Citizenship by descent allows you to acquire citizenship through a parent, grandparent, or a more distant ancestor. Eligibility is based on the principle of jus sanguinis, or “right of blood”, meaning citizenship is passed through family lines rather than where a person is born.
In 2026, more than 50 countries offer citizenship by descent, spanning Europe, Latin America, Asia, and other regions. Italy, Ireland, Portugal, Greece, Poland, and Hungary are among the most common destinations for applicants seeking a second citizenship through ancestry. They offer powerful European Union (EU) passports and full rights to live and work abroad.
To claim citizenship by descent, you must prove an unbroken ancestral link to a citizen of the country through official documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, and naturalization records. However, countries apply different rules on how citizenship can be passed and what records are needed to demonstrate the family connection.
This guide explains how citizenship by descent works, who may qualify, which countries offer citizenship by descent, and the steps involved in proving eligibility and applying successfully.
Citizenship by Descent: Key Takeaways
What is citizenship by descent?
Citizenship by descent, also known as citizenship through ancestry, allows individuals to acquire citizenship based on their family lineage rather than their place of birth.
Unlike citizenship by naturalization, which is obtained after residing in the country, citizenship by descent can be passed from one generation to the next through a parent, grandparent, or another qualifying ancestor.
To claim citizenship by descent, you need to:
- Prove an unbroken family link to a citizen of the country using official records, such as birth, marriage, death, and citizenship documents.
- Show that citizenship was passed from one generation to the next and that the chain was not broken before the next generation was born.
- Submit an application and supporting documents to the relevant government authority, embassy, or consulate.
Eligibility for ancestral citizenship. While certain countries limit citizenship transmission to children of citizens, others allow claims through grandparents, great-grandparents, or earlier generations.
Who qualifies for citizenship by descent?
Qualifying for citizenship by descent starts with having a family connection to a citizen of another country. These are the main ways you can qualify for citizenship by ancestry.
01/ Citizenship through a parent
A person may qualify for citizenship by descent if one of their parents was a citizen of the country at the time of their birth. This is the most common form of citizenship by descent, offered by countries like Ireland, Mexico, and Spain.
Depending on the country’s nationality laws, citizenship may be acquired automatically at birth or through a registration process.
02/ Citizenship through a grandparent
Some countries allow citizenship by descent to be claimed through a grandparent, even when neither parent holds citizenship.
Ireland, Portugal, Greece, and Italy recognize citizenship claims through grandparents, although the requirements differ. Applicants may need to prove that citizenship was passed through each generation.
03/ Citizenship through a great-grandparent
A smaller number of countries, including Poland and Lithuania, allow citizenship by descent through a great-grandparent or an earlier ancestor.
Citizenship by descent through a great-grandparent might require more extensive genealogical research.
How to Determine Eligibility for Citizenship by Descent
- Identify a qualifying ancestor: Confirm that a parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, or another direct ancestor held citizenship in the country.
- Check the country’s generational limits: Verify that the country allows citizenship claims through your relationship to the ancestor. Some countries limit eligibility to children or grandchildren, while others allow claims through earlier generations.
- Confirm citizenship was passed through each generation: In many countries, citizenship must have been transmitted from one generation to the next without interruption.
- Check any country-specific requirements: Some countries require language proficiency, residency, registration, or proof of a connection to the country.
- Confirm you can obtain the required records: Most applications require official birth, marriage, death, and citizenship records linking each generation in the family line.
Countries That Allow Citizenship by Descent
The table below compares some of the most popular citizenship-by-descent countries and highlights how far citizenship can be passed through family lines.
| Country | Parent | Grandparent | Great-Grandparent | Main Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | Applicants must have an “effective bond” (vincolo effettivo) with Italy. |
| Ireland | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | Have a parent or grandparent who was born in Ireland. |
| Portugal | ✓ | ✓ | Conditional | All applicants must prove genuine ties to Portugal. A2-level of Portuguese is required (except for CPLP nationals). |
| Greece | ✓ | ✓ | Conditional | Prove a direct bloodline to a registered Greek citizen. |
| Poland | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Your ancestors must’ve been born in Poland after January 1920 and not lost their Polish citizenship. |
| Hungary | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Demonstrate conversational Hungarian (B-2 level) during an interview at a Hungarian consulate. |
| Lithuania | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Your direct ancestor must’ve held Lithuanian citizenship before June 15, 1940, and left the country prior to March 11, 1990. |
| Spain | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | You may qualify through a grandparent born in Spain or who held Spanish citizenship, including women who lost it by marrying a foreign national before 1978. |
| Malta | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | If your parent or grandparent was alive on August 1, 2007, they must apply before August 1, 2028 or your eligibility expires. |
| Germany | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | Prove that citizenship was legally transmitted at every generation without being lost before your birth. |
| Brazil | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | Demonstrate unbroken descent from a Brazilian citizen. This descent can be traced through either parent, mother or father. |
| Argentina | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | Have at least one native-born Argentine parent. |
| Mexico | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | Have at least one parent who was born in Mexico and held Mexican nationality at the time of your birth. |
| Cape Verde | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Have at least one parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, or great-great-grandparent from Cabo Verde. |
| Singapore | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | The Singaporean parent must have lived in Singapore for at least five years, including two before the child’s birth, and the birth must be registered within 12 months of a legal marriage. |
What is the easiest country to get citizenship by descent?
Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, and Hungary are among the most accessible countries for ancestral citizenship in 2026 because they have well-established legal pathways for applicants who can prove their ancestry. While requirements and processing times vary, documented family lineage can provide a direct route to citizenship.
