Moroccan Mother Battles for Spanish Citizenship for Spain-Born Children

Sara’s three children, victims of domestic violence from her ex-husband, were born and raised in Spain where they are pursuing their studies normally. The Moroccan woman, who remarried a Spaniard in 2020, is doing everything in her power to ensure that her three children, of whom she has sole custody, obtain Spanish nationality. But she has still not succeeded, reports La Opinión de Malaga.

"I don’t understand why the government can’t grant nationality by default to a child who is about to turn 18, who was born and raised here, who is rooted in Spain," complains Curro López, her partner, who denounces administrative hassles. Sara, for her part, says her ex-husband "reported" her in Morocco where the Spanish decision on the exclusive custody of the children is not recognized. In fact, the children have met their maternal grandparents by videoconference.

This situation is causing prejudice to the minors. The eldest, aged 17, was denied a place in two Malaga clubs. "They say he can’t play because he doesn’t have an ID card yet," laments Curro López. According to a spokesperson for the Spanish government, the Ministry of Justice has not seen "any information on the domestic violence previously suffered by the mother" in the file, adding that the processing time is "usual".

But additional documentation has been requested from Sara, which she provided in August 2022, the official points out, specifying that the file is currently under review. Sources from the Malaga provincial delegation of the Andalusian Football Federation, for their part, explained that the Spanish Football Federation must give its approval for the 17-year-old minor, of Moroccan nationality, to be able to play in Spain.