How to Get an EU Passport and Citizenship by Descent
“How to get an EU passport” is the question at the heart of this article. The short answer: you must first become a citizen of an EU member state. An EU passport is issued by the individual country (e.g., Ireland, Italy, Germany) and confirms your European citizenship with treaty based rights to live, work, and study across the EU.
I was born in Northern Ireland and later became a Canadian immigrant as a child. Being born on the island of Ireland entitled me to claim Irish citizenship; many people born in Northern Ireland are British citizens and may also be entitled to Irish citizenship.
My husband, born in England to Irish parents, obtained Irish citizenship by descent; our son qualified through us. Multiple nationalities Irish, British, Canadian have made it easier for us to live and travel in Europe. An EU passport is often just the first step see the full Living Abroad Guide for what building a life somewhere new actually looks like day to day.
Below, you’ll find how EU passports are designed and controlled, what rights they grant, the main pathways to citizenship (especially citizenship by descent), how to assemble evidence, and how residency by investment (golden visa programs) fit into the picture. We also cover EEA/Swiss passports, dual nationality rules, and country by country eligibility notes with authoritative links.
- How to Get an EU Passport and Citizenship by Descent
- How to get an EU Passport as an American
- EU Member States Passports
- The benefits of an EU passport
- How to get an EU passport: main pathways to European citizenship
- Citizenship by descent explained: how to actually get it
- Country guides: citizenship by descent
- Multiple and simultaneous passports
- Residency by investment in European countries (golden visa programs)
- Applying from abroad and costs
- FAQs
- How to get an EU passport as an American or Canadian?
- Which countries offer the easiest descent routes?
- Do golden visa programs give me a second passport immediately?
- Can I have dual citizenship?
- Which countries offer real estate investment as an option?
- Can I live anywhere in the European Union with an EU passport?
- Can I get permanent residency in any European country?
- Final checklist
How to get an EU Passport as an American
The main ways for an American to get an EU passport are by descent (claiming citizenship through a parent or grandparent, with countries like Italy, Ireland, and Poland being popular options), by naturalization (living in a country for several years, typically 5 to 10, and meeting language and integration requirements), or through financial investment (such as a “Golden Visa” in Portugal or Greece, which grants residency that can eventually lead to citizenship after several years). Have a read of my article on the best countries for Americans to move to.
EU Member States Passports
Issuance and standards: EU passports are issued by the 27 member states but must meet common EU security and biometric standards. Passports include a biometric chip with a facial image and two fingerprints (exemptions for children under 12 and those unable to provide prints
Denmark and Ireland are exempt from the fingerprint requirement). Photo: Standard ID‑3 size (88 × 125 mm). Covers state “European Union,” issuing country name, state emblem, “Passport,” and the biometric symbol.
EU vs Schengen: Most EU states are in the Schengen Area (no routine internal border checks), but not all (Ireland is not in Schengen). Some non‑EU countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) are Schengen.
Schengen overview: The Entry/Exit System (EES) will biometrically record crossings by non‑EU nationals at external Schengen borders (rollout began late 2025; full deployment expected by April 2026).
ETIAS (a travel authorisation) is slated for visa‑exempt non‑EU visitors in late 2026. EU citizens are exempt from both.
Validity rules. The “3 months beyond departure” and “issued within the last 10 years” rules apply to non‑EU nationals. EU citizens need only a valid EU passport or national ID to enter the EU. Entry conditions.
The benefits of an EU passport
- Free movement and residence. Live, work, and study in any EU member state without additional visas or permits; family members may gain residence rights under EU rules. Overview:
- Political rights. Vote and stand in European Parliament and local elections in your EU country of residence.
- Consular protection. If your country has no embassy where you are, you can seek help from any other EU state’s embassy/consulate.
- Equal treatment and social security coordination. Subject to conditions, access to healthcare, education, social security coordination, and consumer protections across the EU:
Practical note: As EU citizens, we’ve housesat and stayed long‑term throughout Europe without worrying about the Schengen 90/180‑day limit that applies to non‑EU visitors. After Brexit, UK citizens lost EU free movement unless they also hold an EU nationality (e.g., Irish).
How to get an EU passport: main pathways to European citizenship
Citizenship by descent (jus sanguinis). If you have a parent, grandparent, or more distant ancestor from an EU country, you may qualify subject to that country’s nationality law (generational limits, required registrations, whether the ancestor retained citizenship, historic cut‑offs). This route is often the fastest way to a second passport if you qualify.
