How to obtain Spanish nationality if you are a Sephardic Jew

Thanks to Law 12/2015, of June 24, Sephardic Jews from Spain can obtain Spanish citizenship by letter of nature, without having to reside or have resided in the country.

It is the recognition that the State makes to the bonds that the Sephardic community has maintained over centuries with the mother country.

Obtaining Spanish nationality if you are a Sephardic Jew: the procedure

To obtain Spanish citizenship if you are a Sephardic Jew you must submit an application electronically and follow a series of steps, including the processing before a Spanish notary of the so-called notoriety act, the presentation of two proofs proving the knowledge of the Castilian (Spanish) language ( Except for nationals of Spanish-speaking countries) and basic constitutional and sociocultural Spanish knowledge.

Getting Spanish nationality if you are a Sephardic Jew: requirements

But the most important thing to obtain the Spanish nationality if you are a Sephardic Jew is to fulfill the two basic requirements: that you actually have Sephardic origin and a special relationship with Spain.

The first is essentially proven though a certificate issued by the President of the Standing Committee of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain or, failing that, either by a certificate issued by the President or similar office of the Jewish community of the Area of residence or hometown of the person concerned, or by the competent rabbinical authority legally recognized in the country of origin or habitual residence of the applicant.

To do so, you must, in turn, submit a series of documents that allow the said authority to verify your Sephardic origin for the purposes of granting Spanish nationality.

As for the link with Spain to obtain Spanish nationality if you are a Sephardic Jew, this is evidenced with several documents, which the Administration will value as a whole, such as the certificate of knowledge of the Ladino language or “haketía”; having studied Formal activities on Spanish history and culture; to have carried out charitable, cultural or economic activities in favor of Spanish persons or institutions or in Spanish territory; Or organized or intervened in conferences in the country of origin or residence of the applicant on issues related to Spanish culture.

Certificates of having studied in Spain, or accrediting the realization of business or purchase of goods or assets in Spain, among others, are also accepted.

Getting Spanish nationality if you are a Sephardic Jew: term

The deadline for submitting the application for Spanish nationality if you are a Sephardic Jew is three years from the date of entry into force of the law, (i.e. October 1, 2015, so the deadline is October 1, 2018), although this period may be extended by one more year by agreement of the Council of Ministers. Once the application is submitted, the Administration can take up to 15 months to decide, so that the whole process can easily take two years.