Spanish Consulate in London Demands Moroccan Nationality Renunciation for Passport Renewal

This group of Spaniards of Moroccan origin living in London are in a difficult situation. To renew their passports, the Spanish consulate in London is requiring them to provide a document from the Moroccan authorities proving that they have renounced Moroccan nationality in favor of Spanish nationality. However, no longer being Moroccan, they cannot approach the Moroccan consulate to make such a request.

Ibrahim (a pseudonym), one of them, recounts that he has recently experienced the joy of becoming a father for the first time, but that this joy has turned into frustration and stress because he cannot register the baby at the Spanish consulate due to his expired passport. Another, Ali (a pseudonym), confides that he cannot visit his very ill and hospitalized mother for the same reason. He fears the worst.

Overwhelmed by this hopeless situation, this group of Spaniards of Moroccan origin have sought the help of the Council of Spanish Residents (CRE) in London. The CRE has engaged in discussions with the Consulate General of Spain in London to try to resolve this difficult problem for this group, which is part of the large Spanish community in southern England, which numbers nearly 300,000 people.