Spain has continued the operation of the Law on Democratic Memory, also known as “Ley de Nietos”, which allows descendants of Spaniards expelled during the regime of Francisco Franco to obtain Spanish citizenship. Find out who is eligible for a passport and what is the procedure
Spain has extended the Law on granting citizenship to descendants of Spaniards expelled during the regime of dictator Francisco Franco. Now you can apply until October 21, 2025.
Thus, the state is trying to provide an opportunity for the maximum number of descendants of exiles to fully integrate into Spanish society, as well as strengthen ties between Spain and its citizens scattered around the world due to historical circumstances.
What is this law, and who can obtain Spanish citizenship?
Officially, the law is called the Law on Democratic Memory, in Spanish it is known as “Ley de Nietos”, it was approved by an Agreement of the Council of Ministers in 2022. The document became popularly known as the Law on Grandchildren.
According to the provisions, descendants of persons persecuted and expelled from Spain during the regime of dictator Francisco Franco have the right to apply for Spanish citizenship.
Who can obtain Spanish citizenship in accordance with the law?
1. Persons born outside Spain whose father, mother, grandfather or grandmother are or were originally Spanish.
2. Applicants born outside Spain whose father, mother, grandfather or grandmother lost or renounced their Spanish citizenship due to exile.
3. Children born outside Spain to Spanish women who lost their citizenship by marrying a foreign citizen before the 1978 Constitution came into force.
4. The sons and daughters of those who obtained Spanish citizenship on the basis of the Law on Historical Memory 52/2007.
English 
Russian 
German 
Polish