Spanish citizenship for Sephardic Jews originally from Spain

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1. Sephardic Jews originally from Spain who prove that condition and a special link to Spain are considered to meet the exceptional circumstances required for Spanish citizenship by carta de naturalezaCarta de naturaleza A way of granting Spanish citizenship for exceptional circumstances, without requiring residence in Spain. (a form of naturalization), even if they do not legally reside in Spain.
2. Sephardic status is proven with documents assessed together: certificates from Jewish communities or rabbinical authorities, use of Ladino or HaketiaLadino or Haketia Forms of old Spanish preserved by Sephardic Jews and their descendants., birth records or marriage certificates following the traditions of Castile, surnames of Spanish Sephardic lineage, or other evidence.
3. The link to Spain requires passing two tests: a Spanish language exam at A2 level (the DELE diploma) and a test on the Spanish Constitution and Spanish social and cultural life. Applicants from countries where Spanish is an official language are exempt from the language test, and minors under eighteen or persons whose capacity has been judicially modified are exempt from both.
4. The procedure is electronic: the application goes to the Dirección General de los Registros y del Notariado (the government office in charge of civil registries), a notary reviews the documents and draws up a deed, and the final decision requires an oath or promise of loyalty to the King and obedience to the Constitution. If the applicant does not request registration in the Civil Registry within one year, the procedure expires.
5. Applications must be filed within three years of the law taking effect, extendable by one more year by the Council of Ministers, and must be decided within twelve months. If there is no answer within that period, applications are deemed denied by administrative silence. The processing fee is 100 euros.
6. Sephardic Jews originally from Spain are exempt from renouncing their previous nationality when acquiring the Spanish one, and people with disabilities are guaranteed equal access to Spanish nationality, with the support and reasonable accommodations they may need.

Who it affects

• Sephardic Jews originally from Spain living abroad: They can apply for Spanish citizenship without living in Spain, if they prove their condition and their link to Spain.
• Applicants over eighteen: They must pass the Spanish language and Constitution tests and pay a 100 euro fee.
• Sephardic applicants from countries where Spanish is an official language: They are exempt from the language test but not from the constitutional knowledge test.
• People with disabilities applying for citizenship: They are entitled to support and reasonable accommodations during the procedure.

Words worth knowing

Carta de naturaleza

A way of granting Spanish citizenship for exceptional circumstances, without requiring residence in Spain.

Sefardí (Sephardic Jew)

A descendant of the Jews who lived in Spain and were expelled in 1492.

Ladino or Haketia

Forms of old Spanish preserved by Sephardic Jews and their descendants.

Silencio administrativo (administrative silence)

If the government does not answer within the set period, the application is deemed denied.

Apostilla de La Haya (Hague Apostille)

A seal confirming that a foreign document is authentic.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries