How to Get an EU Passport: Citizenship by Descent, by Country
There’s no such thing as applying for “EU citizenship” directly you become a citizen of one EU member state (Ireland, Italy, Germany, etc.), and that country’s passport comes with treaty rights across the whole EU. Most people qualify one of three ways: citizenship by descent (a parent or grandparent from an EU country), naturalization (typically 5–10 years of legal residence), or investment/residency programs that lead to citizenship later, not immediately. The fastest and cheapest route, when it applies to you, is almost always descent.
I was born in Northern Ireland and became a Canadian immigrant as a child. Being born on the island of Ireland entitled me to Irish citizenship many people born in Northern Ireland are British citizens who also qualify. My husband, born in England to Irish parents, got his Irish citizenship by descent; our son qualified through us. Holding Irish, British, and Canadian nationality has made living and traveling across Europe far simpler than it would otherwise be.
An EU passport is often just the first step. For what building an actual life somewhere new looks like day to day, see my full Living Abroad Guide.
Last fact-checked: August 2026. Citizenship law changes some countries covered here (Italy in particular) have changed significantly in the past year. Always confirm current rules on the relevant government’s official site before relying on anything below.
- How to Get an EU Passport: Citizenship by Descent, by Country
- What an EU Passport Actually Is
- The Real Benefits of an EU Passport
- The Main Pathways to European Citizenship
- How Citizenship by Descent Actually Works, Step by Step
- Country-by-Country Guide: Citizenship by Descent
- Applying for Italian Records (Jure Sanguinis)
- General Residency Pathways (Not Just Citizenship)
- Golden Visa and Investment-Based Residency, Generally
- Other EEA and Swiss Passports
- Holding Multiple Passports
- Applying for or Renewing a Passport You're Already Entitled To
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Beyond the Passport: What Moving Abroad Actually Involves
- Final Checklist
What an EU Passport Actually Is
An EU passport is issued by one of the 27 individual member states, not by “the EU” as a body. It confirms citizenship of that specific country, and citizenship of any EU country carries the same core treaty rights across all of them.
Design and standards. All EU passports meet common security and biometric standards a chip carrying a facial image and two fingerprints (children under 12, and people physically unable to provide prints, are exempt; Denmark and Ireland don’t require fingerprints at all). The photo follows a standard size, and the cover carries “European Union,” the issuing country’s name, and the biometric symbol.
EU is not the same as Schengen. Most EU countries are in the Schengen Area (no routine border checks between them), but not all Ireland, for instance, is EU but not Schengen. A few non-EU countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) are in Schengen despite not being in the EU. For the full breakdown of what that means for travel, see my Schengen Area rules guide.
The Real Benefits of an EU Passport
- Free movement. Live, work, and study in any EU member state without a separate visa or permit and family members can often gain residence rights too.
- Political rights. Vote and stand in European Parliament and local elections in your EU country of residence.
- Consular protection. If your own country has no embassy where you’re traveling, any EU state’s embassy can help.
- No 90-day clock. As EU citizens ourselves, we’ve housesat and stayed long-term across Europe without ever worrying about the 90/180-day limit that applies to non-EU visitors one of the most underrated everyday benefits.
- Post-Brexit note: UK citizens lost EU free movement entirely, unless they also hold an EU nationality (Irish, for many).
The Main Pathways to European Citizenship
- Citizenship by descent (jus sanguinis) a parent, grandparent, or sometimes more distant ancestor from an EU country. Rules vary enormously by country: generational limits, required registrations, and whether your ancestor kept their citizenship all matter. Often the fastest route, when you qualify.
- Naturalization typically 5–10 years of legal residence, plus language and integration requirements. Some countries require renouncing other citizenships; most don’t.
- Marriage or registered partnership doesn’t grant automatic citizenship anywhere, but usually shortens the residence period before naturalization, and grants family residence rights.
- Restitution or rehabilitation several countries, notably Germany and Austria, offer restored citizenship to descendants of people who lost it due to Nazi-era persecution.
- Investment-based residency (“golden visa”) grants residence, not citizenship. Naturalization, if it comes at all, follows years later and under separate rules.
How Citizenship by Descent Actually Works, Step by Step
- Confirm eligibility in law. Check the target country’s official government site directly don’t rely on forums or secondhand summaries. Look for generational limits, required registrations, and whether your ancestor’s citizenship was ever lost.
- Map your lineage. Write out the full chain from your EU-national ancestor to you: names, birthplaces, dates, marriages, naturalizations, and any name changes.
- Gather civil records. Long-form birth, marriage, and death certificates for every generation in the chain; naturalization or renunciation records; court or name-change documents; sometimes church records for older generations.
