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The Government of Spain grants Spanish nationality to more than 36,000 descendants of exiles in Chile, under the Democratic Memory Act

04/10/2025
The Government of Spain grants Spanish nationality to more than 36,000 descendants of exiles in Chile, under the Democratic Memory Act
  • The Consulate of Santiago de Chile has officially received, with data as of July 31, 44,181 requests; and there are already 9,310 children and grandchildren of Spaniards emigrated to the country by the War and the dictatorship who have their Spanish passport
  • Ángel Víctor Torres visits the Consulate and meets with the Spanish community in Chile to communicate how the requests are going, which can be requested until October 22.
  • The minister holds a meeting with the Minister of the Interior of the Chilean Government, Álvaro Elizalde, to discuss the territorial model of both countries.

The Government of Spain, under the Democratic Memory Act, has granted Spanish nationality to 36,041 descendants of exiles and exiles who had to emigrate to Chile during the War and the dictatorship. This was pointed out by the Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, who visited the Consulate General in Santiago de Chile and met with the Spanish community in the Latin American country.

With official data, as of July 31, there have been 44,181 petitions, and there are already 9,310 children and grandchildren of Spaniards emigrated to Chile who are registered and have their passport.

“Chile saved them. He provided them with a home. His sons and daughters grew up here. Their grandchildren and grandchildren. The heat of the Chilean people allowed them to rebuild their lives. And they also contributed to making this country bigger with their efforts,” said the minister, who has been accompanied by the Secretary of State for Democratic Memory, Fernando Martínez; the Secretary of State for Territorial Policy, Arcadi Spain; and the Ambassador of Spain in Chile, Laura Oroz.

Torres wanted to highlight that “the Government of Spain has shown great sensitivity” with the recognition of Spanish emigrants. “This is the fifth time we have opened an exceptional deadline for applying for citizenship. The last one, on July 9, 2024, when we extended the period until October 22, so that the descendants of exiles can avail themselves of the Democratic Memory Act.”

The minister has indicated that petitions arriving before that deadline will be “processed and attended to”, and has noted the effort being made by the Consulate staff to deal with the volume of applications being registered.

Meeting with the Minister of the Interior

Angel Víctor Torres has also met with the Minister of the Interior of the Chilean Government, Álvaro Elizalde, with whom he has discussed the territorial model of both countries. Torres has highlighted the benefits of the Spanish autonomic model. “More autonomy is no less state. Decentralization allows us to offer better services to citizens and is a reflection of the diversity of our country,” he concluded.

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