Where Citizenship by Descent Is Easiest to Claim

Most of us grew up with stories about where our families came from. What fewer people realize is that those stories might entitle you to a second passport. Many countries let you claim citizenship through a parent, grandparent, or sometimes much further back—without moving there, learning a new language, or sitting through an interview. If you choose the right country and prepare properly, the process is often more paperwork than pain.

What “easiest” really means

Citizenship by descent rules vary wildly. When people ask which country is “easiest,” I look at five things:

• Generational reach: How far back can you go—parent, grandparent, great‑grandparent, or unlimited?

• Residency and language: Do you have to live there or pass a language test?

• Documentation burden: How fussy is the paperwork, and how hard are records to find?

• Processing time and cost: How long will it take and what will you spend?

• Dual citizenship policy: Will your current citizenship be affected?

Using those criteria, several countries consistently stand out for being generous, predictable, and doable from abroad.

The shortlist: countries where descent claims tend to be the most straightforward

• Ireland: Up to a grandparent via the Foreign Births Register; clean, well‑documented process.

• Italy: Potentially unlimited generations (with caveats), no residency, excellent EU mobility.

• Poland: Confirmation of existing citizenship through lineal descent; no generational limit if continuity holds.

• Romania: Restoration up to the third generation (children, grandchildren, great‑grandchildren) with no residency.

• Lithuania and Latvia: Restoration for descendants of citizens who left before Soviet occupation; dual citizenship available in many cases.

• Malta: Broad right to register for descendants of a Maltese‑born ancestor; generous on dual citizenship.

• Israel: Law of Return for those with Jewish ancestry to at least one Jewish grandparent; fast path to citizenship.

Others worth considering—depending on your family story—include Croatia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Germany/Austria (for descendants of those persecuted by the Nazis), and Spain (under a time‑limited law for descendants of exiles).

Below, I break down how each of the “easiest” options works in real life—who qualifies, what trips people up, and how to move from “I think my great‑grandfather was…” to an actual passport.

Ireland: if a grandparent was Irish, you’re halfway there

Ireland is the gold standard for clarity and simplicity.

Who qualifies

• You were born outside Ireland and have a parent who was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth, or

• You have an Irish‑born grandparent and you register in the Foreign Births Register (FBR).

• A great‑grandparent may work if the parent through whom you’re claiming registered in the FBR before your birth (so the line is maintained each generation).

Dual citizenship is allowed. No language, residency, or integration requirements.

Process, timeline, costs

• Apply online, then mail notarized originals/official copies to your assigned mission (consulate or embassy).

• Typical processing runs 6–18 months depending on backlog. In busy years I’ve seen 12–15 months as the norm.

• Government fee for an adult FBR application is roughly €278–€300, plus apostille/notarization and postage. Passport afterward adds ~€75–€100.

Documents that matter

• Long‑form birth certificates for you and everyone in the line (you → parent → grandparent).

• Marriage certificates where names changed.

• The Irish‑born ancestor’s civil birth record. Church records may help, but civil registration (post‑1864) is stronger.

• If the Irish ancestor naturalized elsewhere, proof they did so after the birth of the next person in your line.

Common pitfalls

• Submitting short‑form birth certificates (Ireland wants long‑form).

• Gaps in chain of names due to marriage/divorce or informal name changes—add legal name change orders or notarized explanations.

• Assuming “Irish heritage” is enough without a direct, documented line.

Personal tip

Order Irish records first from Irish civil registration (free index searches online) before you spend on foreign apostilles. Once you confirm the Irish birth entry, build out the rest of the chain.

Italy: incredibly generous generationally, but details matter

Italy’s jure sanguinis system can reach back indefinitely as long as citizenship passed uninterrupted down the line. It’s powerful but technical.

Who qualifies

• You have an unbroken line of descent from an Italian citizen who was alive (or born) after March 17, 1861 (Italian unification), and

• No one in the line naturalized in another country before their child was born, and

• For maternal lines: if the child was born before January 1, 1948, you’ll usually need to pursue a court case (due to historic gender discrimination). Maternal lines after that date are straightforward.

Italy allows dual citizenship. No residency, language, or civics exam if applying by descent.

Three ways to apply

• At your local Italian consulate: Often huge waitlists (in some cities 2–4 years to even get an appointment).