- Legalize and translate. Foreign documents usually need an apostille and certified translation into the target country’s language.
- Complete any required registrations. Some countries require registering a birth abroad before citizenship can pass to the next generation Ireland’s Foreign Births Register is a classic example for grandchildren.
- File with the right authority. If you’re abroad, that’s usually the consulate or embassy; if you’re in-country, the municipality, civil registry, or Interior Ministry. Book appointments early waits are long almost everywhere.
- Wait, and keep your documents current. Processing runs from months to years. Some certified copies expire keep them updated if your case drags on.
One trap worth knowing: in some countries (Poland and Lithuania are known examples), your ancestor naturalizing in another country can break your eligibility entirely. Pin down the exact dates and legal effect before assuming you qualify.
Country-by-Country Guide: Citizenship by Descent
Ireland: If a parent was born in Ireland, you’re already an Irish citizen. If only a grandparent was born there, you generally register your birth in the Foreign Births Register (FBR) before you can pass citizenship to your own children. Process: prove your lineage with civil records, apply for the FBR if it applies to you, then apply for a passport.
If citizenship by descent isn’t an option for you, Ireland also offers a route to residency for retirees who can show sufficient independent income to support themselves without working see my full guide to retiring in Ireland for the specific income thresholds and application process.The Immigrant Investor Programme (Ireland’s own golden visa) was formally closed to new applicants in February 2023.
United Kingdom: No longer in the EU a UK passport doesn’t provide EU free movement. UK citizens who also hold an EU nationality (Irish, for many) retain EU rights through that second citizenship.
Italy (rules significantly tightened in 2025 see full detail below): Italy ended unlimited-generation transmission with a 2025 law reform. You now generally need a parent or grandparent born in Italy, a parent or grandparent who held exclusively Italian citizenship at your birth or their death, or a parent who legally resided in Italy for at least two years after becoming a citizen and before your birth. If your application was already filed by late March 2025, or you’d already been recognized before the reform, the old rules may still apply to your case. This is actively contested in Italy’s courts, so verify your specific situation directly rather than assuming.
Poland: You may confirm Polish citizenship if your ancestor was a Polish citizen and never lost it under historic law pay close attention to pre- and post-1951 rules specifically. You’re confirming existing citizenship here, not applying for something new.
Germany: By descent, where citizenship was retained through the generations. A separate restoration route (Basic Law Article 116(2)) exists for descendants of people stripped of citizenship for political, racial, or religious reasons between 1933 and 1945 with no generational cap, and no residence or language requirement. A related provision (§15 of the German Nationality Act) covers other historically excluded groups. Both allow dual citizenship. Proving a persecution-based claim typically means documenting your ancestor’s citizenship and its removal, evidence of the persecution itself, and a full, unbroken lineage down to you.
Austria: A similar restoration route exists for descendants of Nazi-era victims who lost Austrian citizenship, with dual citizenship typically allowed. no classic golden visa, but Germany has a self-employment residence permit route tied to business investment and job creation; not investment-for-residency in the same sense as the others.
Greece: Citizenship through a Greek parent; sometimes through a grandparent if the right municipal registrations exist. You’ll need records from Greek municipal archives and may need to register historic civil events yourself.
Spain (more routes available than commonly assumed see full detail below): You qualify automatically if a parent was a Spanish citizen at your birth, if both parents were born in Spain, or through adoption by a Spanish citizen before age 18. A special grandparent route exists for descendants of Spanish women who lost their nationality specifically through marrying a non-Spaniard, before the 1978 Constitution. If a parent or grandparent was Spanish but you don’t qualify by birth directly, as little as one year of legal residence in Spain can open a fast-track path notably shorter than standard naturalization. Note: the Sephardic descendants’ window has closed; don’t confuse it with the routes above, which remain open.
Portugal: Children of Portuguese citizens generally qualify; grandchildren may, under defined conditions. The Sephardic route still technically exists but has tightened considerably, with stricter proof requirements.
Hungary: Restoration is possible if you or an ancestor held Hungarian citizenship; basic language knowledge is sometimes required.
Lithuania: Restoration for descendants of Lithuanian citizens who left before 1940, generally tied to WWII-era occupation some voluntary emigration cases are excluded.
Latvia: Restoration for descendants of pre-war Latvian citizens, including those who fled occupation, subject to conditions verified through the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.
Estonia: Restoration for descendants of pre-occupation Estonian citizens; adult dual citizenship may be restricted, so confirm current rules directly.
France: Generally through a French parent who retained citizenship France has specific rules and registration timelines for children born abroad.
Malta: Descent can pass across generations where citizenship was retained and births properly registered. You’ll need to prove a direct line of descent through civil records.
Always verify current law on the relevant official government site rules and documentation standards change, sometimes significantly, as Italy and Spain both show.
Applying for Italian Records (Jure Sanguinis)
- Identify the comune (municipality) of birth or marriage, using the Portale Antenati or FamilySearch to narrow down the town if you’re not sure.
- Request civil status documents from the Ufficio di Stato Civile birth records as “copia integrale” or “estratto con paternità e maternità,” marriage and death similarly.
- For records older than Italy’s civil registration system, contact the parish or diocesan archives for baptism and marriage entries directly.
- Foreign records need an apostille and certified translation; records issued by an Italian comune usually don’t need an apostille when used with other Italian authorities.
General Residency Pathways (Not Just Citizenship)
Citizenship isn’t always the goal sometimes long-term legal residence is what you actually need, whether as a step toward eventual citizenship or as an end in itself. This page covers Portugal and Cyprus in detail below; for the other countries covered here, see the dedicated guide, since visa types, healthcare access, and cost of living all deserve more room than a summary table can give them:
Become a Digital Nomad in Europe — country-by-country digital nomad visa options
Moving to Italy — covers EU routes, the jus sanguinis descent process, investor and digital nomad visas
Ultimate Guide to Moving to Spain — visa requirements for non-EU and UK citizens, healthcare, residence permits
Moving to Greece — visas and cost of living for US, UK, and EU citizens
A Move to France — visas, housing, healthcare, and taxes for expats
Living in Croatia — visas, healthcare, cost of living, and settling in
Pros and Cons of Living in Austria
Retire in Andalucía — Spain-specific retirement guidance with Ultimate Guide to Retiring in Spain and Living in Barcelona.
Portugal
Non-EU citizens generally need a valid entry visa, proof of stable income or savings, a clean criminal background check, valid health insurance, and proof of accommodation. The main pathways:
- D7 Visa for retirees or anyone with passive foreign income (pensions, rental income)
- Digital Nomad Visa for remote workers employed outside Portugal
- Golden Visa residence through qualifying investment (fund subscriptions, job creation, research or cultural support the real estate route has been significantly curtailed; check the official Portugal Golden Visa portal for current investment options)
- Work or Study Visas tied to a local job offer or university enrollment. Read all about living on the Algarve of Portugal.
Cyprus
Several distinct pathways exist, managed through the Civil Registry and Migration Department:
- Permanent Residence by Investment a fast-track route through real estate, commercial property, or local company/fund investment, with relatively light physical-presence requirements (visiting roughly once every two years)
- Temporary Residence Permit (“Pink Slip”) aimed at non-EU nationals and remote workers wanting to live in Cyprus on an annually renewable basis, requiring proof of stable foreign income and local housing
- EU citizens can live and register in Cyprus freely, gaining permanent registration after five consecutive years of legal residence
Investment minimums and income thresholds for both countries change; check the official government portals linked above rather than relying on any figure you find elsewhere, including here.
Golden Visa and Investment-Based Residency, Generally
These programs grant residence, not immediate citizenship. After maintaining that residence and meeting a country’s legal requirements often several years, plus language and integration criteria you may become eligible for permanent residence and, eventually, naturalization, if the country allows dual citizenship and you meet every condition.
Portugal investment options have shifted substantially away from real estate; verify current options on the official portal.
Greece real estate investment remains an option, with thresholds that vary by region and have changed recently; check with the Hellenic Ministry of Migration and Asylum.
Spain a residence-by-investment framework has existed, including real estate, but policy is actively under review; check the official migration portal before making any plans around it.
Italy an Investor Visa route exists via qualifying investments (innovative startups, strategic funds, government bonds or donations).
Malta the Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) combines financial contributions, due diligence, and property investment (lease or purchase). This is distinct from Malta’s citizenship-by-investment framework, which requires actual residence (12 or 36 months) and rigorous due diligence it is not a straightforward purchase of citizenship.
Cyprus ended its citizenship-by-investment program entirely in 2020. EU institutions have generally discouraged “citizenship for sale” programs since.
Hungary: The Hungary Guest Investor Programme (often called the Golden Visa) grants a 10-year renewable residence permit to non-EU/EEA citizens who invest a minimum of €250,000. The program allows visa-free travel within the Schengen Area and includes the investor’s spouse and minor children.
Latvia offers a formal Golden Visa (temporary residency by investment) starting at a €50,000 business investment or €250,000 real estate purchase.
Lithuania (temporary residency by investment) starting at a €50,000 business investment or €250,000 real estate purchase, while Lithuania does not have a classic passive golden visa but provides temporary residency through local company establishment or business investment starting at roughly €14,000 to €50,000.
