Spanish Citizenship Through Descent (Sephardic Jews)

Did you know that if your ancestors are Sephardic Jews who were expelled from Spain in the 15th century, you might be eligible for Spanish citizenship and an EU passport? This means you can live, work and study in any of the 28 EU member countries with no restrictions. You do not need to renounce your current citizenship or reside in Spain.

How does it work?

You can have your Spanish citizenship returned by the Spanish government by proving your Sephardic Jewish heritage and by satisfying eligibility criteria set by the Spanish government. Your application form needs to be accompanied by your ancestral and personal documents, translated into Spanish. You also need to prove your connection to Spain. Important note: this process is only available until 20 October 2019.

How do I know if I qualify?

Most people whose Sephardic Jewish ancestors were expelled from Spain in the 15th century qualify for Spanish citizenship through descent. All you need to do is demonstrate your status as a Sephardic Jew of Spanish origin.

In essence you can reclaim your Spanish citizenship by descent if:

  • Your family was expelled from Spain in the 15th century.
  • You can prove the use of ladino or “haketia” language and provide a certificate from a Sephardic community leader proving your links to the diaspora.
  • You can prove your surname belongs to the Sephardic lineage of Spanish origin.
  • You are familiar with Spanish Sephardic history and culture. 
  • You have contributed to charitable, cultural or economic activities to the benefit of Spanish community abroad or in Spain.
  • You can confirm your blood ancestors were included on the lists of Sephardic families protected by Spain, as per the Decree of 29 December 1948, or have been naturalized by the Royal Decree of 20 December 1924.  

How can Polaron help me?

  • We offer a free and confidential eligibility assessment. 
  • If you are eligible, we can provide you with a no-obligation quote.
  • Should you decide to proceed with us, we provide you with linguistic, administrative and legal support and navigate through Spanish regulations on your behalf. 

What’s next?

Would you like to set up a time to talk about whether European citizenship makes sense for you and your family with one of our citizenship consultants?