Spain officially extends the Grandchildren's Law

Spain has extended the Democratic Memory Law (LMD), commonly known as the Law of Grandchildren, for another year. This law allows descendants of Spaniards who were exiled during the Civil War and the Franco regime to acquire nationality.

The Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, announced during the press conference following the Cabinet meeting that the opportunity to obtain Spanish nationality through this initiative has been extended until October 2025.

The so-called Grandchildren's Law came into effect in October 2022 and was set to expire in October 2024.

This regulation is part of the Eighth Additional Provision of the Law of Democratic Memory, which establishes that individuals born outside of Spain to a father or mother, grandfather or grandmother who were originally Spanish and lost or renounced their Spanish nationality for political, ideological, religious, or sexual orientation and identity reasons may apply for Spanish nationality.

The initial regulation stipulated that the application for nationality had to be formalized within a period of two years from the entry into force of the Democratic Memory Law on October 21, 2022.

However, the Council of Ministers decided to extend this deadline by one more year, offering a final opportunity for the descendants of exiles to obtain dual nationality.

This regulation also includes children born abroad to Spanish women who lost their nationality by marrying foreigners before the entrada en vigor of the Constitution of 1978, as well as adult children of those Spaniards who were recognized as having retained their original nationality.

Torres noted that this extension is a "magnificent piece of news" that "will be celebrated by Spaniards who once again recognize that they are Spanish under all the established legal parameters."

He added that in less than two years, 300,000 applications have been received, with Argentina and Cuba being the countries with the highest demand.

Around 15,000 Cubans became Spanish citizens during the first 10 months following the enactment of the law.

Until last December, a total of 226,354 descendants of exiled and emigrant Spaniards had requested citizenship under the Law of Democratic Memory, with 110,540 applications approved and 69,421 registrations completed, according to the 2023 consular activity report.

To apply for nationality through this route, it is necessary to present the birth certificate or the baptism or marriage certificate of the Spanish parents or grandparents.

Therefore, it is recommended to begin the search in the churches and villages of Spain to find documents that prove Spanish ancestry.

This extension provides a valuable opportunity for many Cubans descended from Spanish exiles, who now have more time to gather the necessary documentation and submit their nationality applications, especially when wait times at the island's consulate are prolonged.