Only a year after the approval of the so-called Democratic Memory Law, the authorities have revealed that the Argentinian city of Rosario stands out as a leader in the processing of Spanish citizenship applications.
The law, which officially entered into force on October 21, 2022, and which is also known as the grandchildren law, has enabled thousands of descendants of Spaniards to obtain citizenship.
While many people have benefited from the law, data show that the Consulate General of Spain in Rosario has become an example of efficiency, with around 2,671 people already receiving approval on their Spanish citizenship application.
According to La Capital, the Democratic Memory Law has expanded the eligibility criteria for Spanish citizenship, with a broader range of individuals being able to benefit from it.
Previously, only the children and grandchildren of a Spaniard of origin were able to apply. However, the new law now incorporates additional scenarios, allowing those who suffered exile during the Civil War and those born to Spanish mothers who lost their nationality by marrying a foreigner before 1978, among others, to apply for citizenship.
In October of last year, the law also introduced a new provision for people born to a Spanish mother or father, regardless of whether they were born in Spain or abroad.
As explained, this provision enables those born abroad to be considered originally Spanish, provided they can demonstrate that their parent was Spanish at the time of their birth.
The Consulate General of Spain in the city of Rosario has emerged as a model of efficiency, with the authorities organising an event to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the law.
This law has a profound democratic, republican and rights-reclaiming character; it also allows a large number of descendants of Spaniards to access their citizenship, and therefore, after a year of its sanction, we consider it appropriate to celebrate and reflect on it. – Invitation to the event
Figueroa further revealed that in the past year, about 12,000 people initiated the process by sending emails, and another 7,900 completed all the requirements for nationality.
Commenting on the event that took place last week, Figueroa said that it will serve as an example for others.
