Sephardic Nationality Applications in Spain Face Long Delays and Governmental Inertia

The process for descendants of Sephardic Jews seeking Spanish nationality under the 2015 law has significantly slowed, with around 9,300 applications still pending more than six years after the application deadline in 2019. Lawyer Portero criticized the current Spanish coalition government for its apparent lack of urgency in processing these applications compared to other nationality procedures, such as the Law of Democratic Memory, which has granted nationality to over 238,000 descendants of exiled Spaniards.

Portero highlighted that while about 71,000 Sephardic Jews have been successfully granted nationality, 7,254 applications were denied. He questioned whether Spain's political stance toward Israel influences the handling of these cases. The role of notaries remains essential in verifying the Sephardic heritage of applicants, a process that in the previous government saw 25,000 nationalities granted without contesting notarial decisions.

Additionally, the Carta de Naturaleza — a more straightforward path to nationality — has been reactivated. This route offers an alternative for those denied under the original law, provided they secure the necessary Sephardic certificate. Nonetheless, the current government's approach appears to lack the commitment needed to expedite this pathway for applicants.

Lawyer Portero stressed the importance of facilitating reparations and reopening Spain's doors to Sephardic descendants, acknowledging that while past harms cannot be undone, the process should not be stalled indefinitely.