Double Nationality Agreement between Romania and Spain

Romania and Spain are in the process of negotiating to sign a double nationality agreement.

This agreement will mark a milestone for the relationship between both countries, making Romania the third European nation, after France and Portugal, to have in force a bilateral Double Nationality Agreement between both states, benefiting more than 600,000 Romanian citizens residing in Spain.

If a double nationality agreement is finally concluded between Spain and Romania, Romanian citizens will not be required to renounce their nationality when granted Spanish nationality, and they will be able to maintain that bond with their country of origin, enjoying full legal status as nationals of both states, as is the case, for example, with many Ibero-American countries.

Recently, the Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminita-Teodora Odobescu, in an interview with EFE via email, stated that this agreement is "highly anticipated" by Romanians in Spain.

The Romanian ambassador to Spain, George Gabriel Bologan, confirmed that negotiations are progressing during this year. This change is crucial for Romanians who have established their lives in Spain, offering them better-paid job opportunities and a more powerful passport such as the Spanish one.

The Spanish Prime Minister insisted that it is a decision in which Spain has a special interest, given the good political relations that our country maintains with Romania and the large number of Romanian residents in Spain.

This measure facilitates the integration of Romanian citizens in Spain, the naturalization process as Spanish, and the subsequent relationship with their country of origin. An important improvement that would benefit a large community. However, it should be clarified that the concurrence of two nationalities in the same person does not mean that they can be subject to the legislation of both countries at the same time.

There are legal means to "give preference to one of the nationalities" to people with dual nationality to have a reference point regarding citizen-state relations. Most of the existing double nationality agreements between Spain and other states take as a reference point the domicile of the person, so that the citizen would be subject to the legislation of the country where their domicile is fixed. This applies to issues such as the granting of passports, diplomatic protection, the exercise of civil and political rights, labor and social security rights, and military obligations.

Undoubtedly, the conclusion of this agreement would be a milestone for both countries, and at EX24 Lawyers, we are closely following the latest developments in these negotiations.

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