European Citizenships

Spain

The Spanish legislation offers different ways to obtain Spanish nationality. These are by residence, by option, by letter of naturalization or with the value of simple presumption.

Portugal

Two possibilities for obtaining Portuguese nationality: attribution of nationality, the one that is acquired a birth according to "ius sanguinis" and the voluntary acquisition of nationality, adoption or naturalization.

Italy

The possibility of acquiring the Italian Citizenship to the descendants of Italians, whether or not they were born in the country.

Austria

The reform introduced by the Austrian Parliament in the Austrian Citizenship Law allows the descendants of the victims of the National Socialist regime to obtain Austrian nationality.

Spain

How can you obtain Spain Citizenship?

The Spanish Legislation offers different ways to obtain Spanish nationality. These are by residence, by option, by letter of naturalization or with the value of simple presumption

What are the benefits of the Spain Citizenship?

Obtaining European citizenship
Right to reside, work and study in Spain and in any EEA country and Switzerland (30 countries)
Free movement within the Schengen area (26 countries)
Obtain the third best passport in the world (access to 194 countries without visa)
Acces to one of the best health care system in the world
Voting in elections and aspiring to public office
Extension of these rights to your family members.

What options do you have to obtain Spain Citizenship?

Residency

Nationality by residency is the most generic procedure to obtain Spanish nationality because the applicant has a legal and continuous residence in Spain to making the application.

The time required to apply for nationality by residence varies depending on the nationality of origin of the applicant and his or her personal and family circumstances.

The general period requirement is 10 years of residence, however, in the following cases it ca be shortened to:

5 years for those persons who have obtained refugee status.
2 years for nationals of Latin American countries, Andorra, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, or with Sephardic origin.
1 year for those who were born in Spanish territory, those who have been married to a Spanish citizen for one year, those born outside Spain to a father or mother, grandfather or grandmother who were originally Spanish.

Option

Foreigners who comply with one of the following conditions may acquire Spanish citizenship:

Persons who are or have been subjet to the parental authority of a Spaniard. This possibility expires when the interested party reaches 20 years of age, unless by his personal law the interested party does not acquire the majority of age at 18, in which case the term will be of two years since he acquires the majority of age.
Persons whose father or mother had been Sanish and had been born in Spain.
Persons whose adotpion by Spaniards takes place after the age of eighteen. In this case the right to opt for the citizenship exists until the term of two years from the constitution of the adoption has elapsed.

Letter of naturalization

This form of application is of an exeptional nature and is not subjet to the usual rules of immigration by which administrative procedures are made. This nationality will be granted directly by the gobermment by means of publication of a Royal Decree after evaluating the particular case.

Value of simple presumption

This way of obtaining Spanish nationality is based on the fact that, if a minor is born in Spain, child of foreign parents, in any case a nationality has to be attributed to them and the minor has to be documented with the relevant identification.

For this to happen the legislation of the countries of origin of the parents does not allow them to transmit their nationality to the minor for having been born outside their territory, in this case in Spain

If it happens, the minor born in Spain can apply for the Spanish citizenship with value of simple presumption.

Portugal

How to obtain the Portuguese Citizenship?

The new the Decree-Law nº26/2022 lays down two possibilities for obtaining Portuguese nationality: Attribution of nationality (The one that is acquired at birth according to ius sanguinis) and the voluntary acquisitions of nationality, adoption or naturalization.

What advantages does the Portuguese Citizenship?

Obtaining a European citizenship
Right to live, work and study in Portugal, any EEA country and Switzerland (30 countries)
Free mobility at the Schengen area (26 countries)
Obtaining the 5º world's most powerful passport (access to 187 countries without a visa)
Access to one of the best health care system in the world
Right to vote in political elections and to aspire to occupy public charges
Extension of these rights to family members

What are the options for obtaining the Portuguese Citizenship?

Attribution of nationality or nationality by origin

Being desdendants of Portuguese who were born in Portuguese territory or abroad..
Being desdendants of foreigners who were born in Portuguese territory at the moment of birth or, irrespective of title, has legally resided for at least a year.

