The General Council of Spanish Citizenship Abroad (CGCEE) has issued a stern warning regarding the administrative bottleneck facing Spanish consulates due to the overwhelming number of nationality requests prompted by the so-called "Grandchildren's Law."
Violeta Alonso, the council's president, told La Nueva España, "At the current pace of processing, we might not complete handling all applications until 2050."
This projection highlights the significant backlog that has arisen since the Democratic Memory Law came into effect in October 2022, allowing children and grandchildren of Spanish emigrants to apply for nationality. The law expired on October 22, after being in effect for two years with an additional extension, leaving over 1.5 million requests pending.
The majority of these applications are concentrated in Argentina, Cuba, and Mexico, with the Buenos Aires consulate becoming the focal point of the process. Once all applications are processed, the Argentine capital could potentially become the third city with the highest number of Spaniards worldwide, following Madrid and Barcelona.
Calls for Reform and Increased Resources
In response to this situation, the council has urged the Spanish government to enhance consular resources and amend the Civil Code, allowing descendants of emigrants to apply for nationality without time constraints or generational limits.
The proposal aims to make access to citizenship a permanent right, avoiding the tensions and inequalities triggered by temporary laws. The document sent to both Congress and the Senate also suggests rectifying discriminations based on lineage, as current legislation favors descendants of Spanish men over those of women who lost their nationality before 1978 upon marrying foreigners.
Acknowledging the Challenge
The Spanish Ministry of Justice acknowledges the magnitude of the challenge and has called for "patience" from applicants while structural reforms are evaluated. However, representatives of the Spanish diaspora emphasize that without additional staff and a definitive law, the backlog could persist for up to two decades.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Spanish Nationality Process
What is the "Grandchildren's Law" in Spain?
The "Grandchildren's Law" refers to a provision in the Democratic Memory Law that allows children and grandchildren of Spanish emigrants to apply for Spanish nationality.
Why is there a backlog in processing nationality applications?
The backlog is due to the overwhelming number of applications received after the law was enacted, coupled with limited consular resources to process them efficiently.
Which countries have the most nationality requests?
Argentina, Cuba, and Mexico have the highest number of Spanish nationality requests.