Other EEA and Swiss Passports
Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland aren’t EU members, but their citizens have mobility rights with the EU through separate treaties their passports simply aren’t EU passports. Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein are all in Schengen, so their citizens travel passport-free within it regardless.
Holding Multiple Passports
Most European countries allow dual citizenship, though rules vary restitution and descent routes are more commonly dual-citizenship-friendly than standard naturalization. Confirm the rules of both your existing country and your target country before you start; some naturalization routes still require renouncing prior citizenship.
If you hold both an EU and a non-EU passport, use the EU one when entering or leaving the EU/Schengen it gets you free movement and avoids the non-EU entry requirements (including ETIAS, once it’s actually operational) that apply to your other passport.
Applying for or Renewing a Passport You’re Already Entitled To
If you already hold citizenship of an EU country, apply for or renew your passport through that country’s embassy or consulate in your country of residence. Fees and processing times vary by country and change always check the issuing state’s official consular page for current details rather than relying on a fixed number.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does an American or Canadian get an EU passport?
You first qualify for an EU country’s citizenship by descent, by naturalization after a period of legal residence, through marriage-facilitated naturalization, or through a restitution law if one applies to your family. There’s no “EU-level” application; it always runs through one specific member state.
Which countries offer the most accessible descent routes?
It depends entirely on your family history. Ireland (a parent or grandparent born on the island) remains one of the more straightforward routes. Italy used to be as well, but its rules tightened significantly in 2025 you now generally need a parent or grandparent actually born in Italy, not just an ancestor further back. Spain also offers more routes than people often realize, including a grandmother-specific clause and a residency fast-track for descendants who don’t qualify by birth alone.
Do golden visa programs give me a passport right away?
No. They’re residence permits. Only after maintaining that residence and meeting a country’s legal requirements which usually takes years and includes language or civic criteria might you become eligible for citizenship, and only if the country allows dual nationality and you meet every condition.
Can I hold dual citizenship?
Many European countries allow it, particularly for descent or restitution claims, though some restrict it for standard naturalization. Confirm both countries’ current rules before you begin the process.
Which countries currently include real estate as an investment option?
Greece still does. Spain’s real estate route exists but is under active policy review. Portugal has sharply curtailed its real estate pathway. Cyprus’s real estate route leads to residency, not citizenship, since its citizenship-by-investment program ended in 2020. Always check the relevant official portal these change often.
Can I live anywhere in the EU with an EU passport?
Yes, under free movement rules, though some specific benefits still carry conditions.
Can I get permanent residency anywhere in the EU?
If you’re already an EU citizen, you gain the right to permanent residence in another EU country after five years of continuous, legal residence there under free movement rules. Some benefits may still have conditions attached, but you can’t be required to hold a separate work permit.
Beyond the Passport: What Moving Abroad Actually Involves
Getting the right to live somewhere is only ever the first step. What actually determines whether a move works for us, and for most people we’ve talked to is everything that comes after: finding housing, understanding a new healthcare system, working out what things really cost, and building a life that doesn’t just look good on paper.
If you’re weighing where to go rather than locked into one country by descent or family ties, Best Countries for Americans to Move To is a useful starting point, covering more than a dozen destinations at once. For the UK specifically, Move to UK from US and 39 Pros and Cons of Living in the UK cover both the immigration process and the honest day-to-day reality. Further afield, we’ve also covered living in Barcelona, Sweden, the Algarve in Portugal, and even Canada and the Yucatán in Mexico for readers looking outside Europe entirely.
None of these guides are theoretical. They’re written from having actually done it, or from the real experiences of people who have including the 23 personal stories we’ve collected from others who made the leap. If a passport by descent isn’t in the cards for you, that doesn’t close the door on living abroad; it just means the visa route, rather than the citizenship route, is where your planning should start.
Final Checklist
- Confirm your specific eligibility descent, residence, marriage, or restitution directly on the relevant government’s official site.
- Map your full lineage and start gathering civil records early; apostilles and certified translations take time.
- Book consular appointments well in advance, and follow the exact document checklist your specific consulate provides.
- If you hold dual nationality, use your European passport to enter and exit the EU/Schengen, avoiding the non-EU entry rules (ETIAS, EES) that apply to your other passport.
In short: getting an EU passport comes down to proving a lawful route to citizenship most often through descent, sometimes through residence and naturalization, occasionally through marriage or a specific restitution law. Golden visa programs can be a useful way to secure residence first, but they lead to citizenship only eventually, and only if you meet every subsequent requirement. Because the rules genuinely do change Italy and Spain both shifted meaningfully in the past year alone rely on official government sources, keep your documentation airtight, and plan your timeline with real slack built in.
