Sephardic Jews to attain Spanish Citizenship Automatically

November 24th, 2012

Yet another important political reform, this time affecting the Spanish Civil Code.

Ministers of Justice and Foreign Affairs, Alberto Ruiz Gallardón and José Manuel García – Margallo, announced yesterday that descendants of the Sephardic community, who were expelled from the Iberian Peninsula back in 1492, will now be able to acquire Spanish citizenship automatically, without having to reside in Spain. This is an important modification of the Spanish Civil code, which since its last modification in 1982, stated a requirement of a minimum of 2 years of residence in Spain for acquiring Spanish citizenship.

This reform will affect those who are able to prove their Sephardic condition, whether it is via surnames, language, descendants or links to Spanish culture and Spanish customs regardless of their place of residence. For this purpose a certificate of the Jewish Community Federations will be required.

According to Gallardón, a few years ago it was understood that around 250,000 people spoke Judeo-Spanish but this estimation could be too conservative. It is thought that this reform could benefit up to 3 million people.

Marta Flores Vila.

 

111 thoughts on “Sephardic Jews to attain Spanish Citizenship Automatically”

  2. Marta Flores

    We contacted a few Spanish Consulates and Civil Registries in Spain, and nobody is able to provide us with any information regarding this reform. It seems that the measure will come out through a royal decree and if this is the case, it might take some time yet. This would explain why all public administrations are still unsure about the process and requirements.

    Please feel free to e-mail me your contact details so that we can inform you on any updates we have on the matter.

  4. Barrett avigdor

    As a Sephardic Jew residing in the U.S. please also send me the information about how to apply for Spanish citizenship under the new law when it becomes available.

    Thank you.

    Barrett Avigdor

  5. Marta Flores

    Dear Barrett & Philip, still no news unfortunately. I’ve spoken today to Centro Sefarad-Israel and they haven’t got any news either. I’ll keep you posted on any changes.

  6. Jeff josef besken

    Hello marta…thanks for the info already…. I live in istanbul turkey…. I spoke with the spanish consulate in istanbul and they said the same thing that there is nothing officialy sent to them yet and it might take few months to receive something from the justice department…pls keep me also posted if there is any update on it….Thanks….

  8. tom pruitt

    Have contacted the consulate in Phoenix and they talked with consulate in LA. So far, no one has any information. We are wondering, is this even the law of the land yet? We have many Sephardic friends who are very interested in applying for citizenship as Sephardic (anusim) Jews. We are very much hoping they can come as they are…Sephardic Jews who are now believers in Yeshua. Wasn’t this the purpose of the Inquisition to begin with?

  9. Eutiquio Ocampo

    Thank you very much for this information. This is a light, and I have the emunah that is coming from YAHWEH himself our HABA. Because He wants to bring all his children back home to fulfill his promised, and holly word.YAHWEH bless all your efforts to have this come to pass, so all of us Sephardi Jews will go back home. And whoever believes in Yashuawh Hamashiah with a circumcised Heart Amen and Amen.

  10. Taylor Gold

    Please email me as soon as you find out how Spain is plannng to work with Jews and how we are supposed to prove we are sephardi?

  12. antonio Post author

    Dear Boris,

    Thank you for your enquiry.

    No sooner we get the formal approval of this law by the Spanish Government, we will advise on the requirements to qualify for Spanish citizenship, on grounds of being a descendant of a Sephardic Jewish family.

  13. Lina Kohen

    Dear Marta and Antonio,

    Please can you keep posted me on the ref’ matter as it will be news about application for spanish citizen for Sepharadic Jewish. Our family is waiting very much and we will get really happy to learn this from you

    Thank you in advance

  16. John de la Parra

    Hi,
    My family and I are also interested. I’ve contacted the consulate in NYC but have not received any guidance yet. Can you please add my email address to the list?
    Thank you!

  17. Jake

    And mine as well please! I haven’t found out anything from the SF Consulate either. Thank you very much for your help

  19. Assi De-Razon

    Your doing great service for all of us who cant find information about this subject.
    Please add me to database for further new about the citizenship.

    Thanks.

  20. Edward

    Dear Marta, please e-mail us when this becomes a law on the books and the requirements are defined for the applicants. In live in the USA. Thanks!

  21. Marta Flores

    Dear All,

    We have just received the following email from the Federation of Jewish Communities in Spain:

    “thank you for your email; we are awaiting for the Ministry of Justice to inform us about the details of surnames and family names that will potentially qualify for this scheme. As soon as we have the such information, we will advise”.

  23. Serra Pacaci

    Dear Marta
    I as well am very interested with the process. Can you please add me to your notification group?
    Thanks in advance

  24. Dana Algazi

    Dear Marta,

    I would be glad to be added to your list and send me info when you have it.

    Thanks in advance.
    D

  27. Rachel

    Hello,

    My husband is a descendant of the family name Castro which was later changed to Katz. We are very interested in being updated when the policies and procedures are defined. In addition, we are interested in learning how this would affect our US citizenship and any other considerations such as tax requirements, etc. Thank you for keeping me on the list for further information.

  29. Amanda Rhoads

    It would mean a great deal for myself as well as my family to be added onto your list of people you are passing information onto! We are having so much trouble pinning down solid proof of our Sephardic roots because secrecy. Details on Spain’s requirements is important to us. Thank you.

  34. John Street

    I am a descendant of the Nunez Vas family and would be grateful if you could let me know when the applicant process is settled. Thanks

  35. Andrea Kasper

    Please add me to your list we are a well documented family.direct names include Toledano, Fidanque, Del Valle, Maduro

    Thank you
    Andrea

  36. Alexandrei Yakov Malikov

    My wife’s family is originally from Borges – Carazzo, Carazo, and we have traced her family lineage back to the early 1400’s from Spain – please add us to your mailing list for more information. Thank you in advance.

  37. Ruth

    Would love to be contacted as soon as you learn anything too. From the Sephardic website my family name is listed, and we have documents proving through DNA (cohen modal haplogroup)

  38. Yuda Sagman

    Dear Marta,
    Thanks so much for this. I would appreciate if you could add me to your notification list. Thank you.

  42. Daniel Catalan

    Hi,
    I’m currently an expatriate English teacher from the United States living in Madrid. I want to know how to prove my heritage as well so I can stay here permanently. Please add me to your list of interested folks. This decree makes apparent how far the world has come in the past handful of centuries.

    Regards,
    Daniel

  44. Elie Alcalay

    Please add me to your mailing list for updates on procedure to apply for Spanish citizenship.

    Thank you iin advance.

  46. stephanie

    Please add me to the list

    this website would be a good place to start to find your sephardic ancestry

    sephardim.com

  47. Jozef Nissimov

    Hi there, this is great news, my family comes from Bulgaria, I was born there and then lived in Israel, currently in the UK, Please email me with details when you have them.

    Cheers,

    Jozef.

  48. James Curtis

    Hi Marta,

    I would also like to receive any updates you have on how the Spanish government progresses on this.

    Kind Regards,

    James

  49. Isel Ciprut

    I live in Turkey and we are sephardic jews from Spain descent. I would also like to learn the process to get a spanish citizenship. Thanks in advance.

    Isel

  50. Dean Medina

    Hello, have there been any updates recently with regards to this? It would be greatly appreciated if you could add me to an email list with updates.

    Thank you!

    – Dean

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