Spanish Golden Visa and Sephardic Jewish ancestry: a path to European citizenship
(This article was developed in conjunction with the IMI Daily portal )
For Sephardic Jews seeking a connection to their ancestral homeland and a gateway to Europe, Spain's Golden Visa program offers a unique opportunity. Combining the benefits of the Golden Visa with Spain's expedited naturalization process for Sephardic Jews, descendants of this historic community can now claim their heritage while enjoying the advantages of European citizenship.
Spain's Golden Visa program grants automatic residency to non-EU citizens who invest at least €500.000 in Spanish real estate. This allows them to live, work, and study in Spain and travel visa-free within the Schengen Area. For Sephardic Jews, the Golden Visa can be the first step toward a deeper connection with their roots.
Spain: the ideal destination after the amendment to the Portuguese “return law”
Portugal has recently amended its "law of return," making it easier for descendants of Portuguese Sephardic Jews to register as such in the country. Under the revised law, applicants can demonstrate their connection to Portugal through surnames, family language, or direct or collateral descent. However, obtaining citizenship in Portugal now requires a minimum residency of three years instead of the usual five, and applicants are no longer required to take language proficiency tests.
In contrast, Spain's expedited naturalization process for Sephardic Jews remains an attractive option. Sephardic Jews who have resided legally in Spain for at least two years can apply for Spanish citizenship, a significant reduction from the standard ten-year residency requirement.
Sephardic Jews do not need to renounce their original nationality when applying for Spanish citizenship, giving them a simple path to becoming dual citizens. Descendants of this community can efficiently navigate the path to Spanish citizenship by using the Golden Visa to establish residency in Spain and register as Sephardic Jews in Portugal.
New legislation in Portugal means that obtaining citizenship in Spain as a Sephardic Jew is now a simpler prospect. Combining the Spanish Golden Visa, free movement within the Schengen Area, simplified registration in Portugal, and Spain's expedited naturalization process, Sephardic Jews have the optimal path to EU citizenship quickly and easily.
As of July 2024, more than 90.000 descendants of Sephardic Jews have already become citizens of Portugal or Spain since the introduction of these laws in 2015. The majority of applicants in Portugal are Israeli, highlighting the strong interest among Sephardic Jews in reconnecting with their Iberian roots.