Naturalisation (residence). Typically requires 5–10 years of lawful residence, language and civic knowledge, good conduct, and sometimes renunciation (varies by country). Successful naturalisation yields European citizenship and an EU passport from that state.
Marriage/registered partnership. Marriage doesn’t give automatic citizenship. It may reduce the residence period before naturalisation and grants family residence rights under EU free movement rules.
Restitution/rehabilitation. Countries like Germany and Austria provide restoration routes for descendants of those who lost citizenship due to Nazi persecution (details below).
Investment programs (golden visa programs). Several European countries offer residence by investment permits that can lead to permanent residence and later naturalisation, but they do not grant immediate citizenship. The Portugal Golden Visa program and Malta’s permanent residence (MPRP) are examples; Spain and Greece also offer investment options.
Citizenship by descent explained: how to actually get it
- Step 1: Confirm eligibility in law. Read the nationality rules on the target country’s official site (Interior/Justice/Foreign Affairs). Look for: generational limits, required registrations (e.g., registering a foreign birth), and whether your ancestor lost citizenship.
- Step 2: Map your lineage. Write the chain from the EU ancestor to you (names, birthplaces/dates, marriages, naturalisations, name changes).
- Step 3: Gather civil records. Obtain long form birth, marriage, death certificates for each generation; naturalisation/renunciation records; court/name change documents; sometimes church records for older events.
- Step 4: Legalisation/translation. Foreign documents usually need apostilles/legalisations and certified translations into the country’s language.
- Step 5: Complete required registrations. Some countries require registering the birth of a child born abroad before citizenship passes to the next generation (e.g., Ireland’s Foreign Births Register for grandchildren).
- Step 6: File with the competent authority. If abroad, apply through the consulate/embassy; if in country, through the municipality/civil registry or Interior Ministry office. Book early.
- Step 7: Wait and follow up. Processing is months to years. Keep certified copies updated if they have validity windows.
Tip: Naturalisation of your ancestor in another country can break eligibility in some systems (e.g., Poland, Lithuania). Find the exact dates and legal effect on citizenship status.
Country guides: citizenship by descent
Ireland
Eligibility: If a parent was born in Ireland, you’re an Irish citizen. If only a grandparent was born in Ireland, you can usually obtain citizenship by registering your birth in the Foreign Births Register (FBR) before you pass it to your children. Process: Prove lineage with civil records; apply for FBR (if applicable), then apply for an Irish passport.
United Kingdom
The UK is no longer in the EU. A UK passport does not provide EU free movement. UK citizens with an additional EU nationality retain EU rights via that EU citizenship.
Italy
Eligibility: Jus sanguinis through an unbroken line of Italian citizenship; certain female‑line cases pre‑1948 may require a court petition. Process: Collect certified records for every generation (apostilled and translated). Apply at the competent consulate or in Italy at the comune. MFA overview.
How to obtain Italian records: Use the Portale Antenati, FamilySearch, and contact the Ufficio di Stato Civile of the comune for birth/marriage/death records (“copia integrale” or “estratto”). For pre‑civil records, contact the parish/diocesan archives. Request template and tips appear later in this section.
Poland
Eligibility: You may confirm Polish citizenship if the ancestor was a Polish citizen and did not lose it under historic laws (pay close attention to pre/post‑1951 rules). Process: Apply to confirm possession of Polish citizenship; provide records proving uninterrupted citizenship or legally recognised retention.
Germany
Eligibility: By descent when citizenship was retained; special restoration under Basic Law Article 116(2) for those deprived of citizenship on political, racial, or religious grounds between 30 Jan 1933 and 8 May 1945 and all their descendants (no generation cap). Related §15 StAG routes cover additional persecution related cases. No residence or language test; dual citizenship is allowed for these restorations.
(§15 StAG refers to Section 15 of the German Nationality Act (Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz). It creates an “acquisition by declaration” route for people (and their descendants) who were historically excluded from acquiring or retaining German citizenship because of discriminatory provisions in earlier law, separate from the Nazi‑persecution restoration under Article 116(2) of the Basic Law.)
How to prove persecution (documents you may need): • Proof the ancestor was a German citizen and that citizenship was removed between 1933–1945 for persecution reasons (e.g., denaturalisation decrees, passports marked “J,” denaturalisation lists, emigration and exit records, residence/police files). •
Evidence of persecution grounds (e.g., synagogue or community records, civil records indicating religion, documentation of discriminatory measures, proof of flight/expulsion). • Full lineage from the persecuted ancestor to you (long form vital records, Familienbuch where available, name change documents).
