Did you know that you can obtain Spanish citizenship if your relatives were refugees, leaving Spain during the Franco regime? Since October of last year, the Kingdom of Spain has implemented the Law of Democratic Memory.
The law offers Spanish citizenship to children, grandchildren, and other descendants of Spanish exiles who fled the political regime of Francisco Franco. The opportunity to apply for a Spanish passport has also been extended to children of Spanish women who lost their citizenship during the dictator's rule by marrying foreigners. Previously, they did not have such a right. It is estimated that a total of 700,000 people are eligible to obtain Spanish citizenship.
The most common destination for refugees relocating was Latin American countries. The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has deployed additional personnel to consulates in the region to handle the highest number of requests.
Applicants must provide documents confirming their Spanish heritage and prove that their ancestors were seeking refuge from political persecution. It should be noted that the offer of citizenship will expire in October 2024.
In 2020, the Spanish government announced its intention to adopt a bill regarding the legacy of Francoism. In September 2020, the Council of Ministers approved it for submission to parliament. On October 21, 2022, the Law of Democratic Memory came into effect. It recognizes judicial decisions made during the Franco regime as illegal. Specifically, based on the law, the authorities in Spain abolished 33 aristocratic titles that were granted during the dictator's rule.
The law offers Spanish citizenship to children, grandchildren, and other descendants of Spanish exiles who fled the political regime of Francisco Franco. The opportunity to apply for a Spanish passport has also been extended to children of Spanish women who lost their citizenship during the dictator's rule by marrying foreigners. Previously, they did not have such a right. It is estimated that a total of 700,000 people are eligible to obtain Spanish citizenship.
The most common destination for refugees relocating was Latin American countries. The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has deployed additional personnel to consulates in the region to handle the highest number of requests.
Applicants must provide documents confirming their Spanish heritage and prove that their ancestors were seeking refuge from political persecution. It should be noted that the offer of citizenship will expire in October 2024.
In 2020, the Spanish government announced its intention to adopt a bill regarding the legacy of Francoism. In September 2020, the Council of Ministers approved it for submission to parliament. On October 21, 2022, the Law of Democratic Memory came into effect. It recognizes judicial decisions made during the Franco regime as illegal. Specifically, based on the law, the authorities in Spain abolished 33 aristocratic titles that were granted during the dictator's rule.