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Citizenship by Descent Requirements by Country
Compare citizenship by descent eligibility rules across 24 European countries. Find key facts — generation limits, dual citizenship policies, typical costs, processing times, and the governing law — all in one place.
Michael Soucek·Last reviewed October 2026
Educational information only — not legal advice. Always verify with the relevant authority, consulate or registry office.
| Country | Generation Limit | Dual Citizenship | Cost Range | Timeline | Primary Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | Parent or grandparent who held only Italian citizenship (Law 74/2025); unlimited only for filings by 27 Mar 2025 | Yes Fully permits multiple citizenship since 1992 | €300–€2,000+ | Months to 2+ years, depending on the consulate | Law 91/1992, as amended by Law 74/2025 |
| Ireland | Parent (automatic) or grandparent (FBR registration) | Yes No restrictions on holding other nationality | €400–€700 | Around 12 months (FBR application) | Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 |
| Germany | Unbroken chain (§4); §5 declaration (born after 23 May 1949) until Aug 2031; unlimited for Art. 116(2) / §15 restoration | Yes Permitted since June 2024 StAG reform | €300–€1,200 | 12–24 months | Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz (StAG); GG Art. 116(2) |
| Poland | Unlimited (while chain unbroken) | Yes Allowed; Poland treats you as solely Polish in its own dealings with you | €300–€900 | 6–24 months | Act on Polish Citizenship 2009 |
| Hungary | No fixed limit (confirming existing citizenship, or simplified naturalization) | Yes No restrictions on dual or multiple citizenship | €300–€700 | Certificate of citizenship: weeks to months once complete; naturalization usually several months to a year | Act LV of 1993 (§§ 4(3), 5, 5/A) |
| Spain | Child of a Spaniard (born abroad of a parent born abroad: declare by 21); grandchild DML route closed 22 Oct 2025 | Limited Spaniards by origin keep a nationality held from birth; people who opt or naturalise must renounce unless from Latin America, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal or France | €300–€1,500 | 6–12 months | Código Civil Arts. 17–28; Law 20/2022 (DML) |
| Portugal | Grandchild from abroad (ties, A2 Portuguese, culture/civics since 2026); great-grandchild only by discretionary naturalisation after 5 years in Portugal | Yes Fully permits multiple nationality | €500–€1,500 | 12–18 months | Lei 37/81, amended by Lei Orgânica 1/2026 |
| Greece | No fixed limit — each generation registers in turn (mothers only from 8 May 1984); omogenis naturalisation if the line is broken | Yes No restrictions on dual or multiple citizenship | €300–€700 | 6–24 months | Greek Citizenship Code — Law 3284/2004 |
| Czech Republic | Parent (automatic); grandchild (declaration, any loss before 2014) | Yes Fully permitted since 1 Jan 2014 | €200–€900 | 3–18 months | Act No. 186/2013, §31(3) (2019 amendment) |
| Slovakia | Up to great-grandparent born in Slovakia (grant, no residence permit since July 2026) | Limited Permitted by birth, adoption, marriage, or 5+ years foreign residence; otherwise lost upon voluntary foreign naturalisation | €300–€1,000 | Up to 24 months (Ministry of Interior) | Act No. 40/1993, §7(8) (added 2022, amended by Act 128/2026) |
| Luxembourg | Parent or grandparent who ever held Luxembourg nationality (Article 23 option); 1900-ancestor route closed 31 Dec 2025 | Yes Permitted since 2009; no renunciation required | Free declaration + documents and travel | About 4 months after the declaration | Loi du 8 mars 2017 sur la nationalité luxembourgeoise |
| Lithuania | Up to great-grandchild of a pre-15 June 1940 citizen | Limited Allowed if the ancestor left 1918–1990 and not willingly to the USSR | €300–€800 | 6–12 months | Law on Citizenship No. XI-1196 (2010, amended 2016) |
| Latvia | None — descendants of 17 June 1940 citizens | Yes Any country for exile descendants; EU, EFTA, NATO, Australia, Brazil, NZ for others | €500–€1,000 | A few months once the file is complete | Citizenship Law (Pilsonības likums) 1994, amended 2013 |
| Estonia | Descendants of pre-1940 citizens (documented chain) | Limited Officially banned, but citizenship by birth cannot be taken away (Constitution Art. 8) | €400–€900 | 6–12 months | Citizenship Act (Kodakondsuse seadus) 1995 |
| France | No fixed limit, but lost if the line lived abroad 50+ years without French documents (art. 30-3) | Yes Allowed since 1973 (earlier voluntary naturalisation abroad generally ended French nationality) | €200–€600 | 6–18 months (consulate or Paris court nationality service) | Civil Code, arts. 17–33-2 |
