Citizenship & residency by ancestry in 2026
Reclaim a passport or residency through a parent or grandparent — every ancestry route in the dataset, ordered by how fast it reaches a passport, with who qualifies and the official source.
All 15 programs checked against official government sources · July 2026 · how we verify
Ranked — fastest route to a passport first
| # | Country & program | Requirement | Leads to |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇦🇲ArmeniaCitizenship by Armenian Descent | Any person of Armenian ethnic descent/origin (broadly interpreted — no unbroken legal-citizenship chain required, no generational limit) | Direct citizenship / passport |
| 2 | 🇭🇷CroatiaCitizenship by Origin (Croatian Descent) | Direct-line Croatian ancestor (parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, and further back) who emigrated from Croatia | Direct citizenship / passport |
| 3 | 🇩🇪GermanyCitizenship Restoration (Art. 116(2) GG / §15 StAG) | Descendant of a German whose citizenship was stripped 1933–1945 on racial/political/religious (Nazi-persecution) grounds — most commonly Jewish German families | Direct citizenship / passport |
| 4 | 🇬🇷GreeceCitizenship by Descent (Greek Ancestry) | Greek parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent, evidenced by an unbroken chain of registration in a Greek municipality (dimos) | Direct citizenship / passport |
| 5 | 🇭🇺HungarySimplified Naturalisation by Descent | Ancestor who was a Hungarian citizen (including in pre-1920 Greater Hungary territories now in Romania, Slovakia, Serbia, Ukraine, etc.) — must prove citizenship, not merely ethnicity | Direct citizenship / passport |
| 6 | 🇮🇪IrelandCitizenship by Descent (Foreign Births Register) | Grandparent born on the island of Ireland (or a parent who was already an Irish citizen / FBR-registered before your birth) | Direct citizenship / passport |
| 7 | 🇮🇱IsraelLaw of Return (Aliyah) | A Jewish person, or anyone with at least one Jewish grandparent, plus their spouse (the grandparent need not be alive or have lived in Israel) | Direct citizenship / passport |
| 8 | 🇮🇹ItalyCitizenship by Descent (Jure Sanguinis) | Italian parent or grandparent born in Italy (post-2025 reform: great-grandparent line generally no longer qualifies) | Direct citizenship / passport |
| 9 | 🇱🇹LithuaniaCitizenship Restoration by Descent | Ancestor who was a Lithuanian citizen and left Lithuania before 15 June 1940 (Soviet occupation); descendants to the grandchild/great-grandchild level qualify | Direct citizenship / passport |
| 10 | 🇲🇽MexicoNationality by Descent | At least one parent who is a Mexican national by birth (grandchildren do not qualify directly — the parent must register first, one generation at a time) | Direct citizenship / passport |
| 11 | 🇵🇱PolandConfirmation of Polish Citizenship by Descent | Polish ancestor (parent, grandparent, great-grandparent+) who held Polish citizenship, generally after 1920, with an unbroken chain and no loss of citizenship | Direct citizenship / passport |
| 12 | 🇵🇹PortugalCitizenship by Descent (Grandparent Route) | Portuguese grandparent (or great-grandparent) who did not lose their nationality; parent-line is automatic, grandparent-line requires proof of ties | Direct citizenship / passport |
| 13 | 🇪🇸SpainIbero-American 2-Year Residency Route | Nationals of Latin American countries, Portugal, Andorra, the Philippines, or Equatorial Guinea (heritage/nationality-based fast track, not pure bloodline) | Citizenship in ~2 yrs |
| 14 | 🇸🇰SlovakiaSlovak Living Abroad Certificate → Citizenship | Ancestor (up to great-great-grandparent) of Slovak ethnicity/origin; the diaspora certificate route accepts proven Slovak heritage even where the ancestor held Austro-Hungarian rather than Czechoslovak citizenship | Citizenship in ~3 yrs |
| 15 | 🇬🇧United KingdomUK Ancestry Visa | Commonwealth citizens with a UK-born grandparent qualify — must be 17+ and able to work. | Citizenship in ~6 yrs |
Figures are 2026 USD-equivalents and move with exchange rates and annual resets — confirm the current requirement with each program's official source before applying.
Every citizenship & residency by descent, in detail
Modest by comparison: proof of descent rather than money.
