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The processing of applications for Spanish nationality under the Grandchildren’s Law may continue until 2028, due to the high demand and managing struggles.
In spite of the fact that the submission of nationality applications through the Democratic Memory Law can be done until October 2025, a regulation from Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicates that the processing of applications may continue until 2028, Schengen.News reports.
According to a report from Periodico Cubano, the measure comes following the increasing demand and difficulties in managing appointments at consulates. As a result, citizens who obtain proof of an appointment before the deadline will be eligible to complete the process in the coming years. This will be done through requests for additional documents.
In order to benefit from the new changes, it is important to schedule an appointment before October 25, 2025, through the online systems of the consulates.
The appointment confirmation will permit a large number of descendants of Spaniards, taking also into account Cubans to apply for nationality without being concerned about delays in consular appointments.
Significant delays have been registered in Spanish consulates in countries such as Argentina, Venezuela and Cuba, with many of the applicants receiving their appointments for late 2026 or 2027.
Under the new changes, those who secure an appointment within the deadline will be eligible to complete their process without complications.
The government of Spain aims to mitigate the impact of the backlog in consular services. In order to achieve this, a new application is being developed to register appointment requests. The application will ensure that those who initiate the process within the legal timeframe can complete it, in spite of when they submit their documentation.
Citizenship Applications Under Spain’s Grandchildren Law Accepted Until October 2025
Spain’s Grandchildren Law, known as the Law of Democratic Memory allows children and grandchildren of Spanish emigrants to apply for Spanish citizenship.
In November 2024, Spain’s Ministry of Presidency, Justice and Relations, along with the Spanish government issued a decree extending the deadline for submission of the applications for obtaining Spanish nationality through the Democratic Memory Law until October 2025.
On November 11, 2024, a provision was published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) through which “the Instruction of October 25, 2022, on the right to opt for Spanish nationality established in the eighth additional provision of Law 20/2022, of October 19, on Democratic Memory, is modified.”
The figures from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, José Manuel Albares, revealed that from October 2022 until May 2024, more than 226,000 descendants of Spaniards applied for Spanish passports.
Source: https://schengen.news/spain-may-extend-processing-of-citizenship-applications-under-grandchildrens-law-until-2028/
