Spain closes consulates to review nationality files under Supreme Court order

Spanish consulates will remain closed to general tasks until Wednesday, October 28, to focus exclusively on reviewing nationality files related to the ‘Ley de Nietos’ (Grandchildren Law). This measure follows a Supreme Court mandate requiring the Ministers of Justice and Foreign Affairs to submit a list of 163,020 individuals naturalized under this law who are affected by a precautionary suspension of their registration in the census of absent residents (CERA).

Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares stated that the deadline provided by the court is extremely tight, necessitating that the entire foreign service prioritize this review as an “immediate and urgent” task. The process involves a manual, one-by-one verification of files to identify beneficiaries and confirm they provided documentation proving descent from exiles, a requirement that was previously not enforced due to subsequent Ministry of Justice instructions.