If you come from a background with family history in multiple other countries, you might have been curious to visit those places, learn more about them, or connect in a deeper way by living there or even claiming citizenship. But how easy is it to obtain citizenship by descent? More specifically, how does Italian citizenship by descent compare to that of other European countries, and how can you tell if you’re eligible for one of them? In this article, we break down how citizenship by descent is defined, what has changed recently with Italy’s laws, and how other European countries compare.
How is citizenship by descent defined?
Essentially, citizenship by descent—also known as jus sanguinis—is the acquisition of citizenship by birthright, through one’s ancestors. How countries apply this kind of citizenship acquisition, and specifically how far back in one’s family line they allow a person to go, changes from country to country. In some cases, citizenship by descent can only be obtained through parents, though some allow persons to claim it through grandparents or even further back.
Italian citizenship by descent
Italy had one of the most flexible laws for citizenship by descent acquisition up until the Tajani Decree was introduced on March 28, 2025. Prior to the decree, persons could become Italian citizens if they could trace their line, unbroken, back to an Italian citizen alive after Italy became a unified country in 1861.
Now with the Tajani Decree, citizenship can only be acquired by Italian parents or grandparents. The decree is, though, being challenged, both by lower courts and through the Constitutional Court. The latter has recently reviewed certain aspects of the decree, and while it has been upheld for the time being, another constitutional review is set to take place in the month of June 2026. With that said, there is a hopeful gray area for those who started the process and/or took action to secure an appointment, unsuccessfully, before the decree (before March 27, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.)
*To apply, you will need to produce vital records proving your unbroken link to the Italian ancestor, a certificate of naturalization or non-naturalization of the Italian ancestor, and an application form. All documents not issued in Italian will need to be professionally translated and legalized. You can make an appointment to submit your application at your local consulate through Prenot@mi. You can expect a response within 12-24 months.
Irish citizenship by descent
Irish citizenship by descent can be passed down through parents, grandparents, and in some cases, great-grandparents. If your parent was an Irish-born citizen and was Irish at the time of your birth, then you are automatically an Irish citizen. Otherwise, you can become an Irish citizen through the Foreign Births Register if you have an Irish-born grandparent, or if your parent acquired Irish citizenship later in life, but before your birth. Citizenship through an Irish great-grandparent can only be claimed if your parent registered their right to Irish citizenship prior to your birth.
*To apply, you will need vital records linking you to your Irish ancestor. You will also need a witness, someone who is a professional but not a family member, to certify your documents and photos. You will also need to complete an online document and submit it, along with your other documents to the Foreign Births Registration Department in Ireland to be processed. There is also a fee of €270 for adults and €145 for minors. It generally takes around 9 months to receive a response.
That said, there is another option available to individuals with Irish great-grandparents known as “citizenship by association.” This form of citizenship, granted through naturalization, may involve residency requirements, although these can sometimes be waived. The process is discretionary and requires applicants to demonstrate a “substantial and tangible connection” to Ireland, typically assessed through a points-based system that takes into account factors such as family ties, cultural connections, and residence.
Greek citizenship by descent
Those with Greek parents, grandparents, or even great-grandparents might be able to claim Greek citizenship by descent. If the applicant was born before June 16, 1982, then he or she can only claim citizenship through the male line; after this date, it can be passed down through the female line as well. The applicant can obtain citizenship through Greek grandparents as well. However, if the Greek person you are claiming citizenship through is a great-grandparent, then your parents might need to obtain citizenship first before you can be eligible. While documentation gets more complex the further back in the family line one goes, in theory there is no generational limit to Greek citizenship jure sanguinis.
*To apply, you will need vital records linking you to your Greek ancestor, and an application form. Documents not in Greek will need to be professionally translated and legalized. You will then submit them at your local consulate. The processing time is usually between 1 and 3 years.
