Spain Grandchildren Law: 600,000 Citizenship Applications
Spanish citizenship applications are booming! Fueled by the “Grandchildren’s Law,” the number of applications has nearly tripled, with over 600,000 submitted in 2024. This surge reflects the law’s provision for descendants of exiles, primarily from Latin America, seeking Spanish citizenship and European residency. the Spanish government extended the deadline in response to the high volume of applications. This initiative has already granted citizenship to nearly 300,000 people. News directory 3 has the latest figures on this significant trend, offering detailed insights into applicant demographics and the countries with the most new citizens. With the deadline extended to the end of 2025, what will the end result look like? Spanish citizenship or residency may be an option. Discover what’s next …
Spanish Citizenship Applications Triple Under Grandchildren’s Law
Updated June 14, 2025
The number of applications for Spanish citizenship has surged, nearly tripling in a year, thanks to the Democratic Memory Law, often called the “Grandchildren’s Law.” Data indicates a jump from 226,354 applications in 2023 to 609,344 in 2024, processed through Spain’s consular network.
Enacted in October 2022, this law provides a path to Spanish citizenship for millions of descendants of Spaniards who fled during the civil War and Franco’s dictatorship. A significant portion of these applicants reside in Latin america, drawn by the prospect of Spanish citizenship, residency, and, by extension, European residency.
The surge in applications led the Spanish government to extend the deadline and bolster consulates in high-demand locations such as Cuba, Argentina, and Mexico with additional staff. By the end of 2024, over 288,000 descendants of exiled Spaniards had been granted Spanish citizenship through this initiative, which is set to expire next October.
If this trend continues, the number of Spaniards living abroad will continue to rise. In 2024,it surpassed 3 million for the first time,an increase of about 137,000 from the previous year.The Spanish government extended the application deadline to the end of 2025 to manage the high volume of applications.
According to ministry data,the age distribution of these new Spanish nationals abroad is diverse: nearly 20% are under 20 years old,almost 25% are between 20 and 39,just over 27% are between 40 and 59,and the remaining roughly 28% are over 60. In 2024, the majority of new citizens were recorded in Argentina, Mexico, the U.S., France, and Cuba.
What’s next
With the extended deadline,Spain anticipates continued interest in the Grandchildren’s Law,possibly leading to further increases in its national community abroad.