Spain’s legislative body voted to pass a measure granting a special pathway to Spanish citizenship for individuals born in Western Sahara prior to September 29, 1977, along with their first-degree descendants. The legislation also reduces residency requirements for eligible Sahrawis already residing in Spain, from the standard decade-long period to just two years. The measure still requires Senate approval to become law.
Proponents of the bill characterize it as redressing a historical injustice stemming from Spain’s colonial administration of Western Sahara, which ended in 1976. The territory has remained contested, with Morocco asserting sovereignty while the separatist Polisario Front pursues independence. Officials in Madrid contend the law would not alter Western Sahara’s territorial status, nor would it recognize an independent Sahrawi state. Estimates suggest that between 70,000 and 110,000 individuals could eventually qualify for Spanish citizenship under the new framework. Those granted Spanish nationality would automatically gain European Union citizenship with corresponding rights and privileges.
Morocco views the legislation with concern, primarily regarding the potential strengthening of ties between Spain and communities with direct connections to Western Sahara. These populations include Sahrawis residing in the territory itself and refugee communities located near Tindouf in Algeria, where the Polisario Front maintains its base. The policy shift occurs after Spain modified its Western Sahara stance in 2022, when the Spanish government endorsed Morocco’s autonomy proposal for the region as a serious and credible resolution basis, subsequently improving Madrid-Rabat relations.
Internally, Spain’s political parties have registered mixed responses. The governing Socialist Party and its coalition partner Sumar supported the measure, while the conservative People’s Party abstained and Vox opposed it. Disagreement centered on how Spain should address its colonial legacy and the legal mechanisms for granting nationality. Spain has previously employed historical ties in nationality policy, notably through a 2015 measure allowing Sephardic Jews to apply for citizenship based on ancestral connections dating to 1492.
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