As Ecuador is an Ibero-American country, only 2 years of legal and continuous residence in Spain are required to apply for Spanish citizenship by residence, instead of the 10 years under the general rule. You also need to pass the CCSE test and, where applicable, the DELE A2 exam.
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 Ecuador (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 Ecuador.
Spanish citizenship by residence requires, in your case, two years of legal and continuous residence. That shorter period applies to nationals of Ibero-American countries, and it is the single biggest advantage the Ecuadorian community has in this process. Shorter routes still exist: one year through marriage to a Spanish national, or being born in Spain. The CCSE test is required; the DELE A2 is not, because Spanish is your official language.
Spain has a dual nationality agreement with Ecuador. In practice this means you can acquire Spanish nationality without renouncing your Ecuadorian nationality: the declaration made before the Civil Registry does not require you to give up your country of origin. It is one of the few real exceptions in Spanish nationality law, and it applies to Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal.
Ecuador is party to the Hague Convention, so your documents travel with an apostille — a single stamp from the competent authority in Ecuador, with no need to pass through the Spanish consulate. A sworn translation into Spanish by a translator recognised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is still required, and the apostille has to be on the document you actually submit.
Nationals of Ecuador 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.
Spanish citizenship
Filed electronically with the Ministry of Justice. The CCSE test and, where required, the DELE A2 have to be passed before filing.
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.
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 Ecuadorian community: arraigo laboral, card collection, asylum application, eu registration certificate, eu family member card. 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.