Foreign naturalisation records establishing timelines (e.g., U.S./UK/Canada naturalisation dates). Submission: File via your German embassy/consulate or directly with the Bundesverwaltungsamt (BVA). Missions: (Citizenship). Use the mission’s current forms (often “Paket 4” for Art. 116(2)).
Austria
Eligibility: Restoration for descendants of victims of National Socialism who lost Austrian citizenship. Dual citizenship is typically possible for these restorations. Process: Provide persecution and lineage evidence; file via Austrian mission.
Greece
Eligibility: Citizenship through a Greek parent; in some cases, via a grandparent if registrations exist in municipal rolls. Process: Obtain records from Greek municipal archives and register civil events as needed.
Spain
Eligibility: Children of Spanish citizens and, in defined cases, grandchildren under time limited historical laws. The Sephardic descendants’ window has closed; other historical routes may exist under changing statutes. Process: Work through the Spanish civil registry via consulate or in Spain; verify the current law and application window.
Portugal
Eligibility: Children of Portuguese citizens; grandchildren may qualify under defined conditions. The Sephardic route remains but has tightened significantly (proof of ties and stricter evidence). Process: Apply via the Conservatória dos Registos Centrais or a consulate; require Portuguese translations.
Hungary
Eligibility: Restoration possible if you or your ancestor were Hungarian citizens; basic language knowledge may be required. Process: Provide civil/church records; apply at a consulate or in Hungary.
Lithuania
Eligibility: Restoration for descendants of Lithuanian citizens who left before 1940 (often due to occupation/WWII). Some voluntary emigration cases are excluded. Process: Evidence of citizenship and emigration circumstances; check the Lithuanian Migration Department.
Latvia
Eligibility: Restoration for descendants of pre‑war Latvian citizens, including those who fled occupation, subject to conditions. Process: Submit lineage and historical documentation; see the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA).
Estonia
Eligibility: Restoration for descendants of pre‑occupation Estonian citizens; adult dual citizenship can be restricted confirm current rules. Process: Apply via the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board with proof of descent and historic citizenship.
France
Eligibility: Generally through a French parent who retained citizenship; France has specific rules on transmission to children born abroad and registration timelines. Process: Prove lineage, obtain a certificate of French nationality if needed, then apply for a passport.
Malta
Eligibility: Descent can pass across generations where citizenship was retained and births were registered. Process: Prove direct line of descent with civil records; apply at Identity Malta or a consulate.
Always verify current law on official sites, as rules and documentation standards change.
Multiple and simultaneous passports
Allow dual citizenship. Many European countries allow dual citizenship, though policies vary and may depend on the route (e.g., restitution/descent vs standard naturalisation). Confirm both your home countries and the destination country’s rules before proceeding.
Which passport to use. If you have both have an EU passport and a non‑EU passport (a second passport), use your EU passport when entering or leaving the EU/Schengen to benefit from free movement and to avoid non‑EU entry requirements (like future ETIAS).
Other EEA passports and Swiss passports
- EEA and Swiss nationals (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) enjoy mobility rights with the EU via treaties, but their passports are not EU passports. Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein are in Schengen, enabling passport free travel within Schengen.
Residency by investment in European countries (golden visa programs)
Golden visa programs are investment programs that grant residence rights usually temporary at first with a path to long‑term status and potentially citizenship by naturalisation. They do not grant immediate European citizenship.
Typical benefits include residence in the issuing country, Schengen short stay travel (if applicable), and, after meeting stay requirements, eligibility for permanent residence/permanent residency and later naturalisation (subject to language/integration and good character rules). Many countries allow dual citizenship, but you must confirm what countries allow in your situation.
Key programs and investment options (check official portals for updates):
Portugal Golden Visa (“Portugal Golden”): Residence permits via approved investment options (e.g., regulated investment funds, job creation, research, or cultural support). Real estate investment routes have been curtailed or reshaped verify current investment options on the official portal.
Pros and Cons of living in Portugal
Greece: Residence by investment scheme; real estate investment is an option with thresholds that vary by area and have changed recently. Consult the Hellenic Ministry of Migration and Asylum.
Spain: Spain’s residence by investment framework has existed (including real estate investment), but policy changes are under consideration check the official migration portal before proceeding.
Italy: Investor Visa for Italy grants residence via qualifying investments (innovative startups, strategic funds, government bonds/donations).
Malta: Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) grants permanent residence via a mix of contributions, due diligence, and real estate investment (lease or purchase).
Important distinction from Malta citizenship by investment:
Malta citizenship via exceptional services by direct investment is a naturalisation framework administered by Community Malta Agency; it requires residence (12 or 36 months) and stringent due diligence and contributions. It is not an automatic purchase of citizenship.