If you’re considering slow travel or relocating within Europe with a pet, see my guide on moving a pet to Europe, covering paperwork, ferries, road trips, and border requirements.
This is one part of the full Europe Travel Resource Guide see also Travel Scams in Europe for protecting your money while traveling.
Disclaimer: This article is general information, not legal advice. Immigration and citizenship laws change always verify current rules on official government sites and with a qualified professional before making decisions based on this content.
This is an informative article!
Thank you Aleena
The Cyprus government offers a Citizenship programme which has recently been updated. please see below full details.
https://gk-lawfirm.com/practice-areas/cyprus-citizenship-by-investment-program/
This is fascinating and highly informative information. As the holder of a British EU passport (but not for long though – the less said about that the better :-)), it’s really interesting to look at this subject from a different perspective.
Any Irish relatives…lol…hopefully Brexit won’t cost too many people their access to live and work in the rest of the EU.
This was a very interesting and useful article. I had no idea you could get EU passport through descent.
It’s pretty cool right? I have heard from lots of folks in the US and Canada who are now actively searching for EU relatives lol
This is extremely useful information. Sadly, it’s my great-grandparents not grandparents or parents that are from Europe so I guess I don’t qualify.
Yes sadly only a few of the EU countries allow great grandparents and that will probably change soon enough.
That’s a most interesting read! You did some extended research there! It’s quite an issue to travel in and out Europe every three months resp. as George is South African, we went half a year to the United Kingdom and then back to Europe to extend is allowed stay. We have now a visa in France for a year, because I’m a legal partner of him (and I’m Swiss). That helps. George’s roots are historically in Greece and the Netherlands, but that is probably too long ago, somewhere in the early 20th century.
The good thing about being a Swiss national is the ability to live and work anywhere in the EU. He may be eligible for Greek citizenship as it is the one country that does extend pretty far back in time though.
Very informative piece! I actually looked into getting a Lithuanian passport by ancestry a couple of years back but it seemed like a complicated process. I should look into it again!
It could be worth it Megan, particularly if you want to travel, live or eventually retire to somewhere in the EU
This is a great guide! Im going to share it on my FB page as lots of people always ask how I became Irish! Easiest way to live in EU for sure
Yay – This is a great guide! Im going to share it on my FB page as lots of people always ask how I became Irish! Easiest way to live in EU for sure
Thanks for the guide 😉
LOL yep luckily I was born in Ireland, the North but it entitled me to Irish citizenship which is brilliant. I so want to retire to Ireland someday when I have finished travelling but a bit torn right now between Ireland and Spain.
This is absolutely fascinating, but probably would not help me. I know the birthplace of my paternal grandfather (Belarus), which is not a member. For my maternal grandfather (born in Austria), I have a town name but I have not been able to find it. I fear (from some research a fellow blogger did) that the birthplace of my maternal grandfather was liquidated by the Nazis and its citizens of my religion slaughtered. I would have no idea how to try to go about looking further into trying to get a record.
I would contact the embassy if I were you there are many immigrants forced out of Germany or their records destroyed by the Nazi’s and with Brexit many are trying to find a way to discover their ancestry. This is one article that appeared recently in the press https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/30/uk-descendants-of-jewish-refugees-seek-german-citizenship-after-brexit-vote
Alana, if you can prove that you had a Jewish Grandfather in Germany/Austria (which was one country under the Nazis), applying for (at least a German) passport is just a formality. And as far as I know you would not have to give up your current nationality to obtain German citizenship. Having German citizenship, you’d be be free to to live and work in any of the 28/27 EU countries. See official info here: https://www.germany.info/us-en/service/03-Citizenship/restoration-of-german-citizenship/925120
Are you saying that if my grandfather was from Austria and was forced to flea in 1938 that I could be eligible for German citizenship? I can definitely prove this. How sure are you that it extends to people who where not from Germany? Im an American living in Prague, I want to stay in the EU permanently and this would make my life a lot easier.
Also see this: https://geteupassport.com/german_citizenship/
I’m excited to learn that I may be eligible for dual citizenship in Poland. I’ve always wanted EU citizenship. Definitely something to look into.
Do you have any info on Austria? Turns out my husband’s grandfather was from Austria! I am Spanish so it would be fantastic if he could get the passport.
Yes and thanks I guess I missed Austria so here are the rules
Children automatically become Austrian citizens at the time of their birth, when the mother is an Austrian citizen. The same applies in case the parents are married and only the father is an Austrian citizen.