• In Italy, via residency at a comune: Fastest administratively, but you must actually move and register legally.

• Via the Italian courts (especially for pre‑1948 maternal cases): Through a lawyer in Italy; 12–24 months is common once filed.

Documents and gotchas

• Long‑form birth, marriage, and death certificates for all direct ancestors in the line, plus your own.

• All non‑Italian records need apostilles and sworn translations.

• Naturalization records of the emigrant ancestor (or certified no‑record letter) to prove they did not naturalize before their child was born.

• Name discrepancies are the number one headache. “Giovanni Rossi” becomes “John Russo” in the U.S.—your translator and consular staff need to see how these refer to the same person. Some comuni/consulates accept reasonable variance; others demand amendments.

Typical timeline and cost

• Consulate route: 1–3 years from appointment; total journey can be 2–5 years counting appointment wait.

• Comune route: 3–6 months after residency is established.

• Court path: 12–24 months post‑filing, plus lawyer fees.

• Costs vary widely: a few hundred euros for apostille/translation/government fees if DIY; €4,000–€12,000+ if you retain a firm for a court case or full-service handling.

Personal tip

Start with the naturalization proof for your emigrant ancestor. If they naturalized before the birth of your great‑grandparent, that line is likely broken for Italy, and you’ll save yourself months chasing other records. If dates are tight, collect both the naturalization certificate and the ancestor’s census records—consulates love corroboration.

Poland: confirm a citizenship you already “have”

Poland’s process is less an application and more a legal confirmation. If citizenship passed to you under Polish law in force at the time, the voivode can certify you’re Polish now—even if your family left a century ago.

Who qualifies

• You have a Polish citizen ancestor and citizenship was not lost along the line. Laws changed in 1920, 1951, and 1962, so the exact facts matter.

• Key traps: pre‑1951 cases where women could lose citizenship upon marrying foreigners; ancestors who performed foreign military service without permission; naturalization in another country before the next link in the chain was born.

No residency, language, or integration requirement. Poland allows dual citizenship.

Process, timeline, costs

• File for confirmation of possession of Polish citizenship with the voivodeship office (Mazowieckie in Warsaw is common, often via a Polish attorney or through a consulate).

• Timeline: 6–12 months is typical; tougher cases can run longer.

• Government fees are modest (tens of euros equivalent), but budget for apostilles and translations into Polish.

Documentation

• Civil records for each person in your line back to the Polish citizen ancestor.

• Proof of that ancestor’s Polish citizenship status after 1920 (e.g., old passports, military booklets, residency records, pre‑war ID; or proof they did not naturalize abroad before having the next child).

• “No record” letters from foreign authorities if you’re proving no naturalization occurred.

Personal tip

Polish archives are excellent. If you don’t know the exact village, start with ship manifests and U.S./Canadian census records to triangulate. Then search regional archives (PRADZIAD/Szukaj w Archiwach). If your great‑grandfather’s gmina changed borders post‑WWI/WWII, a Polish researcher can save months.

Romania: three generations, EU rights, no residency

Romania has one of the most powerful restoration regimes in Europe for descendants whose ancestors lost or were stripped of Romanian citizenship, especially in areas like present‑day Moldova and Ukraine.

Who qualifies

• You are the child, grandchild, or great‑grandchild of someone who held or would have held Romanian citizenship and lost it involuntarily (borders, war, political reasons).

• You can prove the line with civil records. No residency. Romania allows dual citizenship.

Process, timeline, costs

• Apply for “reacquisition” (re-dobândire) through the National Authority for Citizenship (ANC) in Bucharest or via consulates.

• Timeline: 18–48 months is common; some cases exceed that. After approval, you register vital events and apply for passport.

• Government fees are low; main costs are translations, apostilles, and (optionally) a local attorney. Many applicants engage counsel due to document complexity.

Documents and pitfalls

• Birth/marriage records for each generation in the line.

• Proof the ancestor was Romanian (pre‑1940) or from areas then under Romanian administration.

• Name changes and Soviet‑era documents can be tricky. Without a professional translator familiar with historical region names (Cernăuți/Chernivtsi, Bălți/Beltz), files stall.