Cyprus ended its citizenship by investment programme in 2020. EU institutions discourage direct “citizenship for sale.”
Practical steps for investment programs
Confirm current law, eligible investment options, and minimums on the official government site.
Plan your physical presence; many permits and later citizenship require minimum stays.
Budget for legal fees, compliance, and where applicable, real estate taxes and due diligence costs.
Applying for records in Italy (for jure sanguinis)
Identify the comune of birth/marriage; use Portale Antenati.
Family Search, immigration files, and naturalisation records to pinpoint the town.
Request civil status documents from the Ufficio di Stato Civile (birth: “copia integrale” or “estratto con paternità e maternità”; marriage/death similar). Civil records are often free; request multilingual extracts where accepted, but consulates frequently prefer “copia integrale.”
For pre‑civil records, contact the parish/diocesan archives for baptism/marriage entries. Consider small donations and provide date ranges and name variants.
Foreign records need apostilles and certified translations; Italian records from comuni usually do not need apostilles for use with Italian authorities.
Applying from abroad and costs
If you already hold the citizenship of an EU country, apply for or renew your passport at that country’s embassy/consulate where you live. Fees for adult passports typically range €60–€150; children’s fees are lower; expedited services cost more. Always check the issuing state’s official consular page for current fees and processing times.
FAQs
How to get an EU passport as an American or Canadian?
- Qualify for an EU country’s citizenship first by descent, naturalisation after residence, marriage facilitated naturalisation, or restitution (where applicable). There is no “EU level” citizenship application.
Which countries offer the easiest descent routes?
- It depends on your family. Ireland (parent or grandparent born on the island) and Italy (unbroken jus sanguinis line) are among the most common, but documentation standards are high everywhere. Always verify on official sites.
Do golden visa programs give me a second passport immediately?
- No. They are residence by investment permits. After maintaining residence and meeting legal criteria (often several years plus language/civics), you may qualify for permanent residence and later citizenship, if the country allows dual citizenship and you meet all conditions.
Can I have dual citizenship?
- Many European countries allow dual citizenship especially for restorations or descent but some restrict it in standard naturalisations. Confirm both countries’ rules before you begin.
Which countries offer real estate investment as an option?
- Greece and, subject to changing rules, Spain and Malta (via MPRP lease/purchase) include real estate investment options. Portugal has significantly limited real estate routes under its program; check the official “Portugal Golden” portal for current investment options.
Can I live anywhere in the European Union with an EU passport?
- Yes, within the EU under free movement rules (conditions apply for some benefits).
Can I get permanent residency in any European country?
It depends on your status and the country. If you are an EU citizen: you acquire the right of permanent residence in another EU country after 5 years of continuous legal residence there under free movement rules. Some benefits may still have conditions, but you cannot be required to hold a work permit.
Final checklist
- Confirm your eligibility (descent, residence, marriage linked, restitution) on the relevant government site.
- Map your lineage and gather full civil records; plan apostilles and certified translations early.
- Book consular appointments well in advance; follow the exact checklist of the competent consulate.
- If you’re a dual national, use your European passport to enter/exit the EU/Schengen to avoid non‑EU entry rules (ETIAS/EES) applying to your other passport.
In short, how to get an EU passport comes down to proving a lawful route to European citizenship most often through citizenship by descent or, alternatively, by residence and naturalisation (sometimes marriage facilitated), or specific restitution laws.
Golden visa programs can be useful investment programs for securing residence first, with some countries offering real estate investment among other investment options, but they lead to permanent residence and only then, potentially, to a second passport. Because rules on dual citizenship and eligibility vary across European countries, rely on official government guidance, assemble airtight records, and plan timelines realistically doing so turns a complex process into a manageable path to the mobility and rights an EU passport provides.
If you are considering slow travel or relocating within Europe with a pet, this guide explains how to travel across Europe with your dog including ferries, road trips, documents, and border requirements.
This is one part of the full Europe Travel Resource Guide see also How to Pay in Europe and the Europe Travel Documents Checklist. Continue planning your trip with check Travel Scams in Europe for more on protecting your money while travelling. Other resources include Best Travel Apps for Europe and Do you need a voltage converter in Europe.
Disclaimer: This article is general information, not legal advice. Immigration/citizenship laws change always verify on official government sites and with competent authorities.
If you’re planning a full relocation, don’t forget to read our guide on moving a pet to Europe, which covers everything from paperwork to flights.
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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.
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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/
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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.