If the parents are not married and only the father of the child is an Austrian citizen, however the mother is a national of another country, the child acquires Austrian citizenship, when within 8 weeks the Austrian father recognizes his parenthood or the fact that he is the father is determined by court. In all cases where recognition of fatherhood or the determination by court is done after his timeframe, children may be awarded Austrian citizenship in a simplified procedure.
Sadly if you choose to get the Dutch nationality you will, in most cases, have to give up your original nationality. The Netherlands will only allow dual nationality in certain cases such as when you are from a country that doesn’t allow you to give up its nationality. In other cases, you can be born in the Netherlands and having lived there almost all your life, you will have to give up your Dutch nationality if you take on another one. Dutch expats are very upset about this, because this way you might need a visa to visit your own home country. It’s just outrageous!
Rambling a bit, but I just meant to say that if your ancestors were Dutch, unlucky you, because even us real Dutchies don’t get to hold two different passports… But anyway, being Dutch is not a bad thing so life could have been worse 🙂
Interesting I know the Dutch have pretty stringent rules – but if you were born in another country for example Canada you cannot give up your citizenship as it is acquired by birth. There are other countries that you cannot give up your nationality (I have put those into the original post) and this does not mean you had to be born in that country. So yes while this is true to a certain extent for many who may want Dutch citizenship (as in those born in N. America) they don’t need to become a “non-citizen” of their country of birth but they can have dual nationality with their Dutch citizenship.
WOW! I had no idea that you could get an EU passport by descent. My grandpa was from Ireland so I’m about to look into this! My husband’s grandparents are from Malta, but it looks like he wouldn’t be able to get a passport since his mother was born in the US. This article is super useful! Thank you so much for sharing!
You are very welcome – when you apply for your Irish passport you can go online and order copies of the birth certs and wedding certs that you need quite easily. They will mail them to your home address and you can apply from where you are living.
Very useful and complete information for all those who are looking to live in Europe.
This post is super helpful! Learnt so much reading – I shall refer anyone to this post who asks about getting a EU passport! Thanks for sharing
This is a very useful blog post! I’m already an Italian citizen so I really don’t have to apply anywhere (other than the US where I currently live – three more years!). However, many of my friends here in the US are currently trying to gain one of these citizenships!
Wow! lots of information. We are Canadians, wish we could get a UK passport, as we would love to live in England in the future.
Canadian here as well lucky for us though born in Ireland. Do you not have any relatives born in Europe anywhere?
Very thorough post thanks! I tried to get a Greek passport as my grandfather was born there but as you say, it’s difficult to get documentation and there was actually no record of his birth or anything about him. I was so disappointed!
Wow this is so impressive and comprehensive. Thanks for breaking down such a complex process!
Really interesting article. I’m living in Ireland (temporarily on working holiday visa. A lot of people have asked if I’d want to stay longer, but getting Irish citizenship is quite hard. Unfortunately I’m fifth generation Canadian, so I can’t get any kind of EU citizenship from my parents/grandparent. I do like my Canadian passport, but it would be nice to have dual citizenship with an EU one as well.
This is really useful citizenship information! I’m lucky, because I already have my dual citizenship (my mom is German and dad’s from the US), but we actually get asked about this at work from time to time — so I’ll have to keep your website in mind as a resource for more information on the topic. Thanks!
Thanks for this. Currently looking into an EU passport at the moment. Looks like my wife may qualify. This will give us a chance to stay in Europe a lot longer.
This is such good information! I long to live in Europe, my family hails from England, Ireland, and France. I am also planning when and where I will be giving birth to my not-yet-planned children!
Wow, this is an impressive collection of information. I’ll be passing it on to my Czech boyfriend since I’ve been nagging him to get his dual citizenship!
what a great and informative post! I am European so I don’t really need to worry about it but my husband is American and I wish he’s grandparents were European ( well they had European parents but they were born in USA) as it would make some stuff easier for us 🙂 As for now he has family visa which is also a solution for getting European passport 🙂
My best friend finally got her dual citizenship all sorted out for her and her son (husband not so lucky). She’s Polish and her grandmother and both of her parents were born there so it was easy for her. I’d love to look into the process of getting dual citizenship in Portugal through property ownership. Maybe that can be your next post, lol!
LOL I am actually working on a post now about how to get residency as a property owner or as a retiree so keep an eye on this space.
This is such a great post! It really in depth and you did a lot of research. I hope some people figure out they can expand their nationality! I know so many people that could claim some of these. I already have triple citizenship, and I’m looking at starting a business in Estonia, which includes E-citizenship to Estonia and the EU. It doesn’t look like I have any more options based on this, so I think I’m good at three. haha Thanks again for doing all this research!
