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”

  1. marta Flores

    Dear All,

    Unfortunately there is no further update. Still waiting. As soon as we hear we will inform everyone.

  3. David

    @marta flores,

    Thanks for the updates regarding this reform. If possible, I’d also like to be added to your contact list. I descend from Sephardic Jews that moved to Amsterdam following the expulsion.

    Thank you

  5. ceki

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

    Thank you in advance.

  6. Dani Z.

    How can we get more info on the particulars of this? If we are Sephardic, how do we get more info about this, and if we already have European citizenship, will it make a difference?

  7. marta Flores

    We will need to wait a little longer I am afraid as there have been no further updates on this future law. Your current nationality will not have any impact on this law.

  9. Zachary Gordon

    Does anyone know how one goes about applying for Spanish citizenship? My mother is of Sephardic decent. Please include me on any updates.

  10. David G

    Please let me know as well. I am a US/Canadian/Turkish citizen of Spanish decent and am very interested in pursuing Spanish Citizenship.

  12. Cheri C

    Please keep me informed as well. I am a US citizen with both parental sides originating from Spain, one side went to Turkey the other to Greece eventually landing in the USA in the 1800’s. Would enjoy the benefits of Spanish citizenship.
    Thanks
    Cheri

  13. Antonio Gamaliel Mendoza Rubio

    Hi can you add me to the notification email regarding the requirements

    Thanks in advance

  14. Jacquelyn Vadnais

    Hello,

    I am a descendant of Sephardic Cryto Jews of New Mexico and was raised speaking Spanish with a Spanish dialect. My uncles have done the research of our family tree and I really need find out how the process works so that I can gather all the documents needed. Any information you can give me would be much appreciated.

    Thank you,

    Jacquelyn

  16. Michael Assayag

    Hi-

    My family is from Morocco and our origins are from Spain. Can you please keep me posted on how to begin the process?

  18. Lana Burgess

    Hi,
    According to my family story, they left Spain in 1492. Moved to Italy from there to Turkey and later Hungary. I was born in Israel.
    Can you please add me to your list. What can I do now?

  20. Jessica Ursell

    Hello: Please add me to your contact list regarding the change to the Spanish Civil Code permitting descendants of the Sephardic community, who were expelled from the Iberian Peninsula back in 1492, to acquire Spanish citizenship automatically, without having to reside in Spain. I have documents that trace my family back to Spain since the year 1125 until they were expelled in 1492. I would like to know the next steps. Thank you.

  22. Jonathan F

    I’m a sephardic Jew studying in Barcelona. I would really appreciate more information bout obtaining citizenship. Please contact me once the process is all figured out.

  23. Guy C

    Please add me to your notification list. Would be happy to use your services to obtain Spanish citizenship.

  24. Alan J. S.

    Dear Marta,

    I’d be grateful if I could be added to any list of potential clients you have for updates. I believe I’m descended from the Sephardim and would love to ‘close the broken circle’.

    Kind regards.

  26. Rita

    Please add me to your notification list as I am interested in this matter.
    thank you from Canada.

  27. Jessica Ursell

    Dear Marta,

    Are there any further updates on the change to Spanish law on this matter? I know that Portugal has already passed legislation to the same effect. Where is Spain in this process? Thank you.

  28. tom pruitt

    Can anyone share what legislation Portugal has passed that pertains to the Sephardic Jews?

  29. Alan J. S.

    @Tom Pruitt: I found this: http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/descendants-of-16th-century-jewish-refugees-can-claim-portuguese-citizenship-1.515268. The crucial part (bear in mind this is probably a translation from Portuguese to English) appears to be this:

    ‘It allows descendants of Jews who were expelled in the 16th century to become citizens if they “belong to a Sephardic community of Portuguese origin with ties to Portugal,” according to Jose Oulman Carp, president of Portugal’s Jewish community.

    Applicants must be able to show “Sephardic names.” Another factor is “the language spoken at home,” a reference which also applies to Ladino. The amendment also says applicants need not reside in Portugal, an exception to the requirement of six years of consecutive residency in Portugal for any applicant for citizenship.’

    They’re also going to set up a framework to process applications.

  30. Alex

    Please add me to your mailing list as well. I am US citizen, and would like to pursue this opportunity.

