Citizenship by Descent Countries for Ancestry Claims

Citizenship by descent is available in many countries, especially in Europe. Nations like Ireland, Italy, Poland, Hungary, and Greece allow second passports through ancestry, while others extend eligibility to grandchildren or even great-grandchildren.

Exploring the range of citizenship by descent countries is crucial for expats and high-net-worth individuals with documented ancestry who want to enhance their global mobility.

This pathway often provides valuable advantages such as visa-free travel, access to new markets, and stronger residency rights.

In this guide, we’ll explain:

• What countries have jus sanguinis?
• What countries offer citizenship by descent through grandparents and great grandparents?
• Which countries are the easiest to get citizenship by descent from?
• What are some of the benefits of citizenship by descent?

My contact details are hello@adamfayed.com and WhatsApp ‪+44-7393-450-837 if you have any questions.

The information in this article is for general guidance only. It does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice, and is not a recommendation or solicitation to invest. Some facts may have changed since the time of writing.

What refers to citizenship by descent or right of blood?

Citizenship by descent, also known as jus sanguinis or the right of blood, is a legal principle that grants nationality based on one’s family lineage rather than place of birth.

This differs from jus soli, or birthright citizenship, which is granted to anyone born within a country’s borders.

Under ancestry citizenship, individuals can apply for a passport if they can prove direct ancestry to citizens of another country, usually through parents, grandparents, or in rare cases, great-grandparents.

Documentation requirements vary but typically include birth, marriage, and naturalization certificates tracing the family line.

This pathway is especially attractive to those with ancestral ties to Europe, Latin America, or parts of the Middle East, where many countries maintain inclusive citizenship laws for descendants abroad.

Countries that allow citizenship by descent

More than 50 countries worldwide allow individuals to claim citizenship by descent, each with its own eligibility rules.

Below is a regional breakdown with notable details.

European Countries that allow citizenship by descent

• Austria – Citizenship is available to children of Austrian parents, and recent reforms allow descendants of Nazi persecution victims to reclaim nationality.
• Czech Republic – Descendants of Czech or Czechoslovak citizens can apply, even if their parents or grandparents were naturalized elsewhere.
• Denmark – Citizenship passes automatically from a Danish parent, with simplified claims for those born abroad.
• Estonia – Descendants of Estonian citizens before 1940 may reclaim nationality, especially those displaced during Soviet occupation.
• Finland – A Finnish parent automatically passes on citizenship, even if the child is born abroad.
• France – Citizenship by descent is available if at least one parent is French, with some recognition for French ancestry abroad. Some provisions also exist for those with French ancestry further back, depending on circumstances.
• Germany – In addition to parentage, descendants of individuals stripped of citizenship under the Nazi regime can restore nationality.
• Greece – Citizenship extends to children and grandchildren of Greek citizens, often requiring proof of cultural or community ties.
• Hungary – Allows descendants up to grandparents (and in some cases great-grandparents) to reclaim Hungarian nationality.
• Ireland – Grandchildren of Irish citizens may claim nationality through the Foreign Births Register.
• Italy – One of the most generous countries, offering unlimited generational transmission, provided citizenship was not renounced along the line.
• Lithuania – Descendants of Lithuanians who left before 1990 may reclaim nationality, often up to the grandparent or great-grandparent level.
• Luxembourg – Citizenship is available if you can prove at least one Luxembourgish ancestor, with deadlines extended in recent years.
• Netherlands – Dutch citizenship passes by parentage, though rules are stricter if born abroad.
• Norway – Citizenship automatically transfers if at least one parent is Norwegian.
• Poland – Citizenship can be restored if an ancestor was a Polish citizen after 1918 and did not renounce nationality.
• Portugal – Descendants of Portuguese citizens, including Sephardic Jews expelled in the 15th century, may reclaim nationality.
• Romania – Citizenship can be passed down multiple generations, even if the family left decades ago.
• Slovakia – Descendants of Slovak citizens may apply, particularly those from former Czechoslovakia.
• Slovenia – Citizenship is available through parents and sometimes grandparents, depending on residency history.
• Spain – Descendants of Spaniards, including those displaced during the Civil War, can reclaim nationality.
• Sweden – Citizenship automatically transfers from a Swedish parent.
• Switzerland – Citizenship may be acquired by descent but requires registration with Swiss authorities abroad.
• Turkey – Citizenship by descent applies if one parent is Turkish, regardless of place of birth.
• United Kingdom – British citizenship is available by descent through one generation born abroad, with some exceptions for further descent.

African countries that offer citizenship by descent

• Cape Verde – Citizenship by descent is available for children of Cape Verdean parents.
• Kenya – Citizenship automatically transfers to children of Kenyan nationals.
• Nigeria – Citizenship by descent applies to anyone with Nigerian parentage.
• South Africa – Citizenship by descent applies to children of South African citizens born abroad.
• Tunisia – Children of Tunisian fathers or mothers qualify automatically.

