In short: the Spanish citizenship oath appointment is your slot at the Civil Registry (Registro Civil) to swear or promise loyalty to the King and obedience to the Constitution, the act that completes a grant of nationality by residence. You have 180 days from the notification of the grant; if they pass without it, the grant lapses. According to the Ministry of Justice, it is enough to obtain the appointment within that period even if the date you are given is later. The step-by-step guide (appointment, documents, after the oath) is in the PDF.
In person or by representative? The oath or promise is made by the person concerned, before the head of the Civil Registry or a notary. The Civil Code requires the person concerned to appear («comparece el interesado») before the competent official within the deadline (art. 21.4); the oath or promise is made by whoever is over fourteen and capable of making a declaration on their own (art. 23.a). If the grant is to a child under 14, ask the Registro Civil how the appearance is handled. The sources consulted do not provide for a representative: confirm with your Registro Civil.
What is the oath or promise? For nationality by residence to take effect, art. 23 of the Civil Code asks for three things: swearing or promising loyalty to the King and obedience to the Constitution and the laws (either form is valid), renouncing your previous nationality where it applies, and registering the acquisition in the Spanish Civil Registry. Who must renounce and who need not is in Spanish nationality by residence.
Before whom is it made? Under art. 68.3 of Law 20/2011 on the Civil Registry, the declaration can be made before the head of the Civil Registry, before a notary, or before the diplomatic or consular official in charge of the Civil Registry (paragraph added by Law 6/2021). Royal Decree 1004/2015 speaks of the head of the Civil Registry competent for your home address in Spain (art. 13.1). We have not found an official guide to the notary route: ask before you go.
Deadlines
- 180 days from the day after notification of the grant, to make the oath or promise declarations before the head of the Civil Registry (art. 12.1 of RD 1004/2015). If they pass without it, the grant lapses (art. 21.4 of the Civil Code).
- The appointment is enough if given in time. The Ministry of Justice clarifies that if the assigned appointment is later than the 180 days but was granted within that period, it is «valid» (FAQ no. 12).
- If there are no appointments: the Ministry says to contact the Registro Civil, because the Nationality area does not assign oath appointments. Some Registros Civiles may hand over a proof of appointment request, and then the deadline is interrupted until a slot is available (FAQ no. 12).
- When the count starts: if the DEHú notification shows as rejected (you did not open it within 10 calendar days), the Ministry says the 180 days start counting after those 10 days and that you should ask for an appointment without delay (no. 9.2). If postal delivery fails and a notice is published in the BOE, for the lapse deadline, the notification date is the day after that publication (no. 9.3).
- Registration: the head of the Civil Registry makes it within 5 days of the oath or promise (art. 13.1 of RD 1004/2015).
Where
- The step is made before the head of the Registro Civil for your home address in Spain (art. 13.1 of RD 1004/2015). In an answer about Sephardic files, the Ministry points out that the Registro Civil for the address of the representative's office is not valid (FAQ no. 10).
- Registro Civil appointments are requested through the channel the Ministry gives on its appointments page (it links to the appointment booking for Civil Registries). Those pages do not say which type of appointment to choose for the oath, and each Registro may organise it its own way: if you cannot find it, ask at yours.
If the 180 days pass. The grant lapses (art. 21.4 of the Civil Code). The sources consulted do not detail what options remain afterwards; if you are close to the limit or already past it, talk to a professional as soon as possible.
After the oath. The Civil Registry registers the acquisition of nationality (art. 13.1 of the RD) and, once it is registered, you can apply for the Spanish DNI and passport. If you get stuck with the appointment or the documents, write to @spain_asesor on Telegram. To follow your file before the grant: Citizenship application status.
Official source: Royal Decree 1004/2015 · Law 20/2011 on the Civil Registry · Nationality by residence, Ministry of Justice electronic office.
Informational only; check the official source and a professional for your specific case.