Citizenship by descent, or citizenship by ancestry, is the process of acquiring citizenship of the country of your ancestors by proving your lineage.

In most cases, you qualify for citizenship by descent if you have a parent or grandparent born as a citizen of another country. In some cases, a great-grandparent, or ancestor even further back, can qualify you for citizenship by descent. Regardless of how many generations back you can trace your lineage, you will need to "prove" it, typically through a paper trail of vital records (birth, marriage, and death certificates) linking you to your foreign ancestor.

At least 50 countries around the world offer citizenship by descent. Many of those countries are in Europe, which comprises many diasporas in the United States.

In most cases, everything can be handled from the United States. If you authorize an immigration law firm in your destination country through a power of attorney, your legal representative will be able to take care of all matters in their country on your behalf. Then, you will likely only be required to attend a meeting at the closest consulate of your destination country to submit documents and - eventually - pick up your new passport!

The timeline for obtaining citizenship by descent depends on several factors, such as collecting your family documents and general bureaucratic delays in the destination country. The process typically takes one to three years from start to passport in hand.

Immigration Diligence and our legal partners all over the world are happy to assist you in finding your family documents. This may involve requesting special records from your ancestor's village in Europe, or submitting a records request through the National Archives here in the United States. We're here to assist you throughout the entire process. Reach out today to get started with a free consultation!

In most cases, if the official language of your destination country is not English, your U.S.-based documents will need to be translated into the destination country's official language. Immigration Diligence's legal partners can translate your documents quickly and easily for you. Alternatively, many other countries' consulates list local approved translators for hire on their website.

If you know that you have a foreign ancestor in your family tree, talk to us and we'll investigate your eligibility! Our consultations and eligibility verification is free of charge. Step number one is mapping out your family tree and getting in contact with us. Citizenship by descent can be a long journey, but the reward of another passport at the end of it is priceless. A trusted partner can make the journey easier and simpler. Reach out today to Immigration Diligence and let's navigate the journey together.