Polish citizenship by descent
In order to qualify for Polish citizenship by descent, your Polish ancestor must not have left Poland before 1920. This is because the Polish Citizenship Act was established on January 31st of that year, which codified citizenship. Finally, your Polish ancestor must not have acquired another citizenship before January 8, 1951 or he or she would have de facto renounced Polish citizenship. However, please note that if the man naturalized before 1951, there would still be a chance through the “military paradox,” a condition in which a man liable for military service (between the ages of 18 and 50) could technically naturalize in another country, though Polish authorities would still consider him a Polish citizen.
*To apply, you will need vital records linking you to your Polish ancestor, professionally translated in Polish and legalized as needed. You will also need an application form. If you have minor children who you would like to obtain citizenship with you, then you will need the consent of the other parent, if he or she is not a Polish citizen. A response can be expected in a year or more.
German citizenship by descent
German citizenship can be claimed through a German ancestor (male, or female in certain cases), with no generational limit. Since June 27, 2024, Germany allows dual citizenship.
You can apply for German citizenship if your starting ancestor emigrated from Germany after January 1, 1904, and was holding German citizenship by the time of birth of the next descendant in line.
Before 1975, German citizenship was mainly passed from father to child, provided that said child was born in wedlock or legitimized. Children born out of wedlock could retain citizenship from their mothers.
Starting from 2021, additional paths allow descendants of German female and male ancestors to apply under different conditions.
*To apply, you will need vital records linking you to your German ancestor and a naturalization record for the ancestor, if applicable. Non-German records will need to be professionally translated and legalized. The processing time is usually around 2-3 years.
Croatian citizenship by descent
If you have a Croatian parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent who emigrated before October 8, 1991, then you might have a claim to Croatian citizenship. (However, the ancestor must not have relocated to another state that was part of Yugoslavia at the time). As with other citizenship by descent regulations, you must prove an unbroken line from the Croatian ancestor to you, the applicant.
*To apply, you will need an application form, vital records linking you to your Croatian ancestor, proof of the ancestor’s citizenship, a background check, proof of the ancestor’s emigration, and all non-Croatian documents professionally translated and legalized. The processing time is two years or more.
Slovak citizenship by descent
Qualifying for Slovak citizenship by descent requires having a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent who was born in or became a citizen of Czechoslovakia (in the region of modern-day Slovakia), or between 1918 and 1989. You will need to apply for a residency permit as part of your application, but this does not mean that you must reside in Slovakia. Along with the residency permit application, you will need to provide documentation proving that your “anchor ancestor” was a Slovak citizen, a certificate for a Slovak Living Abroad (if needed), and background checks.
*To apply, you will need vital records linking you to your Slovak ancestor, proof of their Slovak citizenship, and a background check. Depending on circumstances, you might also need proof of lost citizenship or Slovak residency records. All non-Slovak documents will need to be professionally translated and legalized. The processing time is usually 12-18 months.
Lithuanian citizenship by descent
Similarly to the above countries, Lithuanian citizenship by descent also has key years to pay attention to. Specifically, the applicant’s Lithuanian ancestor must have been a citizen between 1918 and 1940 (the time of the Republic of Lithuania prior to the start of the Soviet occupation). While Lithuania generally restricts dual citizenship, it is available to those with Lithuanian ancestors who emigrated or was exiled prior to March 11, 1990.
*To apply, you will need vital records linking you to your Lithuanian ancestor. You will also need to fill out an application on the Lithuanian Migration Information System (MIGRIS) website. You might also need proof of your ancestor’s emigration date. All non-Lithuanian documents will need to be professionally translated and legalized. The processing time is usually 6-12 months.
*Always check your local consulate (or municipality, if applying from within the country) for the official list of documents you need.
Other types of citizenship
There are many other types of citizenship you can look into if citizenship by descent is not a possibility. Citizenship by residency and marriage, for instance, are often offered, so you might examine your eligibility for one of those. Italian citizenship by residency, for instance, can be obtained after 10 years of legal, continuous residence in Italy, but if you have an Italian parent or grandparent it can be obtained after only 2 years of residency in Italy. On the other hand, Italian citizenship by marriage is available after 3 years of marriage to an Italian citizen if residing outside of Italy, or after 2 years, if residing in Italy.
Italian Citizenship Assistance can help
Curious to have your own case examined? Contact us today at [email protected].
