccans have seen the highest rate of naturalizations through residency, marking a 5.4% rise from the previous year.
With over 844,000 members, the Moroccan community is one of Spain’s most active, especially in regions like Catalonia.
According to Spain's Civil Code, foreigners are required to reside legally in Spain for a period of ten years prior to submitting an application for citizenship.
Nevertheless, certain groups are eligible for a reduced waiting period. refugees require only five years, whereas individuals from Ibero-America, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, and Sephardic Jews can submit their applications after just two years.
Individuals who have been married to a Spanish citizen for at least one year, as well as those who were widowed from a spouse with Spanish citizenship (provided they were not living apart when their partner died), require proof of just one year of residency.
Although the majority of candidates have to take two exams—the DELE (for Spanish proficiency) and the CCSE (covering Spain’s constitution and culture)—specific categories of individuals are excused from at least one of these assessments.
Individuals originating from nations where Spanish is the primary language (as per their country of birth) do not need to take the DELE exam, although they are still obligated to pass the CCSE. Additionally, minors, people with specific disabilities, and those unable to read or write may apply for exemptions from these tests. However, such exceptions require submission of official documentation as evidence.
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