| Austria | Parent only — or any generation under §58c (descendants of Nazi persecution victims) | Limited Kept if held from birth or acquired under §58c; otherwise naturalising abroad ends it without a retention permit | €300–€1,000 | Many months for a §58c notification | Staatsbürgerschaftsgesetz 1985, §7 and §58c |
| United Kingdom | One generation born abroad (parent born or naturalised in the UK); special registrations for pre-1983 mothers and pre-2006 unmarried fathers | Yes No restrictions on holding other nationalities | Passport fee only, up to £1,000+ for some registrations | Passport: weeks; registrations: 6–12+ months | British Nationality Act 1981 |
| Romania | Up to great-grandchild (art. 11, involuntary loss); grandchild (art. 10) | Yes No renunciation required | €400–€1,200 | Often 1–3+ years; B1 Romanian required since March 2025 | Law 21/1991, arts. 10–11; Law 14/2025 |
| Croatia | No limit for descendants of emigrants who left before 8 Oct 1991 (proof of Croatian belonging needed) | Yes No renunciation required for emigrants' descendants | €300–€900 | 6–24 months | Croatian Citizenship Act, art. 11 (as amended 2020) |
| Bulgaria | Up to great-grandparent of Bulgarian origin, proved with official documents | Yes No renunciation required for people of Bulgarian origin | €400–€1,000 | 12–24 months | Bulgarian Citizenship Act, art. 15 |
| Netherlands | Parent only; option for those born before 1985 to a Dutch mother (and their children) | Limited Kept from birth, but lost after 13 years abroad without a new passport; naturalising elsewhere generally ends it | €300–€800 | Option: a few months | Rijkswet op het Nederlanderschap |
| Ukraine | Parent; territorial origin up to great-grandparent (exams since 2026) | Limited Allowed for citizens of 33 listed countries (incl. US, Canada) since 2026 | €200–€600 | 6–24 months | Law on Citizenship No. 2235-III; Law 4502-IX (2026) |
| Serbia | No limit for emigrants' descendants; ethnic Serbs by declaration | Yes No renunciation required for diaspora routes | €150–€600 | 3–12 months | Law on Citizenship 2004, arts. 7–9, 18, 23 |
| Armenia | No limit for people of Armenian origin (residence rule proposed for 2028) | Yes Permitted since 2007 | €300–€600 | 3–18 months | Law on Citizenship 1995, art. 13 |
- Generations:
- Parent or grandparent who held only Italian citizenship (Law 74/2025); unlimited only for filings by 27 Mar 2025
- Dual citizenship:
- YesFully permits multiple citizenship since 1992
- Cost range:
- €300–€2,000+
- Timeline:
- Months to 2+ years, depending on the consulate
- Primary law:
- Law 91/1992, as amended by Law 74/2025
- Generations:
- Parent (automatic) or grandparent (FBR registration)
- Dual citizenship:
- YesNo restrictions on holding other nationality
- Cost range:
- €400–€700
- Timeline:
- Around 12 months (FBR application)
- Primary law:
- Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956
- Generations:
- Unbroken chain (§4); §5 declaration (born after 23 May 1949) until Aug 2031; unlimited for Art. 116(2) / §15 restoration
- Dual citizenship:
- YesPermitted since June 2024 StAG reform
- Cost range:
- €300–€1,200
- Timeline:
- 12–24 months
- Primary law:
- Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz (StAG); GG Art. 116(2)
- Generations:
- Unlimited (while chain unbroken)
- Dual citizenship:
- YesAllowed; Poland treats you as solely Polish in its own dealings with you
- Cost range:
- €300–€900
- Timeline:
- 6–24 months
- Primary law:
- Act on Polish Citizenship 2009
- Generations:
- No fixed limit (confirming existing citizenship, or simplified naturalization)
- Dual citizenship:
- YesNo restrictions on dual or multiple citizenship
- Cost range:
- €300–€700
- Timeline:
- Certificate of citizenship: weeks to months once complete; naturalization usually several months to a year
- Primary law:
- Act LV of 1993 (§§ 4(3), 5, 5/A)
- Generations:
- Child of a Spaniard (born abroad of a parent born abroad: declare by 21); grandchild DML route closed 22 Oct 2025
- Dual citizenship:
- LimitedSpaniards by origin keep a nationality held from birth; people who opt or naturalise must renounce unless from Latin America, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal or France
- Cost range:
- €300–€1,500
- Timeline:
- 6–12 months
- Primary law:
- Código Civil Arts. 17–28; Law 20/2022 (DML)
- Generations:
- Grandchild from abroad (ties, A2 Portuguese, culture/civics since 2026); great-grandchild only by discretionary naturalisation after 5 years in Portugal
- Dual citizenship:
- YesFully permits multiple nationality
- Cost range:
- €500–€1,500
- Timeline:
- 12–18 months
- Primary law:
- Lei 37/81, amended by Lei Orgânica 1/2026
- Generations:
- No fixed limit — each generation registers in turn (mothers only from 8 May 1984); omogenis naturalisation if the line is broken
