Blockage at Spanish consulates jeopardizes the acquisition of Spanish nationality for more than half a million applicants under the Democratic Memory Law.

The Spanish nationality promised to the children and grandchildren of emigrants is at risk due to the collapse of several Spanish consulates in Latin America and the United States.

According to official figures, more than 474.000 applications remain pending, and among those affected are thousands of Cubans trying to complete their procedures from Havana. The well-known Spanish newspaper reports on this issue. El País.

Delay threatens applicants for the Democratic Memory Law

Since the Democratic Memory Law came into force in 2022, around 680.000 descendants have applied for Spanish nationality, but only 30% of the applications have been processed to date. The remainder remains backed up in overcrowded consulates, with response times that, in some cases, exceed a year.

The situation is aggravated by the fact that the law has a limited validity period. Although it has already been extended once, the deadline for submitting applications expires in October. 2025This leaves hundreds of thousands of applicants at risk of losing their opportunity altogether.

The Spanish Consulate in Havana faces collapse

The case of Havana is particularly critical. With some 87.000 applications received, this consulate has managed to register approximately 56% of the cases.

Despite being the highest percentage among the consulates with the highest demand, the processing times are alarming.

How long does it take to obtain Spanish nationality under the Democratic Memory Law?

Currently, those who send their initial email requesting an appointment receive an automatic response warning of a delay of up to 10 months. This is only to receive the credentials needed to schedule an in-person interview.

The Association of Spanish Descendants Around the World (ADEM) considers the situation in Cuba to be "critical." According to its president, Estela Marina Pérez, many Cuban applicants are waiting almost a year to receive an access code. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking toward the legal deadline.

In addition, an informal market for appointments has emerged, with prices ranging from 80 to 200 euros, further exacerbating inequalities in access.

São Paulo, Mexico City and Miami also experience severe delays.

Although Cuba is one of the hotspots of tension, it is not the only one. Some 55.000 applications have been submitted to the Spanish Consulate in São Paulo, Brazil, but only 4,5% have been registered so far, one of the lowest percentages on record.

Consulates in Mexico, Miami, Bogotá, and Montevideo are also experiencing considerable delays. Some have begun implementing systems that allow for verification that the appointment request was submitted within the deadline, regardless of when the interview can be scheduled. In Havana, this tool is not yet fully operational.

Recent measures fail to stop the collapse

In an attempt to alleviate the situation, the Consulate General of Spain in Havana announced that it will increase the number of weekly appointments by 336 starting May 5. 2025. Which represents a 27,2% increase in their attention span.

However, both the Ombudsman and affected organizations warn that, despite increased staffing and the implementation of new IT tools, structural problems continue to prevent efficient management of the current volume of requests.

If additional measures are not taken urgently, thousands of descendants of Spaniards, especially Cubans, risk being left out of the process, despite having initiated the process on time.