Spain – The Democratic Memory Law comes into force today: Who can apply for Spanish nationality?

On October 21, the Democratic Memory Law, also known as the "Grandchildren's Law", has come into force. Applicants have until October 21, 2024 to apply for their Spanish nationality and, after this deadline, the Council of Ministers may agree to extend it for an additional year.

The Law 20/2022 establishes in its eighth additional provision, as a reparative measure for people who suffered exile, a rule to acquire Spanish nationality for those people who were born outside of Spain whose fathers or mothers, grandmothers or grandfathers, exiled for reasons political, ideological or belief. It accommodates, consistent with the objectives of this law, the sons and daughters (born abroad) of Spanish women who lost their nationality by marrying foreigners, before the entrance into force of the 1978 Constitution, as well as the sons and daughters of legal age of those Spaniards whose nationality of origin was recognized by virtue of the right of option in accordance with the provisions of this law or in the seventh additional provision of Law 52/2007, of December 26.

The following people can apply for Spanish nationality:

1. Those who were born outside of Spain and whose father or mother, grandfather or grandmother had originally been Spanish, and who, as a result of having suffered exile for political, ideological or belief reasons or sexual orientation and identity, had lost or renounced to Spanish nationality.
2. Children who were born abroad and who were children of Spanish women who lost their nationality by marrying foreigners before the entry into force of the 1978 Constitution.
3. Adult children of Spaniards whose nationality of origin was recognized by virtue of the right of option in accordance with the provisions of the seventh Additional Disposition of Law 52/2007, of December 26.
4. Adult children of Spaniards whose nationality of origin was recognized by virtue of the right of option in accordance with the provisions of Law 20/2022.

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