to automatic Spanish nationality without the requirement of residence in Spain. Prior to November 2012, Sephardi Jews already had the right to obtain Spanish citizenship after a reduced residency period of two years (versus ten years for foreigners but similar to nationals from Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Brazil and about 20 other American republics that also require 2 years.) While their citizenship is being processed, Sephardi Jews are entitled to the consular protection of the Kingdom of Spain. This makes Spain unique among European nations as the only nation that currently grants automatic citizenship to the descendants of Jews expelled during the European medieval evictions. Although these measures are popular in the Jewish community, they have also sparked some controversy. A minority of thinkers hold that these policies represent less the abnegation of prejudice as a shift to Philo-Semitism. As of November 2015, 4300 Sephardi Jews have benefited from this law and acquired Spanish citizenship, swearing allegiance to the Spanish Constitution. In 2013, the number of Jews in Spain was estimated to range between 40,000 and 50,000 people. Goldschläger and Orjuela have explored motivations to request citizenship and the ways in which legal provisions, religious associations, and the migration industry become gatekeepers of and (re)shape what it means to be Sephardic. See also Edict of Expulsion Edict of Fontainebleau Expulsion of Jews from Spain Expulsions of the Jews from France Forced conversions of Muslims in Spain, a series of similar decrees affecting Muslims Expulsion of the Jews from Sicily Expulsion of the Moriscos Expulsions of Protestants from Salzburg References External links The Edict of Expulsion of the Jews – English translation of the decree (from Castilian) by Edward Peters (b.1936) Alhambra Decree: 521 Years Later, a blog post on the Law Library of Congress's In Custodia Legis. 1492 documents 1492 in Spain History of the conversos Expulsions of Jews Christianity and law in the 15th century Christian anti-Judaism in the Middle Ages Spanish Inquisition History of Granada History of Catholicism in Spain Jewish Spanish history Ferdinand II of Aragon Isabella I of Castile Tisha B'Av Sephardi Jews topics Decree Decrees 15th century in Aragon 15th century in Castile 15th-century Judaism Religious expulsion orders