Spanish citizenship by residence generally requires 10 years of legal and continuous residence in Spain, plus passing the CCSE test and proving Spanish at DELE A2 level where applicable. Shorter timeframes apply in specific cases, such as marriage to a Spanish national (1 year) or refugee status (5 years).
In your case Spain allows you to keep your original nationality alongside Spanish nationality, without having to effectively renounce it.
See the citizenship procedure →Certificates issued in Bangladés (birth, marriage, criminal record) must be legalised or apostilled to be valid in Spain. Check with your consulate which of the two routes applies to you.
Any document not in Spanish must be translated by a sworn translator recognised in Spain. Informal translations are not accepted by immigration offices.
Criminal record and padrón certificates usually have short validity (typically 3 months). Request them once you have the appointment, not before.
If your passport is about to expire, renew it at your consulate before the appointment: without it they cannot process fingerprinting or card collection.
This guide is indicative and does not replace legal advice. Specific requirements depend on your case file and the office handling it.
The immigration procedure itself is the same for everybody, but three things depend on your country of origin: the timeframe for citizenship, whether you can keep your current nationality, and how your documents have to be legalised. This is what applies to Bangladesh.
Spanish citizenship by residence requires, in your case, ten years of legal and continuous residence. Shorter periods apply in specific situations: one year through marriage to a Spanish national, two years for nationals of Ibero-American countries, and five years with recognised refugee status. On top of the ten years you must pass the CCSE test and the DELE A2 Spanish exam, unless you are exempt.
There is no dual nationality agreement between Spain and Bangladesh. On acquiring Spanish nationality you are required to make a formal renunciation of your nationality of origin before the Civil Registry. What that renunciation actually produces depends on Bangladesh's own law: in some countries it does not cause automatic loss, in others it does. It is the question that comes up most often, and it is worth resolving before starting the file.
Bangladesh joined the Hague Convention (March 2025), so the normal route is the apostille. However, several European countries filed objections to that accession, and this can change what is accepted at the counter: confirm with the Spanish consulate whether an apostille is enough for you or consular legalisation is required. Either way, a sworn translation into Spanish is needed.
Nationals of Bangladesh need a visa to enter the Schengen area. It is issued by the Spanish consulate in your country, and the type of visa conditions what you can do afterwards: a short-stay visa does not permit work and does not convert into residence without a procedure of its own.
Fingerprint appointment (TIE)
This is the police appointment where your fingerprints are taken so the card can be manufactured. It is requested after your authorisation has been granted, and it is one of the hardest slots to find in the larger provinces.
Arraigo social
A route to regularise your situation by proving continuous stay in Spain, ties in your municipality and means of living. The appointment is at the Oficina de Extranjería of your province.
Asylum application
Begins with the appointment to formalise the application, after which the red card is issued. It is a separate route from the residence authorisations.
TIE renewal
The application is filed from 60 days before the card expires and up to 90 days after. What counts is the filing date; the fingerprint appointment comes after the decision.
Family reunification
The application is filed by the relative who already resides legally in Spain. The marriage or birth certificate from the country of origin is required, and that is where legalisation matters most.
These exist in the system but are not part of the usual route for the Bangladeshi community: arraigo laboral, card collection, eu registration certificate, eu family member card, nie assignment. Selecting one of them in the appointment system is a frequent reason for a lost slot.
Last reviewed: 1 September 2026.
General information only; this is not legal advice. Requirements, fees and timeframes are set by the Spanish administration and can change.