Equatorial Guinea shares a language and a long history with Spain, and the law reflects it: its nationals are among the few who can apply for Spanish citizenship after only 2 years of residence without giving up their own. The most common routes are studies, family and work. Here is how to make the move and how to prepare Equatoguinean documents.
Key facts
- Entry: Equatoguinean passport holders need a visa even for short Schengen stays. To live in Spain you need a national residence visa for a specific purpose.
- Citizenship: you can apply for Spanish citizenship after 2 years of legal, continuous residence and you do not have to renounce Equatoguinean nationality (art. 24 of the Civil Code). Only the CCSE test is required: no DELE, because Spanish is an official language of Equatorial Guinea.
- Documents: Equatorial Guinea does not apply the Hague Convention, so documents must be legalised. If they are in Spanish, no translation is needed.
- Driving: there is no exchange agreement. Once resident you can drive for six months on your Equatoguinean licence; after that you must take the Spanish theory and practical tests.
- Social security: there is no social security agreement between Spain and Equatorial Guinea.
How people usually move
- Studies. A degree, master’s, PhD or vocational course with a study authorisation, which allows work up to 30 hours a week. It is the most common route for young people, but time as a student does not count towards the 2 years for citizenship. Study permit
- Family reunification. A relative legally resident in Spain can bring a spouse, children and, under conditions, parents after at least one year of residence with renewal obtained or applied for. Family reunification
- Family of a Spanish or EU citizen. Marriage or registered partnership with a Spanish or EU citizen, or dependent children and parents. If your father or mother is Spanish by origin and born in Spain, you can opt for citizenship with no residence period. Family member of a Spanish or EU citizen
- Work. A job offer from a Spanish employer, a highly qualified profile or an EU Blue Card; the permit is processed in Spain and you then apply for the visa. Employment permit
- Arraigo. If you already live in Spain, after 2 years of continuous stay and with no criminal record. Note that arraigo grants residence, and the 2 years for citizenship start counting from then. Arraigo
Documents and apostille
- Criminal record certificate from the Ministry of Justice in Malabo. It usually has to be recent and must be legalised.
- Birth and marriage certificates from the Civil Registry, recent and legalised. For citizenship you will also need your legalised birth certificate.
- Legalisation: first by the competent Equatoguinean authorities (usually the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and then at the Embassy of Spain in Malabo or the Consulate General in Bata. The embassy legalises without appointment, first come first served, on set days and hours.
- Academic degrees, legalised, if you will study, seek recognition or apply for a skilled visa. Documents in Spanish need no translation; those in French or Portuguese do.
- Criminal records from other countries you lived in during the last 5 years, legalised or apostilled depending on the country.
What to keep in mind
- The Embassy of Spain in Malabo handles national visas (studies, reunification, work, non-lucrative residence) by appointment requested by email; short-stay Schengen visas are filed at the BLS International centre in Malabo. If you live in the mainland region (Región Continental), you apply at the Consulate General of Spain in Bata.
- Allow plenty of time: two-step legalisation and the appointment can take weeks, especially before the academic year starts.
- If you plan to apply for citizenship, keep proof of continuous legal residence (TIE, padrón, contracts) from day one: the 2 years run from when you obtain residence, not from when you arrive as a student.
- In Spain: register at the town hall (padrón) and, if you came with a residence visa or a study visa for more than six months, apply for your TIE within the first month.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to give up Equatoguinean nationality to become Spanish?
No. Art. 24 of the Civil Code exempts nationals of Equatorial Guinea from renunciation. You can apply after 2 years of legal, continuous residence; you only need to pass the CCSE test, because Spanish is official in your country.
Do my years as a student count towards citizenship?
No. A study stay is not residence, so it does not count towards the 2 years. The clock starts when you switch to a residence permit, for example a work permit after finishing your studies.
Do I need to apostille my documents?
That is not possible: Equatorial Guinea does not apply the Hague Convention. Documents are legalised by the Equatoguinean authorities and then at the Embassy of Spain in Malabo or the Consulate General in Bata. As they are in Spanish, no translation is needed.