Spanish Citizenship for Sephardic Jews After the 2019 Deadline

Yes, as long as they meet the requirements of an applicable route. What is no longer possible is starting from scratch under the temporary 2015 procedure based on Sephardic origin and a special connection to Spain. Historically, the expulsion of 1492 scattered Jewish communities across North Africa, the Mediterranean and other territories. These communities preserved their cultural ties to Spain for generations. Law 12/2015 recognized that history through a procedure that did not require prior residence in Spain. This procedure took effect on October 1, 2015, and although its initial term was three years, it was later extended by one more year before closing permanently in 2019. The Ministry of Justice reported 132,226 applications at that time. Within this process, there is an exceptional provision that applies only under extraordinary circumstances or humanitarian reasons, and granting it is the responsibility of the Council of Ministers. This should not be confused with a reopening of the procedure.

Although new applications closed in 2019, this does not mean that applications already in process were automatically resolved. They continued being processed normally, since they were fully valid once filed within the deadline. If you or a family member submitted the documentation on time, the first step is to check its current status. According to the ministry’s 2025 statistics, 72,297 approvals were granted and 9,337 applications remained unresolved. To follow up on your case, you will need proof that you applied, including a file number and the documentation you submitted. From there, three different situations can arise:

• Missing documentation: in which case you need to review what was requested and whether you are still in time to respond.
• A denial: in which case we need to analyze the reasons and whether an appeal is appropriate, since appeal deadlines are not indefinite.
• No decision has arrived: keep in mind that the law allows for administrative silence (a deemed denial), calculated from a specific point after the complete file with the required reports was received.

It is essential to review your old application, since this is the only way to detect whether any action is still pending on your part or whether to start an appeal process. This is the first thing you should do before hiring any additional services. If you filed your application before October 2019, at Díaz & Asociados we can review the status of your file and help you identify the options still available for your case.

Article 22.1 of the Civil Code provides for a two-year residence period for Sephardic Jews. This rule is completely independent of the procedure that closed in 2019, and it requires you to meet the usual requirements for citizenship by residence. Keep in mind that residence must be legal, continuous and immediately prior to the application. As in all cases, you will also be required to show good civic conduct and full integration. Once you reach two years you can apply for citizenship if you meet the above conditions — it is not granted automatically. If you live in the United States, you will first need to arrange how to reside legally in Spain. Keep in mind that Sephardic status alone does not grant a residence permit, and tourist visits do not count as legal residence either. Before planning your move, a specialist lawyer should review your legal circumstances.

If you have an ancestor born in Spain, we need to check which specific route applies. For example, in families with a history in Morocco, Turkey, Greece or the Balkans, it is common for an ancestor to have acquired or kept Spanish citizenship. In this case, you will need to find out how it was passed down. Being born in Spain does not, by itself, prove Spanish citizenship. Having a Spanish great-grandparent does not automatically grant you a right as their descendant either. What you need is to verify each person’s citizenship and family relationship, making sure the rules in force at each relevant time work in your favor.

• If you were born to a Spanish father or mother, you may have citizenship by origin.
• If your parent was originally Spanish and born in Spain, you may be entitled to the option route.
• Certain children or grandchildren of Spaniards by origin may qualify for one year of legal residence, along with the other required conditions.

These routes should not be confused with the Democratic Memory Law, whose deadline ended on October 22, 2025. Check our guide on Spanish citizenship by descent and our article on Spanish citizenship through a great-grandparent. If you are also a U.S. citizen, we encourage you to review all the details of dual citizenship between Spain and the United States.

There is no official list of Sephardic surnames approved by the Administration that grants a right to Spanish citizenship. We know that various informal or genealogical lists circulate online, but they are not valid and are full of inaccurate information. In fact, many of these compilations mix surnames shared by families of different origins. We know that searches for “Sephardic surnames for Spanish citizenship” or similar terms can lead you to these lists. Our professional advice is to disregard them, because they could cost you time and resources pursuing a route that has no legal validity.

How You Can Prove Sephardic Origin for Spanish Citizenship

Under the Law 12/2015 procedure, several types of evidence were considered together:

• A certificate from the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain.
• Community certifications or certifications from a competent rabbinical authority.
• Family documentation and other well-founded evidence.

Evidence could also include proof of family use of Ladino or Haketia, along with a reasoned report on surnames. The genealogy had to link individuals and generations through verifiable documents. The Federation’s certificate confirmed a status, but it was never, under any circumstances, a decision granting citizenship. Furthermore, it does not exempt applicants from proving a special connection to Spain.

If you want to know how to obtain Spanish citizenship as a Sephardic Jew, start by gathering verifiable information. Family stories can serve as a first clue to guide the research, but we will need documents to build a case file. We recommend three initial steps:

• Write down the names and places of birth of your ancestors, along with the nationalities they held and any known migrations.
• Keep civil certificates and all correspondence from any application you may have previously filed.
• If you are considering residing in Spain, also include your immigration status and the dates of your stays.

At Díaz & Asociados we can help you determine whether you need to review a previously filed application or build a new case for transmission of citizenship. On our Spanish citizenship for U.S. residents page you can find general information about our services. Request an assessment of your Spanish citizenship for Sephardic Jews case. We will review what documentation you have and which route can be explored before you take on any new costs.

We review your family situation and the documentation available. We assist you from Spain by video call, email and WhatsApp, at times compatible with the United States.