One of the most accessible descent routes: ethnic Armenians qualify with no generational limit and without needing to prove an unbroken chain of legal citizenship — proof of Armenian origin (church records, family documents) suffices. Armenia allows dual citizenship. No residence requirement. A basic knowledge of the Constitution/language may be checked. Processing ~3–6 months.
Official source →Modest by comparison: proof of descent rather than money.
A January 2020 reform removed all generational limits — any direct-line Croatian ancestor who emigrated can anchor a claim. Applicants must show Croatian origin and demonstrate a basic attachment to Croatian culture/identity (a light knowledge check, not a formal exam for origin cases). No residence requirement. Croatia (EU) allows dual citizenship for origin-based applicants.
Official source →Modest by comparison: proof of descent rather than money.
Free. The BVA states 'Das Verfahren ist gebührenfrei.' on both the Art. 116(2) GG and the §15 StAG pages. You still pay for your own documents, translations and certifications. Fee source (checked 2026-08) →
Constitutional right of restoration for descendants of Nazi-persecution victims — no generational limit, no time limit, no language/residence requirement, and dual citizenship allowed. §15 StAG (added 2021) widened it to cover those who lost/couldn't acquire citizenship through flight, duress, or marriage. Also a separate ordinary §4 descent route for children of German citizens. Processing ~1.5–3 years.
Official source →Modest by comparison: proof of descent rather than money.
EUR 240-340 in total — a EUR 100 declaration fee plus EUR 140-240 consular fees where they apply. The dollar figure is the LOW end, not an average; filing inside Greece rather than through a consulate can mean only the EUR 100. Fee source (checked 2026-08) →
Available through parent/grandparent/great-grandparent, but hinges on proving an unbroken municipal-registration and civil-record chain back to the Greek ancestor — the documentation is the hard part. No residence or language requirement for the descent route. Greece allows dual citizenship. Processing ~1–2+ years for straightforward cases.
Official source →Modest by comparison: proof of descent rather than money.
Free — 'Az eljárás teljes egészében díjmentes.' (duty-exempt and no consular fee), confirmed on three separate Hungarian consulate pages. You pay only for translations the consulate produces. The 6-12 month range is the consulate's stated real decision time; the statutory deadline is shorter (3 months, extendable once). Fee source (checked 2026-08) →
'Egyszerűsített honosítás' — no residence requirement and no generational cap, but you must (a) document a Hungarian-citizen ancestor and (b) pass a basic Hungarian-language interview at the consulate. The language requirement is the real gate for many diaspora applicants. Hungary permits dual citizenship. Processing ~6–18 months.
Official source →Modest by comparison: proof of descent rather than money.
EUR 278 for an adult (EUR 270 registration and certificate plus EUR 8 postage); EUR 153 under 18. Converted at ~1.08 USD/EUR. Fee source (checked 2026-08) →
If a grandparent was born in Ireland you can register on the Foreign Births Register and become an Irish (and EU) citizen. Beyond grandparent, each generation must register BEFORE the next is born to keep the chain alive. No language, residency, or investment requirement. Processing ~9–12+ months. Ireland allows dual citizenship.
Official source →Modest by comparison: proof of descent rather than money.
One Jewish grandparent is enough, and the spouse of an eligible person also qualifies. Citizenship is essentially automatic on arrival as an 'oleh' — immigration and citizenship happen in a single step. Requires documentary proof of Jewish ancestry (birth/marriage/community records). A 2025–2026 law adds temporary tax benefits for new/returning immigrants. Excludes those who actively practise another religion.
Official source →Modest by comparison: proof of descent rather than money.
EUR 600 consular fee per applicant, non-refundable whatever the outcome, charged on submission. Converted at ~1.08 USD/EUR. Fee source (checked 2026-08) →
MAJOR RESTRICTION 2025: Law 74/2025 (the 'Tajani decree', upheld by the Constitutional Court March 2026) ended unlimited descent. Automatic recognition is now limited to those with an Italian parent OR a grandparent born in Italy — the classic great-grandparent claim is largely closed. Cases filed by 27 March 2025 keep the old unlimited rules. 'Pre-1948' cases (female-line before 1948) still need a court petition.
Official source →Citizenship Restoration by Descent
Modest by comparison: proof of descent rather than money.