Personal tip

If your family came from Bessarabia or Northern Bukovina, you may qualify even if the ancestor’s papers say “USSR” rather than “Romania.” The legal analysis hinges on borders at specific dates—don’t self‑reject just because the modern map disagrees.

Lithuania: restoration for descendants of those who left before 1990

Lithuania offers “restoration” of citizenship to descendants of Lithuanian citizens who left before March 11, 1990. Dual citizenship is allowed in many restoration cases.

Who qualifies

• You descend from a Lithuanian citizen who left the country before 1990.

• The strongest cases involve emigration before the 1940 Soviet occupation or departure due to persecution.

• If your ancestor left for the USSR during occupation, restrictions apply; emigration to the West tends to be cleaner.

Process, timeline, costs

• File with the Migration Department of Lithuania; can be done from abroad.

• Timeline: 8–18 months is typical.

• Fees are modest; expect to spend more on gathering documents and translations.

Documents and pitfalls

• Proof of the ancestor’s Lithuanian citizenship (interwar passports, residence records, military books).

• Emigration proof (ship manifests, visas).

• Persistent name transliteration issues (Polish/Russian/Yiddish) and shifting place names. Expert translation matters.

Personal tip

Jewish diaspora applicants often have strong cases through interwar passports or community records. If you can find a Lithuanian internal passport or a wartime refugee card, you’re in good shape.

Latvia: descendants of pre‑1940 citizens—especially “exiles”

Latvia distinguishes between descendants of pre‑1940 citizens who were exiled versus those who emigrated by choice. Exile descendants generally keep dual citizenship; emigrant descendants can too under more recent reforms.

Who qualifies

• You descend from a Latvian citizen who left Latvia before it lost independence in 1940, particularly due to war or occupation.

• Dual citizenship is available to descendants of exiles; reforms have expanded eligibility for others.

Process, timeline, costs

• Apply to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA).

• Timeline: usually 6–12 months if documents are clean.

• Fees are low; document and translation costs dominate.

Documents and pitfalls

• Proof of ancestor’s Latvian citizenship and departure circumstances.

• Evidence of exile (DP camp papers, refugee documentation) strengthens dual‑citizenship eligibility.

Personal tip

If a grandparent spent time in Displaced Persons camps in Germany after WWII, track down IRO/UNRRA files. They can decisively prove “exile” status for Latvia.

Malta: register as a citizen if you have Maltese‑born ancestry

Malta has quietly become a favorite because it’s flexible across generations and friendly to dual citizenship.

Who qualifies

• If your parent was a Maltese citizen at your birth, you’re Maltese.

• If not, you can often register as a citizen if you descend from an ancestor born in Malta (even if several generations removed), provided the line is properly documented and previous generations register where required by law at the time.

• The rules changed in 2007 to widen eligibility; many people qualify who previously didn’t.

Process, timeline, costs

• Apply through Identity Malta or a Maltese mission abroad.

• Timeline: 6–24 months.

• Fees are moderate; documentation and translations are the main lift.

Documents and pitfalls

• Maltese civil records are well kept; the challenge is aligning foreign records with Maltese names and dates.

• Check whether any ancestors renounced or failed to retain citizenship under older laws; a local practitioner can sanity‑check.

Personal tip

If your great‑grandparent was born in Malta, don’t assume you’re too far removed. Malta’s registration regime is designed for the diaspora.

Israel: a fast path for those with Jewish ancestry

While not “citizenship by descent” in a strict jus sanguinis sense, Israel’s Law of Return is one of the most generous ancestry‑based pathways on earth.

Who qualifies

• A person with at least one Jewish grandparent, or who is married to a Jew, can immigrate under the Law of Return.

• Non‑Orthodox conversions are often recognized if performed by established communities abroad.

• Security and background checks apply. Complex family situations can add scrutiny.

Process, timeline, costs

• Apply through the Jewish Agency and an Israeli consulate; most applicants receive an oleh visa and acquire citizenship upon or shortly after arrival.

• Timeline: often a few months once documents are complete.

• Fees are minimal; Israel provides benefits for new immigrants.

Documents and pitfalls

• Proof of Jewish status through synagogue letters, community records, or parental documentation.

• Discrepancies around parentage and conversions require careful handling with experienced community or legal guidance.

