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What it is

Rights for Spaniards living abroad and those returning home

BOE step 7 of 7 · Passed

It is a government bill. Introduced by the Government. It was introduced on 20 January 2006. Introduced by: Gobierno.

Official title: Government bill on the Statute of Spanish citizenship abroad.

Follow this law

Source: Congreso de los Diputados, file 121/000075· updated 11 Nov

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

  1. The law creates a framework so Spaniards living abroad can exercise their rights on equal terms with residents in Spain. It applies to those living abroad, those temporarily away, those returning, and their family members.
  2. Spaniards abroad can vote and run for office under the same conditions as residents in Spain. They can also file petitions, contact the Defensor del Pueblo (ombudsman), and receive information about the rules that affect them.
  3. The law recognizes health care and Social Security rights, aiming to match health coverage with the Spanish national health system. It also guarantees a cash benefit to those who are 65 or older or unable to work and lack sufficient income.
  4. It promotes access to education in the country of residence, scholarships to study in Spain, and learning Spanish and Spain's co-official languages. Procedures for recognizing foreign degrees will also be simplified.
  5. It sets up a comprehensive return policy, with the Oficina Española del Retorno (Spanish Return Office) to guide and advise those coming back. It will ease their access to benefits, housing, and jobs.
  6. It repeals the 1971 General Emigration Law and creates the Portal de la Ciudadanía Española en el Exterior, a website with comprehensive information for Spaniards abroad.

Who it affects

  • Spaniards living outside Spain: They gain voting, health care, Social Security, education, and association support rights.
  • Older or low-income emigrants and exiles: They can receive a cash benefit plus health and social care.
  • Spaniards returning to Spain: They have the Spanish Return Office and job and housing measures.
  • Descendants of Spaniards abroad: They can access Spanish language and culture programs, and children or grandchildren of Spaniards by origin can get job-search visas.

Words worth knowing

Homologación
Official recognition of a foreign degree so it is valid in Spain.
Prestación por razón de necesidad
Cash benefit for people without enough income to cover basic needs.
Consejos de Residentes Españoles
Advisory bodies at Spanish consulates where Spaniards abroad take part in matters that concern them.

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

Where it stands

How far did it get?

It took 7 of 7 steps. It reached BOE, and today it is passed.

  1. Introduced20 January 2006Someone registers the text in the Congreso.
  2. Admitted24 January 2006The Bureau of the Congreso accepts it and, for a members’ bill, the plenary decides whether to consider it.
  3. Amendments27 January 2006Groups propose changes.
  4. Committee4 May 2006A committee goes through the text in detail.
  5. Plenaryno dateAll 350 deputies vote.
  6. Senate27 September 2006The Senate can pass it, amend it or veto it.
  7. BOE30 November 2006It is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) and comes into force.
See the 9 official steps on a timeline
Mar 2006Jun 2006Sept 200611. 20 January 2006: Presentación22. 24 January 2006: Comisión de Trabajo y Asuntos Sociales Publicación desde 24/01/2006 hasta 27/01/200633. 24 January 2006: Calificación44. 27 January 2006: Comisión de Trabajo y Asuntos Sociales Enmiendas desde 27/01/2006 hasta 04/05/200655. 4 May 2006: Comisión de Trabajo y Asuntos Sociales Informe desde 04/05/2006 hasta 20/09/200666. 20 September 2006: Comisión de Trabajo y Asuntos Sociales Aprobación con competencia legislativa plena desde 20/09/2006 hasta 27/09/200677. 27 September 2006: Senado desde 27/09/2006 hasta 21/11/200688. 21 November 2006: Pleno Enmiendas o veto del Senado desde 21/11/2006 hasta 30/11/200699. 30 November 2006: Concluido - (Aprobado con modificaciones) desde 30/11/2006 hasta 29/01/2007

Was there a plenary vote?

We have no plenary vote linked to this law in the Congreso’s data.

What happens next

What happens now?

It is law, or will be once published in the BOE. It comes into force on the date its own text sets.

The same initiative in the other chamber:

Published in the BOE: Law 40/2006, of December 14, on the Statute of Spanish citizenship abroad

Sources

Where does all this come from?

  • The data comes from the open files of the Congreso, the Senate and the BOE, unaltered.
  • Each deputy’s province is the one of their seat on the day of the vote.
  • We only say “passed” or “rejected” when the majority needed is certain; otherwise we say which side had more votes.

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