I NEED TO APPLY FOR A SPANISH NATIONALITY FOR MY CHILD WHO LIVES IN PAKISTAN. HOW CAN I DO IT?

At Gunnercooke LLP we have seen a noticeable amount of enquiries from Spanish-Pakistani families where one of the members of the family is Spanish and the other one is usually from Pakistan (or another country). In most of those cases, the family lives in the UK and has a son or a daughter abroad (either in Spain or in Pakistan) waiting to obtain a Spanish nationality in order to reunite with the family.

The normal practice is for the parents of the child to apply for the minor´s Spanish nationality at the Police station in Spain or at the relevant Consulate abroad (for instance Islamabad). However, very often the minor lives abroad (Spain or Pakistan) and the parents cannot travel abroad because they are working in the UK. In those cases, one of the parents or a third person can apply for the minor´s nationality by way of a notarial power of attorney.

See below the possible scenarios and their solution:

A.- Parents and minor living in Spain.- They can apply for the minor´s Spanish nationality at the local Police Station.

B.- Parents and minor living in Pakistan.- They can apply for the minor´s Spanish nationality at the Spanish Consulate in Islamabad.

C.- Parents and minor living in the UK.- They can apply for the minor´s Spanish nationality at the Spanish Consulates in London and Edinburgh.

D.- Parents living in the UK and the minor living in Spain with relatives.- The parents can grant power of attorney to each other to apply for the minor´s nationality in Spain or alternatively, grant power of attorney to a third person to enable him/her to apply for the minor´s nationality in Spain.

E.- Parents living in the UK and the minor living in Pakistan with relatives.- The parents can grant power of attorney to each other to apply for the minor´s nationality in Pakistan or alternatively, grant power of attorney to a third person to enable him/her to apply for the minor´s nationality in Pakistan.

It is therefore possible to find a solution in scenarios D and E. The Spanish desk at Gunnercooke LLP has experience in drafting the necessary powers of attorney to enable one of the parents or a third person to apply for the minor´s nationality at the country where the minors is residing.

Obviously, our expertise is restricted to drafting the power of attorney. We do not advise on Spanish nationality applications but we can certainly help with the power of attorney and save the families the hassle of having to fly to the relevant country when their normal life is taking place in the UK.

For further information please contact

Antonio.guillen@gunnercooke.com

07872808598