Personal tip

Gather multi‑source evidence (synagogue letters, birth/marriage certificates, burial records). Consistency across documents speeds approvals.

Other good options that depend on your story

Croatia: widened door for the diaspora

• Croatia’s 2019 amendments make it easier for people of Croatian origin to obtain citizenship without residency, even if several generations removed.

• Some knowledge of the Croatian language and culture may be required, though standards for diaspora applicants are relaxed.

• If your surname or family origin points to today’s Croatia or former Austro‑Hungarian lands, it’s worth exploring.

Hungary: simplified naturalization by ancestry

• If you can prove a Hungarian ancestor and basic knowledge of Hungarian, you may qualify for simplified naturalization from abroad.

• There’s a language requirement (typically conversational/basic), but no residency.

• Processing is uneven—budget 6–18 months once you file.

Czech Republic: declaration route for descendants of former citizens

• Children and grandchildren of former Czech/Czechoslovak citizens can often acquire Czech citizenship by declaration, with no language or residency requirement.

• Good archives and pragmatic authorities help; plan on months, not years.

Germany and Austria: special routes for descendants of those persecuted by the Nazis

• Germany allows descendants of those who were stripped of citizenship by the Nazi regime to reclaim it by declaration; Austria has a similar regime.

• These processes are among the most applicant‑friendly I’ve seen: no fees in some cases, generous evidence rules, dual citizenship permitted.

Spain: a time‑limited window for descendants of exiles

• Spain’s Law of Democratic Memory opened a route for descendants of Spaniards who went into exile for political reasons and for certain grandchildren of Spanish citizens.

• The application window has been extended to October 2025.

• Process is consulate‑driven; evidence of exile is central. Not a blanket “grandchildren law,” but if your family fled the Civil War or Franco, explore it soon.

Countries that are usually limited to first generation

Don’t waste time unless you’re claiming through a parent:

• United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK generally limit citizenship by descent to the first generation born abroad, with narrow exceptions.

• The UK has niche “double descent” cases (e.g., born before certain dates to British mothers) and routes for British Overseas categories, but they’re technical edge cases.

How to evaluate your own eligibility quickly

I use a simple triage when friends ask, “Do I qualify?”

• Draw your linear tree: You → parent → grandparent → great‑grandparent. Write birthplaces and birth years.

• Circle anyone born in Ireland, Italy, Poland, Malta, Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, Croatia, Hungary, Czech lands, Germany/Austria (if persecuted), or Spain (if exiled).

• For each circled person, ask:

• Did they become a citizen of another country? If yes, when?

• What were the gender rules at the time their child was born?

• Do civil records exist (birth/marriage/death)?

• Map to the right country:

• Irish‑born grandparent? Ireland FBR.

• Italian ancestor with no early naturalization? Italy jure sanguinis.

• Polish ancestor post‑1920 with no loss events? Poland confirmation.

• Ancestor from Bessarabia/Bukovina/Dobruja? Romania restoration.

• Pre‑1940 Lithuanian/Latvian ancestor who emigrated west? Restoration routes.

• Maltese‑born ancestor? Malta registration.

• Jewish grandparent? Israel Law of Return.

If more than one country might work, prioritize:

• The one with the most complete documents you can obtain.

• The one with the shortest current processing times.

• The one that offers the travel and work rights you want (EU vs. non‑EU).

Step‑by‑step game plan

• Get your own long‑form birth certificate, then your parent’s, then your grandparents’. This sequence avoids dead ends.

• Order the foreign civil record for your qualifying ancestor first (Irish/Italian/Polish/Maltese record). It confirms the anchor point.

• Check naturalization status. For ancestors who emigrated to the Americas, order:

• USCIS/Canadian/Argentinian naturalization records or “no record” letters.

• Census entries showing alien/naturalized status.

• Ship manifests and draft cards for triangulation.

• Create a document table (in a spreadsheet) with:

• Person, event (birth/marriage/death), date, place, document status, apostille status, translation status.

• Pre‑screen for red flags:

• Mother‑to‑child transfers before legal reforms (Italy 1948; Germany 1975 for maternal lines, though Germany now has remedies).

• Women losing citizenship upon marrying foreigners (common in pre‑1950s Polish law).

