Spanish Nationality for Sephardic Jews:
On this article, we are going to answer several common questions regarding the Spanish nationality for Sephardic Jews.
1. What is the deadline to apply for the Spanish Nationality?
Under the Law 12/2015, of June 24, regarding granting the Spanish nationality to Sephardic Jew with Spanish descent, the deadline to apply ends on October 1st, 2019.
2. Who can apply for the Spanish nationality by the Nationality Law for Sephardic Jews?
Any person that can prove their sephardic status and a special bond with Spain (even if they do not have legal residency in Spain).
3. What does sephardic mean?
The word Sefarad in hebrew means spain, therefore someone who is sephardic is Spanish. This is the term that is used to refer to those jews who lived in the iberian peninsula until 1492 and their descendants.
4. Can someone who is not jewish access this law?
Yes. The law is open to jewish and non jewish as long as they are of sephardic origin, also, they have to prove the Sephardic descent and a special bond with Spain.
5. Do I have to renounce my nationality?
No. No Sephardic Jew who comes from Spain will lose his or hers previous nationality due to the acquisition of Spanish nationality, either via the procedure according Law 12/2015 or through any other procedure.
6. We are a family, how do we proceed to apply?
All of the requests are individual. So, each member of the family has to make their own application and add all of the documentation that proves their sephardic descent and their bond with spain.
7. Can I also apply for the nationality for my minor children?
The applicant can also apply for the Spanish nationality for their minor children. This is a different procedure for each of them. The minors do not need to move to Spain since the parental authority can present as their legal representative. Notwithstanding, the files from applicants belonging to the same family may be gathered, up to a maximum of 6 members of the family, so as the different ¨actas de notoriedad¨will be studied by the same notary in order to make easier the whole verification of the different files and only one person in the family will need to move.
8. How long do I have to submit my application?
The applicants should apply within three years from 1st October 2015, when the Law came into force. This period has been extended one year under an Agreement by the Spanish Council of Ministers as of 9 March 2018.
9. How long do I have to wait until they give me a resolution?
La Dirección General de los Registros has to resolve in a 12 month period from the moment that the file is turned in.
10. What is the first step to apply?
The first thing to do is gather all the information necessary (that proves your sephardic origin and your special bond to Spain), and once you have all that information you have to access the electronic platform where you will make your request.
11. Do I need a lawyer to help me in this process?
A lawyer is not a requirement, you could do it yourself. However, we always do recommend a lawyer to make sure that your application is perfect.
If you are of Sephardic origin and you are interested in applying to obtain your Spanish nationality, do not hesitate and contact us.
You can call us at +34 911 270 920 or send us an email to info@sternaabogados.com