Spain Votes to Grant Nationality to Tens of Thousands of Western Saharans
Morocco/Western Sahara · EXPAT
Key Facts
- —What happened Spain’s Congress approved a bill on 10 September 2026 to grant Spanish nationality to Sahrawis born in Western Sahara before 29 September 1977, plus first-degree descendants.
- —How big The measure is estimated to cover about 70,000 to 110,000 Sahrawis, with some estimates reaching roughly 200,000 including descendants.
- —The vote The bill passed with 168 votes in favour, 31 against and 145 abstentions, and still needs Senate approval and publication before it takes effect.
- —The catch Morocco regards Western Sahara as integral to its territory, so the Spanish move is politically sensitive and could strain Madrid-Rabat ties.
- —What comes next Applicants would have a three-year window, extendable to four years in some versions of the text, and could use a shortened two-year residence route in Spain.
Spain’s Congress has voted to grant Spanish nationality to tens of thousands of Sahrawis born under colonial rule in Western Sahara, opening a path to Spanish passports for a population long caught in a decolonisation dispute between Morocco and the United Nations.
Spain’s lower house of parliament approved a bill on 10 September 2026 to grant Spanish nationality to Sahrawis born in Western Sahara before 29 September 1977, plus their first-degree descendants. The vote was 168 in favour, 31 against and 145 abstentions, and the law still requires Senate approval and official publication before it takes effect.
What the Spanish nationality vote actually changes
The bill targets Sahrawis born in the former Spanish colony before 29 September 1977, the date Spain formally ended its presence in the territory. First-degree descendants of those born before that date are also included in the measure.
Estimates put the number of potential beneficiaries at about 70,000 to 110,000 Sahrawis, with some projections reaching roughly 200,000 when descendants are counted. Applicants would be able to use a shortened two-year residence route in Spain rather than the standard longer process.
The text also establishes a three-year application window, extendable to four years in some versions of the legislation. That window would begin once the law is published after Senate passage.
Why Western Saharan nationality is politically explosive
Western Sahara remains largely controlled by Morocco since 1975, while the United Nations treats it as a non-self-governing territory. Morocco regards Western Sahara as integral to its own territory, making any Spanish recognition of Sahrawi identity through nationality a sensitive diplomatic issue.
The move sits inside a long-running decolonisation dispute over the former Spanish colony and an unresolved self-determination referendum framework. A UN-verified census has been used to identify potential applicants, linking the nationality question directly to the legal identity and statelessness of Sahrawis.
Spain’s decision could strain Madrid-Rabat ties, which have been carefully managed for years. Morocco has not yet issued a formal response, but the vote was closely watched across North Africa.
The money and power stakes behind the vote
The nationality law touches on broader regional competition involving Morocco, Algeria and the UN process. Algeria has long backed the Polisario Front’s push for Sahrawi self-determination, while Morocco has invested heavily in diplomatic and economic ties with Spain and the European Union.
For Spain, the bill carries domestic political weight as well as foreign policy risk. The 168-31 vote with 145 abstentions shows a divided parliament, reflecting the sensitivity of a measure that could affect migration flows, labour markets and Spain’s relationship with a key North African partner.
For Sahrawis, Spanish nationality would offer access to European Union mobility, work rights and legal protection that many have lacked for decades. That practical impact is why expat and diaspora communities are following the Senate process closely.
The great-power and South-South angle
The Western Sahara question has long been a fault line in North African geopolitics, with Morocco and Algeria backing opposing sides. Spain’s move adds a European dimension to a dispute that also draws in the United Nations and, indirectly, broader competition over regional influence.
This fits a wider pattern of former colonial powers revisiting legal ties to territories they once administered. For readers tracking frontier living and the scramble for influence across Africa, the vote is a reminder that legal identity and nationality remain powerful tools in modern statecraft.
The Rio Times has been following these dynamics in its coverage of Africa: The New Scramble, where great-power competition and decolonisation legacies intersect.
Who gains and who loses from the Spanish bill
Sahrawis born before 29 September 1977 and their first-degree descendants stand to gain the most, with a clear route to Spanish passports and European Union rights. The shortened two-year residence route also makes it easier for applicants to settle in Spain itself.
Morocco stands to lose diplomatic ground if the law is seen as undercutting its sovereignty claim over Western Sahara. Spain risks tension with Rabat, but may gain leverage in its broader North Africa policy and goodwill among Sahrawi communities.
Algeria could view the Spanish move as a quiet endorsement of Sahrawi legal identity, even if Madrid has not changed its formal position on the territory’s status. The UN process remains the formal framework for resolving the dispute.
What to watch next in the Senate and beyond
The bill now moves to the Spanish Senate, where amendments could alter the application window or eligibility details. Publication in the official state bulletin would then start the clock on the three-year application period, extendable to four years in some versions.
Observers will watch for Morocco’s official reaction and any diplomatic measures from Rabat. The vote also sets a precedent for how Spain handles historical colonial ties in North Africa, with potential ripple effects for other diaspora communities.
For expats and investors with interests in Spain or North Africa, the key date is the Senate vote, which has not yet been scheduled. The law’s final text will determine exactly how many Sahrawis can apply and under what conditions.
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible for Spanish nationality under the new bill?
Sahrawis born in Western Sahara before 29 September 1977, plus their first-degree descendants, are eligible to apply for Spanish nationality.
How many people could receive Spanish nationality?
Estimates range from about 70,000 to 110,000 Sahrawis, with some projections reaching roughly 200,000 including descendants.
When does the Spanish nationality law take effect?
The bill still needs Senate approval and official publication before it takes effect, after which applicants would have a three-year window, extendable to four years in some versions.
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