Good for you – I follow your blog and SM channels love your stuff. So what type of business are you planning on? Always fascinated by entrepreneurial stories.
I was born in the UK and hold a passport, but it was very interesting to read your post, I will recommend it to friends that we have made around the world who have expressed an interest in this. Thanks for sharing all of this information!
wow you did quite a research! I’m glad I already have my Italian passport and can travel everywhere in Europe!!
This is really fascinating. I’ve never really considered getting anything like this. I don’t think I would qualify anywhere for a passport. When I did a little research, it seems my family has been here for awhile. It was still pretty interesting to read about all the rules, and I find it interesting that they have all of the exceptions for times of war or political strife. Thanks for the information!
This is great information on how to apply for EU passport. As mainly very less information is available on internet, it becomes very difficult to know which country suits according to us. Many of my friends are looking for dual citizenship and so I will share this post among them.
I was hoping that either the Dutch or Scottish heritage would work for me, but alas, such is my lot it is far too difficult. Plus I think my Scottish heritage is too remote (1800’s) in order to claim that at this point. I really enjoyed reading this, and feel like it is a HUGE resource for those looking to move overseas.
Very useful and informative article for those who are striving to get these citizenship. Rules have to be followed and so good that you have elaborated on them too. Interesting that males of Greece have to enroll in Army there.
This is such a detailed and informative article, well done! I believe it contains more information than the official sources and websites. May I ask you more about housesitting? I am thinking to do the same, but I am not sure if the offers are worth the investment for the membership.
Thank you in advance!
Hi Sabrina – yes feel free to ask me anything you want to know about housesitting I would be happy to help.
This is such an enriching article. I would love to spend a few years in Europe for sure. But getting is passport is a tough job. UK has been very tough with its immigration rules, though I love UK. Thanks for sharing it.
I was born in the UK and am married to my Australian husband. He has great grandfathers from the UK.
Does this mean that I cannot go back to live with my husband in the UK ?
If we cannot, I don’t know if I can stay in Australia, as even after 11 years, I still don’t like it and miss my friends and family!
It is a huge decision that I have to make!
Any advice or information would be so appreciated!
Thank you so much for all your help … you are making a difference:)
Hi Norah – you can easily return to the UK all you have to do is ask the British Embassy in Australia what information they need to process a visa for your husband to live with you in the UK. This should be a pretty straightforward thing to do. Because you are from the UK and you have been married or living together for over 11 years it will be very easy to get him a visa to live in England.
It is a helpful blog, thanks for sharing it.
Such a helpful post, thank you.
I am not sure what is the best way to go about doing an enquiry without costing a fortune. My Grandmother was Welsh (born in Whales and later moved to Rhodesia), my adoptive father has a British passport, my Husband was born in Newcastle and I was born in Rhodesia in 1968 (I am still trying to get an unabridged birth certificate). We would really like to get British passports but I would love to have some solid advice from a reliable source before I take on this mammoth task. Do you have any suggestions?
Well your husband is entitled to British citizenship automatically through being born in the UK. As for yourself where was your mother and birth father born? Generally speaking if your mother or father was born in the UK you would be entitled to a British passport via descent. If they weren’t born in the UK it might be trickier. Because your husband is a UK citizen and can get a passport you could live in the UK as his spouse but not get a passport until you have lived there I believe for 5 years, then you would be entitled to apply for citizenship.I hope this helps, it shouldn’t be too expensive just the cost of all the birth certificates etc – you don’t say where you live now or where your birth parents were born so its hard to say.
Hi there , been searching for answers re my family History. I am South Africa born, my father also South African and Southern Rhodesian citizen , British National . Fathers mother born in New Zealand including her father who would be my Great grandfather. My father biological father born in South Africa his father who is my Great grandfather born in Scotland UK. On my mothers side my Great grandfather born in Whales UK. From my investigation I am eligible to apply for British citizen as my father was a Southern Rhodesian citizen and British National act registered . Any information re same would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
This can be a difficult process for the most part whereever your grandparents were born is not important as they don’t count for citizenship. It is your father whose birth might affect your citizenship. You don’t say whether or not you live in S. Africa or where you are currently living. But I would follow this link which should help you figure out if you can claim British citizenship https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-outside-uk I hope that helps a little.
You can only gain UK citizenship by descent if either your father or mother are born in the UK. If your grandparents were born here you can get a 5 year ancestral visa, and once you have lived in the UK for 5 years apply for your indefinite leave to remain and then 1 year after that you can apply for citizenship.
When it comes to southern Rhodesia, as far as I am aware i think that everyone had to renounce their citizenship to become a Zimbabwe citizen, so this could be hard especially given that Southern Rhodesia was a colony.
