The countdown has begun. On October 22, 2025, the window to apply for Spanish citizenship under Law 20/2022, the Democratic Memory Law (LMD) will officially close. This law has allowed thousands of descendants of Spanish citizens to reclaim Spanish nationality over the past two years.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and various Spanish embassies and consulates have confirmed that the online system will stop accepting new applications after that date. Consequently, no new files may be opened under this law once the deadline has passed.
⏺️ Those who already have an appointment or proof of registration may continue the process
Applicants who booked an appointment before the deadline and obtained an electronic receipt with a Secure Verification Code (CSV) will retain their right to complete the process. These cases will be processed in chronological order, and applicants will receive new appointment dates from the relevant consulates.
However, those who received a credentials rejection message or submitted their request before the current system was implemented without obtaining an appointment must register again before October 22 using the official form available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
⏺️ No further extension: the Spanish Government confirms the deadline is final
In a recent interview with the Argentine newspaper Clarín (in Spanish), Ángel Víctor Torres, Spain’s Minister for Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, made it clear: there will be no new extension. The difficulty in securing political consensus with other parliamentary groups has prevented the government from extending the deadline again.
“The law provided for a one-year extension, and we would have liked to extend it further, but there are certain limits. From both an administrative and political standpoint, there are no conditions for a new extension,” the minister stated.
⏺️ Could there be a new law in the future?
Although the Government does not plan to extend the current period, Minister Torres did not rule out the possibility of a future law that might reopen or expand the eligibility criteria. In his words: “The Democratic Memory Law could be improved in the future with a new regulation. The door is not closed to another law that extends the deadline or broadens the cases.”
However, he clarified that such reforms would require new parliamentary majorities, something difficult to achieve in Spain’s current political landscape.
For now, the minister stressed the importance of meeting the current deadline: applications must be submitted before October 22, as no new files will be accepted afterward, and pending reforms could change or even repeal the law in the next legislative term.
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¿Prefieres leer este artículo en español 🇪🇸? Aquí te dejamos el enlace: El Gobierno confirma que no habrá prórroga: el plazo para solicitar la nacionalidad por la Ley de Memoria Democrática finaliza el 22 de octubre de 2025
The content of this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration regulations are subject to frequent interpretative and administrative changes. At ARC Legal, we do our best to ensure that the information is updated and verified against official sources, but we always recommend consulting with a specialized professional before starting any procedure or making legal decisions. If you need personalized advice, feel free to contact our office.