• Ancestor’s early naturalization that breaks the chain.

• Budget and calendar:

• Assume €300–€1,200 for a DIY file (apostilles, translations, certificates).

• Lawyer help can run €1,500–€12,000+ depending on complexity and country.

• Put realistic time blocks: 2–6 months for document collection; 6–24+ months for government processing.

• Choose your filing route:

• Consulate vs. in‑country vs. court (Italy).

• Declaration vs. restoration (Czech/Germany/Austria vs. Romania/Lithuania/Latvia).

• Prepare clean copies and certified translations. Most European authorities prefer sworn translators (often a list is provided).

• Keep originals safe; send tracked mail. Scan everything at 300 dpi and back it up in the cloud.

Real‑world examples

• Irish grandparent, clean case:

• Evidence: Granddad’s Irish civil birth record (1921, Cork); parent’s long‑form birth cert; parents’ marriage cert; applicant’s long‑form birth cert; IDs.

• Action: Online FBR application; mailed originals to consulate; approval in 10 months; Irish passport 3 weeks later.

• Italian great‑grandparent, maternal line pre‑1948:

• Evidence: Great‑grandmother born in Sicily (1901), her daughter (1925) born in the U.S., mother did not naturalize; applicant born 1988.

• Action: Hired Italian lawyer; filed 1948 case in Rome; judgment in 14 months recognizing citizenship; registered at comune; passport issued.

• Polish ancestor with possible loss:

• Evidence: Great‑grandfather born near Lwów (then Poland), emigrated 1928; U.S. naturalization in 1934; grandfather born 1932.

• Analysis: Chain intact—child was born before naturalization. Filed for confirmation; approved in 9 months.

• Romanian restoration via Bessarabia:

• Evidence: Great‑grandfather birth record from Chișinău (pre‑1940), Soviet documents for son; applicant is great‑grandchild.

• Action: Filed in Bucharest through counsel; 26 months to approval; registered birth and marriage; passport obtained.

• Lithuania restoration with name drift:

• Evidence: Ancestor “Leib Z.” in interwar passport; U.S. records show “Louis S.”; same date/place of birth.

• Action: Provided expert transliteration affidavit and community records; approval in 12 months.

Mistakes that derail applications

• Chasing the wrong ancestor. Always tie each generation with civil records before ordering fancy apostilles and translations.

• Underestimating name changes. “Cohen/Kagan/Kohn,” “Rossi/Russo/Rozzi,” and Slavic -ski/-sky/-ský variations are common. Provide a bridging document or an affidavit.

• Assuming any “grandparent of X origin” qualifies. Laws are country‑specific. For example, the UK generally doesn’t have a blanket grandparent rule.

• Ignoring gender‑date traps. Italy’s 1948 issue is famous; Poland’s pre‑1951 marriage rule is less known but just as consequential.

• Using genealogy websites as primary proof. Authorities want civil vitals, not user‑uploaded trees.

• Missing apostilles or using non‑sworn translations. This is a surprisingly common reason for delays.

• Not checking dual citizenship rules at home. A few countries restrict dual nationality; make sure your current citizenship policies are compatible.

How to get stubborn records

• Civil registry alternatives: Church books, military conscription lists, school registers, and cemetery records can help when a civil office can’t find a certificate.

• Archives and regional offices: For Poland/Lithuania/Latvia/Italy, regional archives often hold older registers and are more responsive than national offices.

• Naturalization research: In the U.S., use USCIS Genealogy Program, NARA, county courts, and state archives. Layer multiple sources—census, draft cards, certificates—until the timeline is bulletproof.

• Certified “no record” letters: Where you need to prove a negative (no naturalization), get formal letters from the competent authority; consular staff know how to read these.

Timelines and expectations at a glance

• Ireland: 6–18 months to FBR; passport a few weeks after.

• Italy: Consulate route 1–3 years after appointment; court route 12–24 months; in‑Italy 3–6 months with residency.

• Poland: 6–12 months typical.

• Romania: 18–48 months; patience required.

• Lithuania: 8–18 months.

• Latvia: 6–12 months.

• Malta: 6–24 months.

• Israel: Often 2–6 months to approval and arrival.

These aren’t guarantees; they’re what I see repeatedly across real cases.