Restoration (not a fresh grant) for descendants of pre-1940 Lithuanian citizens — no language requirement and dual citizenship IS allowed for this restoration route (unlike Lithuanian naturalisation, where dual citizenship is generally barred). The ancestor must have departed before the 15 June 1940 occupation date. Govt fee ~€50; processing ~6–12 months.
Official source →Modest by comparison: proof of descent rather than money.
Anyone born abroad to at least one Mexican-by-birth parent is a Mexican national by birth — no Spanish test, residency, or investment. Key limit: it passes only ONE generation at a time, so grandchildren must have the parent register their own Mexican nationality first. Registration at a consulate is usually free (~2–6 weeks). Mexico allows dual nationality.
Official source →Modest by comparison: proof of descent rather than money.
PLN 277 stamp duty for the decision confirming citizenship (plus PLN 17 if you apply through a representative); refunded if the decision is negative. The time below is the voivode's statutory six-month deadline, which may lawfully be extended — not an observed average. Converted at ~3.9 PLN/USD. Fee source (checked 2026-08) →
Legally a 'confirmation' that you are already a Polish (EU) citizen — no generational limit if the documentary chain holds. Key pitfall: the ancestor must not have LOST Polish citizenship (e.g. by naturalising abroad or foreign military service before 1951). Ancestors who emigrated before 1920 (pre-independence) are much harder. No language or residence requirement. ~1+ year.
Official source →Citizenship by Descent (Grandparent Route)
Modest by comparison: proof of descent rather than money.
EUR 175 — the IRN fee for an adult 'atribuição' declaration, which is the procedure the grandparent route is filed under (the separate 'aquisição' procedure is EUR 250). IRN's table is organised by procedure, not by degree of ancestry. Fee source (checked 2026-08) →
Parent-line descent is automatic. Grandparent/great-grandparent line requires proving genuine ties to the Portuguese community PLUS A2-level Portuguese language and a clean criminal record. The 2024/2026 nationality reforms lowered the disqualifying criminal-sentence threshold to 3 years but did NOT add a residence requirement to the descent route. No residence needed.
Official source →Modest by comparison: proof of descent rather than money.
EUR 104.05 (tasa 026, modelo 790); the ministry notes the amount can be revised by the annual budget law. On timing: the law gives one year to decide, and if that year passes with no decision the application counts as REFUSED by administrative silence rather than still pending. Fee source (checked 2026-08) →
Not a zero-residence descent route: citizens of Ibero-American nations can naturalise after just 2 years of legal residence in Spain (vs the standard 10). Requires actually residing in Spain for those 2 years plus basic Spanish-language and civics (DELE A2 + CCSE) exams. Spain permits dual citizenship with these countries. Included as the practical heritage route after the Sephardic law closed.
Official source →Slovak Living Abroad Certificate → Citizenship
Modest by comparison: proof of descent rather than money.
Two paths. Direct descent works only if the ancestor held Czechoslovak/Slovak citizenship (post-1918). Otherwise the 'Slovak Living Abroad' certificate recognises Slovak origin and, combined with ~3 years of Slovak residence, leads to citizenship — so it is NOT instant citizenship for most diaspora. Pre-1918 emigrants generally need the certificate route.
Official source →UK Ancestry Visa
Modest by comparison: proof of descent rather than money.
£726 application fee; the NHS healthcare surcharge is charged on top. Fee source (checked 2026-08) →
5-year visa for Commonwealth citizens with a grandparent born in the UK, Channel Islands, or Isle of Man. Allows full work rights. ILR after 5 years, then citizenship after 1 more year.
Official source →Ready to actually make the move?
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
Ancestry visas: FAQ
Which countries grant citizenship by descent?
Armenia, Croatia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Mexico, Poland, Portugal offer some of the most direct descent routes to a passport. Eligibility usually turns on which ancestor qualifies and whether the line was broken — the rules are specific, so read each program's notes.
How far back can ancestry citizenship go?
It varies sharply by country — some stop at a grandparent, a few reach great-grandparents, and generational limits changed in several countries in 2025–2026 (Italy notably tightened its jure sanguinis rules). Check the specific route below.
Are these requirements official?
Every program links its official government source, and the figures are 2026 USD-equivalents that drift with exchange rates and annual resets. Treat them as "verify at application" — this is information, not legal advice.
The guide version
The same verified data, written as a read — what the ranking means and where the traps are.
