Citizenship by Descent Programmes | Latitude | Latitude Residency & Citizenship

What is Citizenship by Descent

Citizenship is a basic right that's existed for millennia - the very concept dates back to Ancient Greece. It provides those that hold it the right to be active participants in their community, through owning property, contributing economically, and being involved in political and administrative affairs - whether by running directly or merely voting in the process.

For centuries, people have moved around the world, establishing new roots far and wide. Citizenship by Descent (also known as Citizenship by Ancestry) provides the opportunity to return to those roots. It's a process by which individuals can gain the citizenship of their ancestors.

In the case of countries with jure sanguinis ('by right of blood'), such as Italy, it is granted to individuals provided they can prove their bloodline traces back to the country they're applying to become a citizen of. This could come via parents, grandparents or in some cases, great-grandparents.

Which Countries Give Citizenship by Descent?

There are many countries that offer citizenship by descent. However, it's important to consider that the rules and requirements can differ significantly depending on the country you're looking to become a citizen of.

For example, some countries will allow individuals to trace back as far as three (great-grandparents). Others have stricter regulations in place, only allowing an individual to go back a single generation (parents).

It's also important to consider that some countries stipulate that applicants renounce their original citizenship to become a citizen.

How to Get Citizenship by Descent?

You need to be able to provide evidence that demonstrates your lineage to the ancestor whose citizenship you're looking to obtain. Depending on the country in which you're applying to become a citizen, this will require you to provide birth certificates, passports, marriage certificates and address registers - essentially anything that can legally support your claim.

Italy

Italy

Italy is exceptionally unique in that there are no limits to how far removed you can be from your last Italian-born paternal ancestor to claim your Italian citizenship by descent. It's passed down through generations by way of jure sanguinis ('by right of blood'). It can also be claimed by those born after January 1, 1948, through the maternal ancestral line. You don't need to have been born in Italy or speak Italian to be eligible – a single qualifying ancestor is all that's needed. Speak to our advisors to learn about claiming Italian citizenship by descent today.

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You need to have had an Italian ancestor who was alive after March, 17 1861.
Did your Italian ancestor ever gain citizenship in another country? If so, it must have occurred after July 1, 1912, and after the birth of his or her child.
Are there women in your direct ancestral line? If so, the children of these women must have been norn after January 1, 1948, to pass on Italian citizenship.

Poland

There's ample opportunity for one to become a Polish citizen by descent. You simply need to prove, via civil documentation, that you have a Polish ancestor who was born and resided in Poland (or former territories of Poland) after 1920.

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You need at least one ancestor (a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent)
who was born in Poland or a former Polish territory.
Your ancestor must have resided in Poland or a former territory of Poland
until after 1920.
Your ancestor must have maintained their Polish citizenship until the day of
your birth or the day they died.

Ireland

The Irish citizenship by descent programme is applicable to those who have an ancestor dating back to a great-grandparent who holds Irish citizenship. To apply, you must be able to provide genealogical information required to verify your Irish citizenship through heritage.

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If you were born on the Island of Ireland prior to 1st January 2005, you are automatically an Irish citizen. If not, one of the following must be true:

- Your parent must have been an Irish citizen at the time of your birth.
- Your grandparent must have been an Irish citizen at the time of your parent’s birth.

- Your great-grandparent must have been an Irish citizen at the time of your grandparent’s birth, and your grandparent registered your parent in the Foreign Births Register before you were born.

Portugal

Portugal provides multiple pathways to becoming a citizen by descent. The most common is through having direct Portuguese ancestry. However, there are also opportunities for the descendants of Portuguese Jews with Sephardic ancestry and citizens of ex-Portuguese colonies to acquire citizenship

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For the regular citizenship by descent route:

You need to have a Portuguese parent or grandparent.
You need to be able to show ties to the Portuguese community.
You cannot have been convicted of a prison sentence equal to or greater than three years for a crime punishable under Portuguese law.
You cannot be a danger or threat to Portuguese national security or defence.

Austria

Two recent amendments to the Austrian Citizenship Act (in 2019 and 2022, respectively) have provided a pathway to Austrian citizenship for the descendants of victims of Nazi persecution. If you or your ancestor were persecuted due to political reasons, mental or physical handicaps, or advocacy for the Republic of Austria, you may be eligible.

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In order to qualify as the descendant of a victim of Nazi persecution:

Your ancestor needs to hold or have held Austrian citizenship or citizenship of one of the successor states of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, or have been a stateless person.
Your ancestor needs to have held their primary residence in Austria before 15 May 1955 and fled the country. If they hold or held citizenship, they need to have had their primary residence in Austria between 30 January 1933 and 9 May 1945.
Your ancestor needs have had reason to fear or have suffered persecution by the NSDAP (the National Socialist German Workers' Party) or authorities of the German Reich. · You need to have a direct descent line to a victim of Nazi persecution (i.e., as a son/daughter, an adopted child, a grandson/granddaughter, a great grandson/great granddaughter, etc.)

Italy

Find out more

You need to have had an Italian ancestor who was alive after March, 17 1861.
Did your Italian ancestor ever gain citizenship in another country? If so, it must have occurred after July 1, 1912, and after the birth of his or her child.
Are there women in your direct ancestral line? If so, the children of these women must have been norn after January 1, 1948, to pass on Italian citizenship.

Poland

Find out more

You need at least one ancestor (a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent)
who was born in Poland or a former Polish territory.
Your ancestor must have resided in Poland or a former territory of Poland
until after 1920.
Your ancestor must have maintained their Polish citizenship until the day of
your birth or the day they died.

Ireland

Find out more

If you were born on the Island of Ireland prior to 1st January 2005, you are automatically an Irish citizen. If not, one of the following must be true:

- Your parent must have been an Irish citizen at the time of your birth.
- Your grandparent must have been an Irish citizen at the time of your parent’s birth.

- Your great-grandparent must have been an Irish citizen at the time of your grandparent’s birth, and your grandparent registered your parent in the Foreign Births Register before you were born.

Portugal

Find out more

For the regular citizenship by descent route:

You need to have a Portuguese parent or grandparent.
You need to be able to show ties to the Portuguese community.
You cannot have been convicted of a prison sentence equal to or greater than three years for a crime punishable under Portuguese law.
You cannot be a danger or threat to Portuguese national security or defence.

Austria

Find out more

In order to qualify as the descendant of a victim of Nazi persecution:

Your ancestor needs to hold or have held Austrian citizenship or citizenship of one of the successor states of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, or have been a stateless person.
Your ancestor needs to have held their primary residence in Austria before 15 May 1955 and fled the country. If they hold or held citizenship, they need to have had their primary residence in Austria between 30 January 1933 and 9 May 1945.
Your ancestor needs have had reason to fear or have suffered persecution by the NSDAP (the National Socialist German Workers' Party) or authorities of the German Reich. · You need to have a direct descent line to a victim of Nazi persecution (i.e., as a son/daughter, an adopted child, a grandson/granddaughter, a great grandson/great granddaughter, etc.)

Citizenship by Descent

Your Introduction to Citizenship by Descent

What is Citizenship by Descent

Which Countries Give Citizenship by Descent?

How to Get Citizenship by Descent?

Our Citizenship by Descent Programmes

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