What you gain (beyond a passport)

• EU mobility: With Ireland, Italy, Poland, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, or Croatia, you can live, work, and study anywhere in the European Union. Tuition savings can be enormous—EU university fees for citizens are often a fraction of international rates.

• Family benefits: Your children can inherit your new citizenship, sometimes automatically or by simple registration.

• Safety and choice: A second nationality is a hedge—access to healthcare systems, voting, and consular protection when traveling.

• Cultural reconnection: It’s cliché only until you stand in the town where your great‑grandmother was born and pick up your ID. For many readers, this process reconnects family lines that migration severed.

Choosing between multiple routes

If you qualify for more than one country, think strategically:

• Speed vs. paperwork: Ireland tends to be the quickest; Romania the slowest but very valuable. Italy is document‑intense but offers robust EU rights.

• Children’s inheritance: Some countries require you to register before your kids are born (Ireland beyond the grandparent level). If you’re planning a family, time your registrations.

• Future law changes: Windows close (Spain’s exile law has a deadline). If a program is temporary, prioritize it.

• Military and civic obligations: Most EU countries don’t have obligatory service; Israel does for citizens resident in Israel (with many nuances). Always check.

Costs you should plan for

• Civil records: $15–$50 per certificate domestically; more from abroad.

• Apostilles: $3–$20 in some places; $200+ if you use a rush service or a country with high fees.

• Translations: €20–€40 per page with sworn translators; specialized historical translations can run higher.

• Legal help (optional): €1,500–€12,000+, depending on scope and country. For Italy pre‑1948, plan on the higher end.

• Travel/postage: Courier services for original documents, and possibly one or two trips if you file in country.

For a DIY, clean Irish or Polish file, I see totals around €400–€1,200. Italian and Romanian claims range widely based on complexity.

Quick country comparison: who’s “easiest” for what

• Fastest route if you qualify: Israel, Ireland.

• Widest generational reach: Italy, Poland (if no loss events), Romania (to great‑grandchildren).

• Most forgiving on documentation gaps: Germany/Austria for Nazi‑era descendants; Ireland is also pragmatic with good explanations.

• Best for EU freedom with moderate paperwork: Ireland, Poland, Malta, Lithuania/Latvia (if documentation exists).

• Most capacity issues: Italian consulates (appointments and processing), Romania (backlogs).

Final tips from the trenches

• Start with facts, not assumptions. Write down dates and places. If you don’t know, say you don’t know—then go find out.

• Build redundancy. If one record is weak, add supporting documents like censuses or church entries.

• Control the narrative. A short cover letter that explains your lineage and key dates helps the clerk follow your logic.

• Track everything. Consulates and ministries misplace paperwork occasionally. A clean index of what you submitted—and when—saves weeks.

• Respect the clerk’s checklist. These are bureaucratic processes; your job is to make saying “yes” easy.

Resources that actually help

• National civil registry websites (Ireland, Malta, Italy’s comune portals).

• Archive search portals:

• Poland: Szukaj w Archiwach; PRADZIAD.

• Italy: Antenati portal for state archives.

• Lithuania/Latvia: National archives and JewishGen for diaspora clues.

• Government guidance pages:

• Ireland: Department of Foreign Affairs – Foreign Births Register.

• Italy: Your local consulate’s jure sanguinis page; Ministry of Interior for legal bases.

• Poland: Voivodeship offices; Mazowieckie for many confirmations.

• Romania: National Authority for Citizenship (ANC).

• Lithuania: Migration Department; Latvia: OCMA.

• Malta: Identity Malta.

• Israel: Jewish Agency and Ministry of Aliyah and Integration.

• Community forums where real applicants share timelines and document hacks—useful for current wait times and local quirks.

A closing thought

The hardest part is often the first hour you spend deciding whether this is real or wishful thinking. Once you put pencil to paper and map your line, the path usually reveals itself. If your family story includes an Irish‑born grandparent, an Italian surname with an Ellis Island date, a Polish or Lithuanian village, or a grandparent who survived the war and arrived via a DP camp, there’s a good chance a second passport is within reach. Do the detective work, build a tight file, and give the process the patience it demands. The payoff—legally, practically, and personally—is bigger than a booklet. It’s a link back to a place your family never entirely left.