The granting of Spanish nationality to Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López by the Government has put the spotlight on an unusual but highly relevant legal figure: the letter of naturalization.
This exceptional path allows granting citizenship in unique circumstances and its use is usually marked both by legal criteria and by political considerations, which makes it a discretionary instrument of high strategic value.
An exceptional and discretionary mechanism
Nationality by naturalization letter is distinguished from ordinary routes, such as nationality by residence, by option, or by possession of status, because there is no automatic right for the applicant.
That is to say, years of legal stay in Spain are not required nor the fulfillment of regulated deadlines: the decision rests completely with the Government.
Thus, the concession depends on the existence of "exceptional circumstances", a deliberately ambiguous concept that grants a wide margin of interpretation and that allows the Executive to evaluate each request case by case.
Who grants the nationality and how it is formalized
The letter of naturalization is granted by royal decree, approved in the Council of Ministers at the proposal of the Ministry of Justice, and its publication in the Official State Gazette (BOE) gives it official validity. Predictably, it will be this Tuesday when the Government will approve in the Council of Ministers the granting of Spanish nationality to Leopoldo López
And although the procedure begins with an application before the Ministry of Justice, it incorporates reports from other competent bodies, such as the Ministry of the Interior, and a discretionary analysis that determines if the necessary exceptional circumstances concur.
The formalization by Royal Decree converts this act into an exceptional administrative procedure, with a decisive political component that does not occur in ordinary naturalization channels.
What is considered "exceptional circumstances"
Spanish law does not define in a closed manner what constitutes an exceptional circumstance, which allows its broad interpretation.
In practice, the letter of naturalization has been resorted to in cases of people with extraordinary merits in sport, science or culture; when there is a national interest for Spain; for humanitarian reasons in situations of risk; or when relevant ties with Spain are identified that would justify the concession despite not meeting the ordinary residence periods.
The case of Leopoldo López would fit into this last scenario, with a strong political and humanitarian component derived from his situation facing the Venezuelan regime.
Examples and background
In recent years, various people have received nationality through this formula, reflecting its discretionary nature and adaptation to specific situations. Among recent cases, stand out Peter René Pérez, naturalized in February 2025; Lisset Mabel Avilés Buitrago and Sergio Ramírez Guerrero, whose concessions were published in the BOE in July 2025; Steven Moisés Mendoza, included in a Royal Decree of June of that same year; and Asaf Kazimov, beneficiary of this route in September 2025.
Likewise, Carlos Fernando Schutze Ramírez and Luciana López Ramírez obtained nationality by letter of naturalization in 2024, while Edna Imade and Ewart Andrés Marín Hernández were included in subsequent decrees of 2024 and 2025.
These cases show how the letter of naturalization is not limited to media profiles, but encompasses people with personal circumstances evaluated as exceptional, as well as individuals whose connection with Spain or specific merits justify the concession.
Beyond official decrees, there are also historical and media precedents that illustrate the discretionary use of this formula. Public figures such as the pianist James Rhodes have received nationality by naturalization letter, as have other artists, athletes, or intellectuals with significant ties to Spain. According to journalistic records, names such as Ricky Martin, Mario Vargas Llosa, or athletes Serge Ibaka or Ansu Fati have been mentioned as beneficiaries of this route in previous years, demonstrating the flexibility and strategic scope of this mechanism.
Requirements after the grant
Obtaining nationality by naturalization letter does not automatically conclude the process. Whoever receives it must swear or promise fidelity to the King and obedience to the Constitution, renounce their previous nationality except for permitted exceptions (for example, citizens of Ibero-American countries) and register in the Civil Registry.
Only then does nationality acquire full legal validity and the beneficiary can exercise all the rights and duties of a Spanish citizen.
Compared to nationality by residence, the letter of naturalization is profoundly different. The ordinary route requires years of legal stay and a rigorous fulfillment of regulatory requirements, while the letter of naturalization is characterized by its discretionary and flexible nature, without temporal requirements and with a political and legal criterion evaluated case by case.
This distinction highlights the uniqueness of the tool and its potential to respond to exceptional or strategic situations.