Spanish Citizenship for Sephardic Jewish Descendants
Spain's Law 12/2015 created a one-time opportunity for descendants of Sephardic Jews expelled from Spain in 1492 to obtain Spanish citizenship without the usual residency requirement. The application window ran from October 2015 to October 1, 2019, and is now permanently closed. Spain received approximately 132,000 applications during the window, primarily from Israel, the United States, Turkey, Mexico, and Venezuela. Applications submitted before the deadline continue to be processed by the Ministry of Justice, but no new applications can be submitted. Individuals who missed the window have no equivalent alternative route through this law. Spain permits dual citizenship for nationals of Ibero-American countries but generally requires renunciation for nationals of other countries, which reduced the program's appeal for some applicants.
Program Details
- Generation Limit
- No generational limit was imposed during the open application window; applicants had to demonstrate descent from Spanish Sephardic Jewish communities
- Estimated Cost
- $3,000–$15,000
- Processing Time
- 12–48 months
- Must Live in Country
- No
- Court Route Available
- No
The application window closed on October 1, 2019. No new applications are accepted. Historical costs included fees for the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain (FCJE) certification, language exam, cultural knowledge exam, and legal/notarial fees.
Common Barriers
- ⚠The program is permanently closed — the statutory window under Law 12/2015 closed on October 1, 2019, and no extension has been granted
- ⚠Applications submitted before the deadline are still being processed but no new applications are accepted
- ⚠Demonstrating Sephardic Spanish descent required objective genealogical evidence of Iberian Jewish origin
- ⚠Applicants had to pass a Spanish language exam (DELE A2 or higher) and a Spanish cultural knowledge exam (CCSE)
- ⚠Spain generally does not permit dual citizenship for nationals of most countries (exceptions apply for nationals of Ibero-American countries)
Documents Needed
- •Certification from the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain (FCJE) — no longer available for new applicants
- •Genealogical documentation of Sephardic Spanish heritage
- •DELE A2 Spanish language certificate
- •CCSE (cultural and civic knowledge) certificate
- •Sworn declaration of special connection to Spain
- •Criminal background check
- •Applicant birth certificate and passport
Ancestry Records
Federación de Comunidades Judías de España (FCJE) & Spanish Notarial Registry
VERY DIFFICULTPROGRAM CLOSED: Spain's Sephardic descent citizenship route was permanently closed to new applicants in October 2019. The program ran from June 2015 to October 2019 (a four-year window with one extension) under Ley 12/2015. The law was explicitly time-limited and was not renewed. When open, applicants required: (1) a certificate of Sephardic community connection from the Federación de Comunidades Judías de España (FCJE) or the Consejo para la Promoción de la Cultura Sefardí; (2) evidence of special connection with Spain (Spanish language proficiency test, knowledge of Spanish law and culture, or proof of active charitable/economic/cultural ties to Spain); and (3) genealogical documents tracing Sephardic ancestry. No new applications are possible. Applications pending at closure in October 2019 were reportedly still processed afterward. Source: boe.es; Ley 12/2015.
Recent Changes
Spain's Sephardic citizenship route closed permanently to new applicants. Ley 12/2015 (the Law for Granting Nationality to Sephardic Jews of Spanish Origin) expired after its four-year period was not renewed by the Spanish legislature. No further extensions have been made and the route is not available to new applicants.
source →Ley 12/2015 came into force, opening the Spanish Sephardic descent citizenship route for a four-year period. The law was described as a historic reparation for the expulsion of Sephardic Jews from Spain in 1492 under the Alhambra Decree.
source →
Programme FAQs
Is the Spanish Sephardic citizenship program still accepting applications?
Sources: boe.es
What was required to apply under Ley 12/2015?
Sources: boe.es
Could Sephardic descent citizenship in Spain be reopened in the future?
Sources: boe.es
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