Bill would add tougher requirements for Spanish nationality

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill would shorten to one year the deadline to choose Spanish nationality of origin when filiation or birth in Spain is determined after age eighteen, and also in the case of adoption of adults.
2. For nationality by residence, the general waiting period would go from ten to fifteen years. The reduced periods would remain: five years for recognized refugees and two years for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal and Sephardic Jews.
3. The one-year residence periods would be extended to two years for cases such as being married to a Spanish citizen, or having been under guardianship, care or foster care of a Spanish citizen or institution.
4. Applicants for nationality by option, carta de naturalezaCarta de naturaleza Granting of Spanish nationality by Royal Decree for exceptional reasons, without needing to reside in Spain. or residence would need no criminal record in their country of origin or in Spain, would have to swear loyalty to the King and renounce their previous nationality with a public document proving its loss. For residence, they would also need an official language certificate and pass a written test on the Spanish Constitution, history and culture.
5. A new ground for losing nationality would apply to naturalized foreigners with dual nationality convicted by final judgment of serious crimes such as terrorism, treason or crimes against the Constitution, and they would be barred from recovering Spanish nationality. The Criminal Code would be amended to include this penalty.
6. 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.

Words worth knowing

Carta de naturaleza

Granting of Spanish nationality by Royal Decree for exceptional reasons, without needing to reside in Spain.

Opción (option)

Right of certain people with a special link to Spain to choose Spanish nationality of origin through a declaration.

Ius sanguinis and ius soli

Two criteria for giving nationality at birth: through the parents' nationality or through birth in the territory.

Sentencia firme (final judgment)

Court ruling that can no longer be appealed.

Proposición de ley orgánica (organic law bill)

A bill introduced in Congress to amend a law affecting fundamental rights; it needs an absolute majority to pass and here it is not yet approved.

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