  32. Jessica Ursell

    It’s a bit odd that Spain proposed this legislation and announced it with great fanfare last November 2012 and to date there has been no announced progress. What is happening? Why has Portugal already passed this same type of legislation? Please advise. Thank you.

  35. Jay Peller

    Please add me to your notification list… I know my fathers family is of Spanish Sephardic origin and out family name is listed amongst Jewish family names from Estella listed in the late 13th century

  36. C. P. Hart-Gabay

    I am of Sephardic decent, I feel very happy that Spain is offering automatic citizenship to those descendents of Spainish Heritage! Please put me on your list of correspondents. Les agradesco anté Mano por su consideración, y muy buenas noticias sobré esté topico! Mil gracias!

  37. Daniel

    Hello,

    How can I find a list of the relevant Sephardic surnames which are eligible to apply, according to the Spanish government?

    Thanks,
    Daniel

  38. marta Flores

    This will be provided by the ‘Federación de Comunidades Judías’ in Spain. However at the moment they are not providing any information nor certificates until the mentioned law has finally been approved.

  39. marta Flores

    It seems that we will need to wait a little longer. Unfortunately we cannot offer an explanation as to why this delay is taking place.

  40. Yuda Sagman

    Dear Ms. Flores,
    Thanks so much for updating us. However, I got a little confused. I contacted the Spanish Consulate for Istanbul and they shared the required documents to apply. When I told them that the Federación doesn’t deliver any certificate they told me that I didn’t need that as long as I had the certificate from the local Rabbinate, which I already have. So should I wait till things get clear or is it ok to apply with the Sephardic certificate I received from the Rabbinate of Istanbul?

    Thank you,

  41. marta Flores

    Hello Yuda,

    Unfortunately this law has not yet been passed so we are unable to comment on what the Consulate has said to you.

  45. Earl Cassorla

    I was told by the Spanish consulate that the instructions are now at this PDF link:

    “Spanish Citizenship by Naturalization for Sephardic Jews”

    http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/SANFRANCISCO/es/ServiciosConsulares/Documents/Nacionalidad/Sefardies%20info.pdf

    This document states that an applicant will need a Birth Certificate, translated into Spanish, legalized and with the Apostille of the Hague, plus a Criminal Record Certificate from the applicant ́s country, plus a Certificate from the Federación de Comunidades Judías de España — http://fcje.blogspot.com/ — Stating that the applicant has Sephardic origins.

    The document also states that acceptance requires a “Formal commitment to renounce previous citizenship and to swear loyalty to the Spanish Constitution and Laws. Applicants of the following nationalities will not be required to renounce their previous citizenship: Latin American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guineaor Portugal. Only persons of these nationalities will be allowed to maintain their previous citizenshipt ogether with the Spanish one. If the applicant is of Sephardic origin and holds none of the aforementioned nationalities, he will have to renounce to his previous citizenship. (A draft bill is currently inprocess that would allow people of Sephardic origin to maintain their previous nationality if they acquire the Spanish one).”

    It appears that the actual application is here: http://www.mjusticia.gob.es/cs/Satellite/1292397993607?blobheader=application%2Fpdf&blobheadername1=Content-Disposition&blobheadervalue1=attachment%3B+filename%3DSolicitud_de_nacionalidad_por_carta_de_naturaleza_.PDF

  49. Earl Cassorla

    More information from a Feb 13, 2014 NY Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/14/world/europe/interest-in-israel-as-spain-weighs-citizenship-for-sephardic-jews.html?_r=0

    Excerpts:

    Feb. 7 [2014], . . . the Spanish government approved a draft citizenship bill.

    –snip

    Under the draft bill, Spain would offer citizenship to anyone, Jewish or not, whose Sephardic origins can be certified. The bill would also remove some existing requirements that include the need for applicants to renounce their current citizenship.

    The bill requires final approval from the Spanish Parliament, which could make changes, but approval is expected to be a formality as the conservative government has a majority.

    snip–

    The Justice Ministry of Spain said that it had no estimate of how many Sephardic Jews might be eligible for Spanish citizenship. So far, the ministry has registered 3,000 applications, but a spokeswoman said that number was expected to increase.

    snip–

    In response to queries, the Spanish foreign ministry is now distributing via its embassies and consulates a statement explaining that it might take several months for Parliament to approve the bill, and that once it became law, the time for submitting applications would be limited.

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