Americas

• Argentina – Recognizes citizenship by descent, even for those born outside the country.
• Brazil – Citizenship is passed through Brazilian parents, with some allowances for grandchildren under certain conditions.
• Canada – Children of Canadian citizens born abroad qualify, but generally only one generation is allowed.
• Chile – Citizenship can be claimed by children of Chilean citizens born abroad.
• Colombia – Children of Colombian parents qualify, even if born outside Colombia.
• Costa Rica – Citizenship is granted to children of Costa Rican parents, even when born abroad.
• Dominican Republic – Allows descendants of Dominican nationals to claim citizenship.
• Mexico – Citizenship is passed to children of Mexican nationals, even if born abroad.
• United States – Children born abroad to US citizens usually qualify automatically, subject to residency requirements of the parent.

Asia

• Mongolia – Citizenship is passed by descent from a Mongolian parent.
• Philippines – Children of Filipino citizens retain citizenship even if born abroad.
• Singapore – Citizenship is available if at least one parent is Singaporean.
• South Korea – Nationality passes from a Korean parent, regardless of birthplace.
• Taiwan – Citizenship can be claimed if at least one parent is Taiwanese.
• Thailand – Citizenship by descent is recognized if one parent is Thai.

Middle East

• Bahrain – Citizenship by descent is primarily paternal, though reforms have expanded maternal transmission.
• Israel – The Law of Return allows Jews and their descendants to claim nationality, alongside traditional jus sanguinis.
• Jordan – Citizenship passes through the father, though there are calls for maternal equality.
• Kuwait – Citizenship is usually conferred through Kuwaiti fathers.
• Oman – Citizenship by descent applies primarily through paternal lineage.

Oceania

• Australia – Citizenship by descent is granted to children of Australian citizens born abroad.
• New Zealand – Children of New Zealand citizens automatically qualify, even if born overseas.
• Fiji – Citizenship is passed down through Fijian parents.

Other countries that recognize citizenship by descent

Countries that allow citizenship through grandparents

Examples include:

• Ireland – Grandchildren of Irish citizens born abroad may apply through the Foreign Births Register.
• Hungary – Citizenship may be passed on if a parent or grandparent was Hungarian, regardless of current residence.
• Lithuania – Citizenship is open to grandchildren of Lithuanians who left before 1990, subject to certain conditions.
• Croatia – Allows applications from individuals with Croatian grandparents, often requiring proof of language and cultural ties.
• Latvia – Descendants of Latvian citizens up to the grandparent level may qualify, especially those displaced by World War II.

Countries that allow citizenship through great-grandparents

While less common, a few countries extend eligibility even further back to great-grandparents. These include:

• Italy – Known for its generous jus sanguinis laws, Italy allows descendants to claim citizenship with no generational limit, provided no ancestor renounced citizenship before the next in line was born.
• Poland – In some cases, if documentation can establish a continuous lineage, great-grandchildren may qualify.
• Lithuania – Similar to grandparents, some great-grandchildren of Lithuanian citizens may be eligible under certain emigration rules.
• Hungary – Though usually limited to parents and grandparents, some cases involving great-grandparents are considered.

Easiest countries to get citizenship by descent

The easiest countries to get citizenship by descent include:

• Ireland – Grandchildren of Irish citizens can register through the Foreign Births Register, often without residency requirements. The Irish passport also provides EU rights and extensive visa-free travel.
• Italy – Exceptionally generous, with no generational limit as long as citizenship was passed down without interruption. This makes Italy a top choice for people with deep ancestral roots, though documentation requirements can be extensive.
• Poland – Citizenship can be claimed if an ancestor was Polish after 1918 and did not formally renounce it. For many families with Central European heritage, this pathway is both valuable and attainable.
• Hungary – Allows descendants of Hungarian parents or grandparents to reclaim nationality. Applicants may need to demonstrate basic knowledge of the Hungarian language.
• Lithuania – Descendants of Lithuanians who left before 1990, especially during Soviet or Nazi occupations, can often reclaim citizenship. This is particularly appealing to those with Eastern European heritage.
• Spain – Offers simplified nationality to descendants of Spaniards, particularly under historical memory laws that cover those displaced by the Civil War and Franco era.
• Portugal – Recently expanded access for descendants of Portuguese citizens, including Sephardic Jews expelled during the Inquisition, making it a unique and meaningful path to EU citizenship.

Why pursue citizenship by descent?

It can be a strategic move with benefits including:

• Access to the EU or other economic blocs for work, study, or residence.
• Visa-free travel with stronger passports.
• Tax optimization and estate planning opportunities, especially when paired with trusts or foundations.
• Cultural and personal reconnection with ancestral homelands.

Conclusion

The citizenship by descent countries list is longer than many realize, with opportunities spanning Europe, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East.

For those with documented family ties abroad, this pathway can unlock dual citizenship without the financial or residency commitments required by other routes.

Thorough documentation and legal guidance are essential, but for many expats and global families, citizenship by descent remains the most accessible door to a second passport.

FAQs

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Adam is an internationally recognised author on financial matters with over 830million answer views on Quora, a widely sold book on Amazon, and a contributor on Forbes.