Ireland
Ireland has one of the most straightforward citizenship by descent programs. Individuals with a grandparent born in Ireland can apply for Irish citizenship through the Foreign Births Register. Once all required documents are submitted, applications take approximately 12 months to process.
Italy
Italian Citizenship by Descent has long been considered one of the world’s most popular ancestral citizenship programs. The country had no generational limits until it tightened its citizenship by descent rules under Decree-Law No. 36 of March 28, 2025, converted into Law No. 74.
Eligibility for Italian citizenship is now limited to applicants with a parent or grandparent born in Italy. Applications recognized before March 27, 2025, continue to be assessed under the previous framework.
Consulate applications can take over two years, while court applications are mostly faster and can take around 12 to 24 months.
Poland
Poland allows citizenship by descent through a parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, or an earlier ancestor. The key requirement is that the ancestor held Polish citizenship after 1920, when Poland introduced its modern nationality laws. Applicants must also show that citizenship was not lost through renunciation or other disqualifying events.
The processing time for Polish citizenship by descent takes eight to 18 months on average.
Hungary
Hungary places no generational limit on citizenship by descent, allowing applicants to claim citizenship through a parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, or an earlier ancestor.
The main requirement for Hungarian citizenship by descent is proving Hungarian ancestry through official records and demonstrating a basic knowledge of the Hungarian language.
The processing time for Hungarian citizenship by descent is between six and 12 months, with more complex cases stretching up to 18 months.
Portugal
Portugal citizenship by descent is possible through a parent or grandparent who holds Portuguese citizenship. Great-grandchildren can only apply if their parent or grandparent first acquires Portuguese citizenship.
Applicants must demonstrate a connection to Portugal and prove proficiency in Portuguese (A2-level). They can do this by passing the official CIPLE exam or by completing a 150-hour Portuguese Language of Welcome (PLA) course. Nationals of CPLP countries are exempt from the language requirement.
Portuguese citizenship by descent through a parent takes 12 to 24 months. Through a grandparent, it can take more than 36 months.
Required Documents for Citizenship by Descent
- Your birth certificate: You need your full (long-form) birth certificate showing both parents’ names.
- Proof of your ancestor’s citizenship: This can be an original birth certificate, passport, or national ID from the country you are applying to.
- Family lineage documents: Provide birth, marriage, and death certificates for each person in your family line to show the connection.
- Prove your ancestor kept their citizenship: You need documents showing your ancestor did not become a citizen of another country before passing on their citizenship.
- Application forms: Complete the required forms, such as a citizenship determination or registration form.
- ID documents: A valid passport and recent passport photos are required.
- Marriage certificates: Needed if you or your ancestors changed names through marriage.
- Document legalization (Apostille): Foreign documents must be officially certified to be accepted.
- Certified translations: Any documents not in the official language need to be translated by a certified translator.
- Police clearance (if required): Some countries ask for proof of a clean criminal record.
- Application fees: You have to pay the required government or consulate fees.
- Registration forms (if needed): Some countries require you to register your citizenship in an official system before approval.
How to Apply for Citizenship by Descent in 2026
Step 01/ Confirm your eligibility
Start by looking at your family history to identify relatives who may have held citizenship in another country. Focus on parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents, and check where they were born, whether they were citizens, and whether citizenship could have been passed down through your family line.
You should also check whether any events affected the citizenship chain, such as naturalization in another country, loss of citizenship, or changes in nationality laws
Step 02/ Collect the supporting documents
Once eligibility is confirmed, collect the documents for every person in the chain. These may include birth, marriage, death, and citizenship records for each generation, linking you to the qualifying ancestor. Depending on the country, documents may need to be apostilled and translated.
Step 03/ Submit your application
Applications can be submitted through a consulate, embassy, or Civil Registries / Interior Ministries within the country. You will need to complete the required forms, and depending on the country, you might need to attend a short interview. You will also need to pay a non-refundable application fee at this stage.
Step 04/ Final decision and approval
The government will review your application and check your documents against official records. If you are approved, you will receive proof of citizenship, such as a certificate or registered birth record. Once your citizenship is confirmed, you can apply for your passport.
Will I need to renounce my original citizenship?
Whether you’ll need to renounce your original citizenship depends on both countries involved. Before applying, check whether the country you’re claiming citizenship from allows dual citizenship. You should also verify whether your current country permits its citizens to acquire another nationality without giving up their existing citizenship.
Is citizenship by descent worth it?
Yes, citizenship by descent is worth it. It can expand your global mobility, provide a permanent “Plan B”, and create opportunities for future generations, often without the residency requirements associated with naturalization.
Here are the main benefits of acquiring citizenship by descent in 2026:
- Expanded travel freedom: Citizenship by descent can give you access to a second passport with increased visa-free travel and easier access to international destinations.
- The right to live, work, and study abroad: Ancestral citizenship allows you to live, work, study, and retire in another country. In some cases, the benefits extend beyond a single country. For example, citizenship of an EU member state provides freedom of movement across the European Union.
- A permanent “Plan B” for you and your family: A second citizenship provides greater flexibility if personal, economic, or political circumstances change. It gives families more options for where they can live, work, invest, and build their future.
- Citizenship for future generations: Citizenship acquired through descent can be passed on to children, creating long-term opportunities for future generations.
How Can Global Citizen Solutions Help You?
Global Citizen Solutions is an advisory migration consultancy firm with years of experience delivering bespoke residence and citizenship by investment solutions for international families. With offices worldwide and an experienced, hands-on team, we have helped hundreds of clients worldwide acquire citizenship, residence visas, or homes while diversifying their portfolios with robust investments.
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