Acquisition of nationality or derived nationality

Being married or in a de facto union for more than three years and being registered in the Portuguese Civil Registry.
By naturalization with a stable legal residence in the country. Minors born in Portuguese territory to foreign parents, provide that at least one of the parents has resided int eh country, irrespective of title, for at least 5 years, is legally residing in Portuguese territory or the minor has concluded any education level. Those who were born in a Portuguese colony prior to its independence, without having to prove residence nor its official language knowledge. Those who have Sephardic origin in their genealogy also has the possibility of acquiring Portuguese nationality by Sephardic origin.

Italy

How can you obtain the Italian Citizenship?

The Italian Citizenship Law, law 91 of February 5, 1992 recognizes the possibility of acquiring the Italian citizenship to the descendants of Italians, whether or not they were born in the country. By the principle "ius sanguinis", the Italian Government recognizes the every child of an Italian Father or mother is also Italian.

What are the benefits of Italian Citizenship?

Obtaining the European citizenship
Right to reside, work and study in Italy and in any EEA country and Switzerland (30 countries))
Free movement within the Schengen area (26 countries)
Obtain the fourth best passport in the world (access to 193 countries without visa)
Access to one of the best health care systems in the world
Transfer Italian nationality descendants
Voting in elections and running for public office
Extension of these rights to family members

What is the procedure to acquire the Italian Citizenship?

Verify descent

Prove that you are descendent from an Italian parent and that the parent held Italian nationality, without having adopted of another country, until at least August 16, 1992.

Letter of naturalization

Be over 18 years of age

Documents parental relationship

Present the documents proving the parental relationship in direct line (father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, great-grandfather or great-great-grandfather).

Documents of the Italian ancestor Documents of the relatives in the straight line Documents of the applicant

What is the procedure to acquire Italian Citizenship?

1 Documents of parental relationship

The first step is to collect the supporting documents proving the parental relationship. In Gentile Law we have the support of collaborators in Italy who can locate these documents to better prepare a "complete file".

2 Submit application

The second step is to request an appointment at the consulate that corresponds to the applicant's address or to travel to Italy and present them in person. In case of approval, aconfirmation of concession and the corresponding Italian birth certificate will be issued.

i Important information

The time it takes for the resolution of the application for the Italian citizenship by descent varies greatly, depending on the consulate involved. Usually, this stage takes between 2 to 4 years.

There is a special procedure foreseen for the transmision of citizenship by maternal descent. In case the Italian ancestor is a woman, and the children were born before January, 1, 1948 (Italian Constitution's date of entry into force), the citizenship can only be acquired through a judicial process that must be initiated in Italy.

Austria

What is the Austrian Citizenship for Descendants Victims of the Holocaust and Persecutions?

The Austrian Law for Descendants Victims of the Holocaust is a reform passed by Austrian Parliament that alters the Austrian Citizenship Law allows the descendants of victims to the National Socialist Regime (Nazi Regime) to obtain Austrian nationality.

The addition of this possibility for obtaining Austrian citizenship is the result of Austrian Government's effort to come to terms with those who suffered under the Third Reich from 1938 until the end of Wold War II..

What are the benefits of Austrian Citizenship for Descendants Victims of the Holocaust?

Obtaining a European citizenship
Right to live work and study in Austria
Free mobility at the Schengen area (26 countries)
Obtaining the 5º most powerful passport (access to 192 countries without a visa)
Access to one of the best health care system in the world
Right to vote in political elections and to aspire to occupy public charges
Extension o these rights to family members

What are the requirements for acquiring Austrian Citizenship for Descendants Victims of the Holocaust and Persecutions?

Proof leave Austria (1938-1955)

Proof of the fact that the applicant or one of their ancestors were forced to leave Austria due to the Nazi Regime between March, 12, 1938 and May 15, 1955.

Proof of previous residence in Austria

Proof that the emigrants lived in Austria as Austrian citizes or as a citizen of any of the successor States of the Austro-Hungarian empire or as a statelss person.

Descent in a straight line up to the third degree

For those who are descendants of persecution's victims, the third degree of kinship must be proved (great-grandchildren of the persecuted).

What is the procedure to acquire Austrian Citizenship for Descendants Victims of the Holocaust and Persecutions?

1 Digital form

The first stage consists of completing a digital form with the details of the case. Once filled out, the pplicant will receive a personalized information sheet and the notification's form previously completed..

2 Submit apply

The second stage consists of the submission before the competent Ausrtian authority in the place origin along with the form and all the necessary documents.