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Spanish citizenship by descent has two main paths: the standard grandparent rule and the 2022 Democratic Memory Law, which opened citizenship to descendants of Civil War and Franco-era exiles with no generational limit for that specific path. The Memory Law window is expected to close in late 2025 or early 2026 — act quickly if you have Spanish exile ancestry.
The 2022 Ley de Memoria Democrática (Article 23) opened Spanish citizenship to children AND grandchildren of Spaniards exiled during the Civil War (1936-1939) and Franco dictatorship (1939-1975). The application window is 2 years from the law's entry into force, with a possible 1-year extension — expected to close late 2025 or early 2026.
Exiles between 1936-1955 are presumed; exiles between 1955-1975 require proof of political, ideological, religious, or sexual orientation motive.
FAQ
When does the Memory Law window close?
The application window is 2 years from the law's entry into force (December 2022), with a possible 1-year extension. It is expected to close in late 2025 or early 2026. Act quickly if you have Spanish exile ancestry.
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