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Opcion a la nacionalidad espanola - disposicion adicional octava de la Ley 20/2022 (Memoria Democratica)

SpainAncestry and return

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Get your free results Read the five questions ↓

What family, citizenship, ethnic, historical or former-resident connection creates access to this route?

Being born outside Spain to a father, mother, grandfather or grandmother who was originally Spanish and who lost or renounced Spanish nationality as a result of exile for political, ideological or belief reasons or sexual orientation and identity; also sons and daughters born abroad of Spanish women who lost their nationality by marrying foreigners before the 1978 Constitution entered into force.

See recorded sources
  • https://www.boe.es/eli/es/l/2022/10/19/20/con
    1. Los nacidos fuera de España de padre o madre, abuelo o abuela, que originariamente hubieran sido españoles, y que, como consecuencia de haber sufrido exilio por razones políticas, ideológicas o de creencia o de orientación e identidad sexual, hubieran perdido o renunciado a la nacionalidad española, podrán optar a la nacionalidad española, a los efectos del artículo 20 del Código Civil.
  • https://www.boe.es/eli/es/l/2022/10/19/20/con
    a) Los hijos e hijas nacidos en el exterior de mujeres españolas que perdieron su nacionalidad por casarse con extranjeros antes de la entrada en vigor de la Constitución de 1978.

How far back can the qualifying connection extend, and what important transmission limitations exist?

The exile ground reaches a father, mother, grandfather or grandmother who was originally Spanish. The option also reaches the adult sons and daughters of Spaniards whose nationality of origin was recognised through the option right under this law or under additional provision seven of Law 52/2007.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The parent/grandparent reach of the exile ground is in the R1 citation; no further transmission limits are stated.
  • https://www.boe.es/eli/es/l/2022/10/19/20/con
    b) Los hijos e hijas mayores de edad de aquellos españoles a quienes les fue reconocida su nacionalidad de origen en virtud del derecho de opción de acuerdo a lo dispuesto en la presente ley o en la disposición adicional séptima de la Ley 52/2007, de 26 de diciembre.
  • https://www.boe.es/eli/es/l/2022/10/19/20/con
    1. Los nacidos fuera de España de padre o madre, abuelo o abuela, que originariamente hubieran sido españoles, y que, como consecuencia de haber sufrido exilio por razones políticas, ideológicas o de creencia o de orientación e identidad sexual, hubieran perdido o renunciado a la nacionalidad española, podrán optar a la nacionalidad española, a los efectos del artículo 20 del Código Civil.
  • https://www.boe.es/eli/es/l/2022/10/19/20/con
    a) Los hijos e hijas nacidos en el exterior de mujeres españolas que perdieron su nacionalidad por casarse con extranjeros antes de la entrada en vigor de la Constitución de 1978.

What records are central to proving the lineage or historical connection?

The checked official sources did not provide enough route-specific evidence to confirm the records needed to prove the lineage or historical connection.

Does the pathway result in a visa, residence permit, right of return, citizenship or another status?

Spanish nationality, acquired by option.

See recorded sources

What application progression, residence obligations, family consequences or further citizenship/residence possibilities follow?

The option declaration had to be formalised within two years of the law's entry into force, extendable by the Council of Ministers for one year. The period for appointment requests for this option closed on 22 October 2025; no further appointment requests are accepted from 23 October.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Residence obligations and family consequences after acquisition are not stated.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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