Since the end of October of last year when the Democratic Memory Law came into force in Spain, also known as "Law of Grandchildren", the possibilities of Argentines descendants of Spaniards, both children and grandchildren, to process the nationality of that country, and as a consequence the number of applications, were expanded.
And it is that those who manage to access dual citizenship have certain advantages, among which are access to education, free movement and in many cases the right to exercise their profession in any country of the European community.
In order to obtain it, there are certain requirements that must be met and certain documentation that must be submitted. But it could happen that you already have an assigned tuno and when the date approaches you realize that you will not get to gather everything they asked you to take your complete folder. What should you do in that case?
With the Law of Grandchildren, the possibilities of Argentines of Spanish descent to process the nationality of that country were expanded. Photo: Archive
Who can apply for Spanish citizenship and what documentation is needed?
The Spanish naturalization process must be carried out at the Consulate of Spain in Argentina. With prior appointment, through the www.cgeonline.com.ar website, the applicant may attend any of the five consular offices in the country, located in Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Rosario, Mendoza and Bahía Blanca. They can apply for Spanish citizenship:
1. Persons whose father or mother, grandfather or grandmother was originally Spanish.
2. Those born outside Spain of a father or mother, grandfather or grandmother, who were originally Spanish, and who, because they had suffered exile for political, ideological or belief reasons or for reasons of sexual orientation and identity, had lost or renounced Spanish nationality.
The documents to be submitted are:
Completed and signed forms (original and copy).
Data declaration form completed and signed.
- Literal birth certificate issued by the local civil registry. It must be original (faithful copy of the book), recent (no more than 12 months of expedition) and apostilled. Excerpts are not allowed.
Original and copy of the birth certificate of the parent(s) who have Spanish nationality. The copy must have been issued in the last 4 years, except for birth certificates registered at the same consulate, which will not need validity.
- Original and copy of the literal and apostilled birth certificate of the parent(s) who do not have Spanish nationality.
Original and photocopy of the civil marriage certificate of the parents apostilled, if they were married when the applicant was born.
Original and copy of official identification of the interested party (preferably passport).
- Literal certificate of birth of the applicant's grandfather or grandmother, who originally would have been Spanish.
- Documentation proving the exiled status of the father, mother, grandfather or grandmother, if applicable.
Since the end of October 2022, the Democratic Memory Law has been in force in Spain, also known as the "Law of Grandchildren". Photo: Archive
3. The children of Spanish women born abroad who lost their nationality because they married foreigners before the entry into force of the 1978 Constitution may also apply for Spanish citizenship. In these cases the requirements are:
Data declaration form completed and signed.
Completed and signed annex (original and copy).
Annex V, completed.
- Literal birth certificate issued by the local civil registry of the interested party. It must be original (faithful copy of the book), recent (no more than 12 months of expedition) and apostilled. They do not admit extracts.
- Original and copy of the birth certificate of the parent(s) who have Spanish nationality. The copy must have been issued in the last 4 years, except for birth certificates registered in the same consulate, which will not need validity. Original and copy of the literal and apostilled birth certificate of the parent(s) who does not have Spanish nationality.
Original and photocopy of the civil marriage certificate of the parents apostilled, if they were married when the applicant was born.
- Original and copy of official identification of the interested party (preferably passport).
- For marriages formalized between August 5, 1954 and December 28, 1978, documentation must also be provided that proves, on the one hand, the acquisition by the mother of the nationality of the husband; and on the other hand, foreign legislation on the subject on the date on which the marriage took place.
But in order to obtain citizenship, certain requirements must be met and certain documents must be presented. Photo: Archive
4. The sons and daughters of legal age of those Spaniards whose nationality of origin was recognized by virtue of the right of option, according to the provisions of the new norm or in Law 52/2007, may also request Spanish citizenship. The requirements are:
Data declaration form completed and signed.
Annex III, completed and signed (original and copy).
Annex V, completed.
- Literal birth certificate issued by the local civil registry of the interested party. It must be original (faithful copy of the book), recent (no more than 12 months of expedition) and apostilled. Excerpts are not allowed.
Original and copy of the birth certificate of the parent(s) who has Spanish nationality. The copy must have been issued in the last 4 years, except for birth certificates registered at the same consulate, which will not need validity.
- Original and copy of the literal and apostilled birth certificate of the parent(s) who does not have Spanish nationality.
Original and photocopy of the civil marriage certificate of the parents apostilled, if they were married when the applicant was born.
- Original and copy of official identification of the interested party (preferably passport).
4. The following may also apply for Spanish citizenship:
to. Persons who, being children of an originally Spanish father or mother and born in Spain, have opted for Spanish nationality not of origin by virtue of article 20.1.b) of the Civil Code.
b. The minor children of those who acquired Spanish nationality by application of Law 52/2007, who chose, exercising the right given in article 20 of the Civil Code, to be under the parental authority of a Spaniard.
In these cases, the requirements are to present:
Annex IV, completed and signed (original and copy).
Annex V, completed.
Spanish birth certificate of the interested party.
- Original and copy of official identification of the interested party (preferably passport).
In the country there are five consular offices where Spanish citizenship is processed. Photo: Alfredo Martínez
What to do if the day of the shift arrived and you could not gather all the documentation
Recently the Consulate General of Spain in the city of Buenos Aires communicated through its official Twitter account @CGEspBsAires about a flexibility at the time of delivery of documentation by applicants for Spanish citizenship through the Law of Grandchildren.
What is it about? The consular authorities made the decision to enable future beneficiaries to present themselves at the offices of the Foreign Ministry even if they have not completed the list of requirements, which they can meet virtually by sending the missing by email.
In this way, applicants do not lose the previous turn granted, and thus can present the essential papers to process dual nationality.
LN
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