I gained UK citizenship very easily because my mother is Welsh, and have been living here for 5 and a half years now.
My ex husband’s family is Italian. I live in SA with my daughter and my ex husband in Australia. Can I apply for my daughter’s EU passport in South Africa if he lives in Australia or does he have to be present?
I would check with the Italian consulate in SA to be sure. If you have the correct documentation you should be fine to apply from there, many people apply for their EU passports from different countries.
My daughter and her partner would like to live and work in Europe for a time .. both were born in Australia, however her partner’s father is Irish born. My daughter’s grandmother was Lithuanian and fled to Australia as a refugee after the war, and I myself as her mother was born in Germany. There is no birth certificate available for her grandmother but I do have my German birth certificate from 1947. We came to Australia in 1949 and were granted citizenship several years later. Please advise.
Her Partner will be able to get an Irish passport easily all they will need is the birth certificate of her partner’s father and then contact the Irish consulate in Australia to get the correct application form. I believe because you are German by birth your daughter can gain German citizenship very easily. Again she would need to contact the consulate to obtain the correct paperwork for her German passport application. Because you are German all she will need is your birth certificate as one parent can bestow citizenship on their child. Once the passports are obtained they confer citizenship automatically and they will be able to move freely around the EU with those passports.
Both my parents and grandparents etc were all born in Lithuania. They came to Australia as refugees after the war. I have a certificate from Denmark for permission to travel to Australia as both my mother and grandmother fled to Denmark first.
I recently found my mothers Lithuanian passport as she travelled back there in the 90s, but many other documents are hard to find due to the fact much was destroyed during the war.
Would HER passport be adequate support, obviously I would need identifying documents for my relatioship to her etc.
I had looked into getting a Lithuanian passport by descent…but I am confused is an EU passport something different?
Please could you recommend what i should do. Also there are no Lithuanian embassies in Australia.
There are two consulates in Australia that I can find that should be able to help you with this one in Melbourne Lithuanian Honorary Consulate in
Melbourne,
39 The Boulevarde
Doncaster, VIC 3108
Australia
TELEPHONE(+61) 3 9840 0070
(+61) 411 769 717
FAX EMAIL lithconsul@yahoo.com.au
and one in Sydney
Lithuanian Honorary Consulate in Sydney, Australia
11 David Street
Clifton Gardens, NSW 2088
Australia
TELEPHONE(+61) 2 9969 6232
FAX EMAIL gintav@optusnet.com.au
Give them a call and find out more. A Lithuanian passport is essentially an EU passport it isn’t something different they are one and the same but I know that can confuse a lot of people.
Good day.
My step father (born 1955, South Africa ) legally adopted me as a child. His mother and/or grandfather was from Italy. Would I be able to apply for citizenship?
It is possible as adopted children can become Italian citizens as you can see from the quote. However, you will have to contact the nearest Italian consulate to find out what papers will be needed to be able to apply.
“The minor adopted by an Italian citizen becomes an Italian citizen automatically, but the adoption must be recognized by the Italian Court for Minors and then transcribed in the registers of the Italian Municipality.”
Hi, my grandparents are from Latvia, I am in Australia.. they fled from the war. Can I apply for duel citizenship?
Yes, you should be eligible for Citizenship, but you will have to contact the nearest Latvian consulate to find out what paperwork you will need to be able to apply.
MY GRANDFATHER WAS BORN IN NAPLES 1906 AND CAME TO THE US. i WAS BORN IN 1946. CAN I OBTAIN ITALISN CITIZENSHIP?WM
If your grandfather was born in Italy and was an Italian citizen when your parent was born, it’s possible to apply for Italian citizenship through grandparents. However, you can only qualify in this way if your parent has not since renounced their right to Italian citizenship.
I really liked reading your post! Very high quality content and useful information. With such a valuable blog I believe you deserve to be ranking even higher in the search engines.
Nice Post.
Interested to Apply for Malta Citizenship by Investment. How to do? Please Help.
Currently the program in Malta runs out in October of 2020 and a new program is going to be available. I would keep checking here to see what the new program will entail https://www.maltaimmigration.com/
Love this website keep up the hard work!
What and who f do o I have to contact for dual citizenship I am a citizen of the US and have a passport of the United States I and my parents where German citizen till we moved in 1956 to the USA . I became a US citizen and my wife was born in the USA and has a passport I would like to know if and how we could get a second passport a German one so we could go back and forth also who would I have to contact and get all the info
A lot depends on whether or not your German citizenship by birth was renounced. I would contact the closest German Consulate to you and get an opinion from them. They may be able to assist you in obtaining your German passport.