Bill would add requirements and years to become Spanish

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill would raise the general legal and continuous residence period for Spanish nationality from ten to fifteen years. It would keep the reduced periods of five years for refugees and two years for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal or Sephardic Jews.
2. For nationality by residence, new requirements would apply: no criminal record in the country of origin or in Spain, an official language certificate, and passing a written test on the Spanish Constitution, history and culture.
3. Anyone acquiring nationality by option, carta de naturalezaCarta de naturaleza Grant of Spanish nationality by Royal Decree of the Council of Ministers, in cases of public interest or for military service to Spain in wartime. or residence would have to submit a public document from their country of origin certifying loss of their previous nationality. Exceptions would apply to people from Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal and Sephardic Jews originally from Spain.
4. The period to opt for Spanish nationality of origin would be cut to one year in cases such as adoption of adults, or when filiation or birth in Spain is determined after age eighteen.
5. A new ground for losing nationality would be created: naturalized citizens with dual nationality convicted by final judgment for crimes against the Constitution, public order, treason, peace or independence of the State, National Defense or the International Community. They would also be barred from recovering Spanish nationality, and the Criminal Code would be amended to include deprivation of nationality as a penalty.
6. Nationality proceedings already started before the law takes effect would continue under the previous rules. The law would enter into force the day after its publication in the Official State Gazette.

Who it affects

• Foreign residents seeking Spanish nationality by residence, option or carta de naturaleza: They would face new requirements: more residence years in the general case, no criminal record, a language test and a test on Spain, plus documented renunciation of their previous nationality.
• Refugees and nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal and Sephardic Jews: They would keep the reduced residence periods and the exception from submitting the document of loss of their previous nationality.
• People married to Spaniards, widows and widowers, people under Spanish guardianship or foster care, and people born in Spain: The residence periods that are now one year would be extended, to two years in several cases.
• Naturalized foreigners with dual nationality convicted of certain serious crimes: They could lose Spanish nationality and could not recover it.
• Minors and adopted persons over eighteen: They would have one year to opt for Spanish nationality of origin in the cases provided.

Words worth knowing

Carta de naturaleza

Grant of Spanish nationality by Royal Decree of the Council of Ministers, in cases of public interest or for military service to Spain in wartime.

Nacionalidad de origen

Nationality held from birth, for example by being the child of a Spanish father or mother.

Ius sanguinis e ius soli

Two criteria for attributing nationality: by descent (having national parents) or by place of birth.

Sentencia firme

A court ruling against which no further appeal is possible (a final judgment).

Sefardíes

Descendants of the Jews expelled from Spain in the fifteenth century, who receive favorable treatment under the bill.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries