Rediscover your roots through Spanish Nationality

The process of granting a letter of nature does not have established deadlines, since it is not a regulated process. The duration can be indefinite, and patience is required, since the review and granting depends on the will of the Government at any given time. Molinares Abogados takes care of keeping your application well grounded for when a formal review takes place, as it has happened in other historical occasions.

No, the letter of nature is a discretionary process and, therefore, does not offer guarantees of success as with other regulated processes. However, at Molinares Abogados we help you to present a solid and well-documented application to maximize the chances of success when the Government decides to review the applications.

At present, it is the only alternative for Sephardim who wish to opt for nationality but do not wish to reside in Spain.

Yes, in Molinares Abogados we only work with the certificate issued by the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain (FCJE), which has a special probative value in this process. This official certificate is essential to prove your status as a Sephardic descendant and give solidity to your application.

Yes, genealogy is essential to obtain a certificate of Sephardic origin from the FCJE. Having a solid genealogy that proves the Sephardic origin is a fundamental step in this process. At Molinares Abogados we advise and help you to obtain a genealogy that meets the necessary requirements to obtain the FCJE certificate.

Yes, being Sephardic has historically been recognized in Spain as an exceptional circumstance. This special consideration has allowed, at various times in history, the granting of Spanish nationality to the descendants of Sephardic Jews through various regulations and decrees, which consolidates this condition as a solid foundation in the process of recognition of Sephardic nationality.

Yes, Sephardic status has been recognized in Spain as an exceptional circumstance throughout history, with a long history of legal precedents spanning various contexts and systems of government, from the dictatorship and the Republic to the current parliamentary monarchy. 

• Historical initiatives: From the proposals promoted by Senator Ángel Pulido at the beginning of the 20th century to the 1924 Decree issued by Primo de Rivera.
• Benefits for Sephardic families: In 1948, the Decree-Law benefited Sephardim residing in Egypt and Greece.
• Recent concessions: Since 2004, nationality by letter of nature became a frequent practice, benefiting some 800 applicants until 2012. In 2015 and 2016, Royal Decrees 893/2015 and 322/2016, in parallel with Law 12/2015, allowed more than 4,300 Sephardim to obtain nationality.
• Official figures: from 1994 to 2019, Spain has granted nationality by letter of nature to 5,627 people, of whom 5,254 were descendants of Sephardic Jews, including the 4,300 of those Royal Decrees.

This historical context confirms naturalization as a legitimate option for Sephardic Jews, and holding this status lends significant weight to each application, especially in light of potential changes to Spain’s immigration policies.

It is essential to have a well-prepared and well-supported application on hand, ready for any new opportunities that may arise, as has happened at other points in history.

No, that’s not possible. No one has the authority to expedite the naturalization process, as it is a discretionary decision made by the government. Applying for naturalization means taking a chance on a process that could take years, and we recommend waiting patiently.

No firm can determine the status of the application or pressure for a response, as the process depends entirely on the government and the political sensitivities and opportunities of the moment. The key is to have a well-supported application ready when the opportunity arises, as has happened in the past.

Yes, although Sephardic status is in itself a recognized exceptional circumstance, other special circumstances that strengthen the application may be included.

Some of the exceptional circumstances that have led to the granting of Spanish nationality by naturalization include:

• Elite athletes: High-level athletes who represent or may represent Spain in international competitions, such as the soccer player Ansu Fati.
• Outstanding cultural figures and artists: People whose artistic or cultural trajectory enriches the Spanish heritage, such as the dancer Maya Plisétskaya.
• Political exiles: Individuals seeking protection in Spain due to political persecution in their countries of origin.
• Victims of terrorist attacks: Foreign persons who have been directly affected by terrorist attacks in Spanish territory, as in the case of the foreign victims of March 11, 2004 in Madrid.

 These circumstances, together with the Sephardic status, are recognized as exceptional and may strengthen the application for a letter of nature, although each case is evaluated individually according to its exceptionality.