The Council of Ministers has granted a one-year extension to the deadline for exercising the right to apply for Spanish nationality. The extension is in accordance with the eighth additional provision of Law 20/2022 on Democratic Memory. As a result, the two-year period for exercising the right to opt for Spanish citizenship, provided for in that section, will be extended by one year for persons born outside Spain.
Spanish law acknowledges the right to apply for Spanish nationality for individuals born outside of Spain. Specifically, those eligible include descendants of parents, grandparents, or grandparents who were originally Spanish but lost or renounced their Spanish nationality due to exile related to political, ideological, religious, or sexual orientation reasons, as well as for persons in the following situations:
(a) Sons and daughters, born abroad, of Spanish citizens who lost their Spanish nationality due to marrying a foreigner before the entry into force of the 1978 Constitution.
(b) Adult sons and daughters of Spanish nationals whose Spanish nationality of origin has been recognised by virtue of the right of option, in accordance with the provisions of this Law or the seventh additional provision of Law 52/2007, which recognises and extends rights and establishes measures in favour of those who suffered persecution or violence during the Civil War and the dictatorship.
The eighth additional provision of the Law of Democratic Memory itself establishes that the aforementioned two-year period begins with the entry into force of the law, so that its validity would end on 22 October 2024.
By extending the two-year period by one year, the Spanish government aims to address pending applications and appointments, as well as all applications submitted that cannot be dealt with in the initial two-year timeframe of application specified in the law.
The new prorogation date is now 22nd October 2025.
