Its purpose is to guarantee the effectiveness of the right of Spaniards living abroad to participate in matters that concern them and to promote the collaboration of public administrations in matters of care for Spanish citizens abroad and returnees.

Among its powers are to formulate proposals and recommendations in relation to the objectives and application of the inspiring principles of policies aimed at Spanish citizens abroad, to receive information on the actions of the bodies of the General Administration of the State competent in matters of care for Spanish citizens abroad and returnees and to know and inform, in advance, Preliminary draft laws and draft royal decrees and orders relating to the following matters, within the scope of its competence: Civil rights, labour rights and social, educational and cultural protection, provided that they directly affect Spaniards abroad.

The General Council of Spanish Citizenship Abroad is composed of the Presidency, two Vice-Presidencies, the Secretariat and the Councillors:

• Presidency: The Presidency of the Council shall be appointed by the Minister for Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, after consulting the members of the Council, and shall be approved by at least half plus one of the members present at the validly constituted plenary.
• Vice-Chairs: (Secretary of State for Migration and Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation).
• Secretariat: (General Director of Spanish Citizenship Abroad and Return Policies).
• Counselors and Counselors:
  • Councillors and Councillors elected by the Councils of Spanish Residents Abroad (CRE).
    • List of elected councillors and councillors.
    • Updated List of Elected Counselors and Counselors
  • Councillors and Councillors appointed by the most representative business and trade union organizations.
    • List of Counselors and Counselors OO.EE. and more representative trade unions
  • Counselors and Counselors appointed by the most representative federations of associations of Spaniards.
    • List of Counselors and Counselors of Federations
  • Councillors and Councillors appointed on behalf of each of the Autonomous Communities and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla.

    • List of Councillors and Councillors of Autonomous Communities

  • Councillors and Councillors appointed on behalf of the ministerial departments.
    • List of Councillors and Councillors ministerial departments

Access to the organisation chart

The term of office of the councillors will be four years, starting from the date of the first plenary session of the General Council of Spanish Citizenship Abroad after their election. The VII Mandate ended last June 2021, following the acting councillors until the first plenary of the VIII Mandate, except the candidates elected by the CRE, which have already been proclaimed by Ministerial Order in April 2022.

• Royal Decree 230/2008, of February 15, which regulates the General Council of Spanish Citizenship abroad.
• Royal Decree 1960/2009, of 18 December, regulating the Councils of Spanish Residents Abroad.
• Order AEC/2172/2010, of 13 July, regulating the constitution, election and functioning of the Councils of Spanish Residents Abroad.
• Operating Regulations.

• CGCEE Agreement for the Creation of External Constituencies
• Agreement of the CGCEE regarding the criteria for registration in the Civil Registry of those born abroad through reproductive exploitation
• Report of the CGCEE on the difficulties of voting from abroad
• Agreements of the VIII mandate - IV plenary
• Agreements of the VIII mandate - III plenary
• Agreements of the VIII Mandaro - II plenary
• Agreements of the VII mandate - II plenary.
• Agreements of the VII mandate - I plenary.
• Agreements of the Sixth Mandate.
• Agreements of the Fifth Mandate.
• Agreements of the Fourth Mandate.
• Agreements of the Third Mandate.
• Agreements of the Second Mandate.
• Agreements of the First Mandate.

• Press release - Vote by mail CERA and access to nationality by the LMD 30 June 2026
• Regulations of the Statute - January 07, 2026
• Meetings of committees 2025
• Preliminary draft measures vicarious violence
• Fin LMD
• Report on DR Project Regulating the Recognition and Control of the Right to Health Protection
• Rejection of the increase in consular fees for consular network financing
• Presentation in the Senate of the agreement to reform the Civil Code in matters of nationality
• Submission of proposals to the State Pact against Gender Violence
• Request for non-discrimination in access to IMSERSO places abroad
• Meetings of the Delegated Committees - October 2024
• Presentation in Congress of the agreement to reform the Civil Code in the field of Nationality
• Institutional Declaration of the General Council of Spanish Citizenship Abroad on the Social Perspective of Migration
• Press Note- Report Regulations of Organic Law 4_2000 of January 11 - Aliens
• Communiqué on the extension of the LMD
• Communiqué on citizen participation in electoral processes
• Order of Civil Merit - CGCEE
• Press Release - Meeting with the Youth Council of Spain
• Press Release - Meeting with the Association of Spanish Diplomats
• Press Release - Consular Affairs and Foreign Service Meeting
• Communiqué - Centres authorized for the elections in Galicia
• Communiqué - Annulment Instruction 5 October 2010
• Communiqué - Declaration of support for Spanish citizenship in Gaza
• Communiqué of rejection of male violence in Spanish football
• Communiqué - Extension period for voting from the outside
• Communication Ministry of the Presidency
• Communiqué on the Reform of the Civil Code on Nationality
• Communicated to deputies and senators demands on nationality
• Communication of the proposals to solve the claims on nationality
• Communiqué situation Instituto Cervantes
• Labor Resources assigned to the CGCEE
• Communiqué situation PLEX - Commission on social and labour affairs
• Press Release - Committee on Education, Culture and Sport 15.06.2023
• Press Release - Commission for Social and Labour Affairs 11.06.2023
• Press Release - Committee on Civil Rights and Participation 11.06.2023
• Press Release - Visit to the Congress 09.06.2023
• Press Release - Regulatory Commission 09.06.2023
• Press Release - Women and Youth Commission 05.06.2023
• Full communiqué February 2023
• Press Release - Permanent Committee Meeting - 23 December 2022
• Press Release - Meeting 3 November - CGCEE and General Director of Spaniards Abroad and Consular Affairs
• Press Release - Homologation qualifications - 19 October 2022
• Extended press release - Meeting 18 October - Instruction on the eighth additional provision of the Democratic Memory Act
• Press Release - Derogation Vote Rogado 25 Sep 2022