- Dual citizenship:
- YesNo restrictions on dual or multiple citizenship
- Cost range:
- €300–€700
- Timeline:
- 6–24 months
- Primary law:
- Greek Citizenship Code — Law 3284/2004
- Generations:
- Parent (automatic); grandchild (declaration, any loss before 2014)
- Dual citizenship:
- YesFully permitted since 1 Jan 2014
- Cost range:
- €200–€900
- Timeline:
- 3–18 months
- Primary law:
- Act No. 186/2013, §31(3) (2019 amendment)
- Generations:
- Up to great-grandparent born in Slovakia (grant, no residence permit since July 2026)
- Dual citizenship:
- LimitedPermitted by birth, adoption, marriage, or 5+ years foreign residence; otherwise lost upon voluntary foreign naturalisation
- Cost range:
- €300–€1,000
- Timeline:
- Up to 24 months (Ministry of Interior)
- Primary law:
- Act No. 40/1993, §7(8) (added 2022, amended by Act 128/2026)
- Generations:
- Parent or grandparent who ever held Luxembourg nationality (Article 23 option); 1900-ancestor route closed 31 Dec 2025
- Dual citizenship:
- YesPermitted since 2009; no renunciation required
- Cost range:
- Free declaration + documents and travel
- Timeline:
- About 4 months after the declaration
- Primary law:
- Loi du 8 mars 2017 sur la nationalité luxembourgeoise
- Generations:
- Up to great-grandchild of a pre-15 June 1940 citizen
- Dual citizenship:
- LimitedAllowed if the ancestor left 1918–1990 and not willingly to the USSR
- Cost range:
- €300–€800
- Timeline:
- 6–12 months
- Primary law:
- Law on Citizenship No. XI-1196 (2010, amended 2016)
- Generations:
- None — descendants of 17 June 1940 citizens
- Dual citizenship:
- YesAny country for exile descendants; EU, EFTA, NATO, Australia, Brazil, NZ for others
- Cost range:
- €500–€1,000
- Timeline:
- A few months once the file is complete
- Primary law:
- Citizenship Law (Pilsonības likums) 1994, amended 2013
- Generations:
- Descendants of pre-1940 citizens (documented chain)
- Dual citizenship:
- LimitedOfficially banned, but citizenship by birth cannot be taken away (Constitution Art. 8)
- Cost range:
- €400–€900
- Timeline:
- 6–12 months
- Primary law:
- Citizenship Act (Kodakondsuse seadus) 1995
- Generations:
- No fixed limit, but lost if the line lived abroad 50+ years without French documents (art. 30-3)
- Dual citizenship:
- YesAllowed since 1973 (earlier voluntary naturalisation abroad generally ended French nationality)
- Cost range:
- €200–€600
- Timeline:
- 6–18 months (consulate or Paris court nationality service)
- Primary law:
- Civil Code, arts. 17–33-2
- Generations:
- Parent only — or any generation under §58c (descendants of Nazi persecution victims)
- Dual citizenship:
- LimitedKept if held from birth or acquired under §58c; otherwise naturalising abroad ends it without a retention permit
- Cost range:
- €300–€1,000
- Timeline:
- Many months for a §58c notification
- Primary law:
- Staatsbürgerschaftsgesetz 1985, §7 and §58c
- Generations:
- One generation born abroad (parent born or naturalised in the UK); special registrations for pre-1983 mothers and pre-2006 unmarried fathers
- Dual citizenship:
- YesNo restrictions on holding other nationalities
- Cost range:
- Passport fee only, up to £1,000+ for some registrations
- Timeline:
- Passport: weeks; registrations: 6–12+ months
- Primary law:
- British Nationality Act 1981
- Generations:
- Up to great-grandchild (art. 11, involuntary loss); grandchild (art. 10)
- Dual citizenship:
- YesNo renunciation required
- Cost range:
- €400–€1,200
- Timeline:
- Often 1–3+ years; B1 Romanian required since March 2025
- Primary law:
- Law 21/1991, arts. 10–11; Law 14/2025
- Generations:
- No limit for descendants of emigrants who left before 8 Oct 1991 (proof of Croatian belonging needed)
- Dual citizenship:
- YesNo renunciation required for emigrants' descendants
- Cost range:
- €300–€900
- Timeline:
- 6–24 months
- Primary law:
- Croatian Citizenship Act, art. 11 (as amended 2020)
- Generations:
- Up to great-grandparent of Bulgarian origin, proved with official documents
- Dual citizenship:
- YesNo renunciation required for people of Bulgarian origin
- Cost range:
- €400–€1,000
- Timeline:
- 12–24 months
- Primary law:
- Bulgarian Citizenship Act, art. 15
- Generations:
- Parent only; option for those born before 1985 to a Dutch mother (and their children)
- Dual citizenship:
- LimitedKept from birth, but lost after 13 years abroad without a new passport; naturalising elsewhere generally ends it
- Cost range:
- €300–€800
- Timeline:
- Option: a few months
- Primary law:
- Rijkswet op het Nederlanderschap
- Generations:
- Parent; territorial origin up to great-grandparent (exams since 2026)
- Dual citizenship:
- LimitedAllowed for citizens of 33 listed countries (incl. US, Canada) since 2026
- Cost range:
- €200–€600
- Timeline:
- 6–24 months
- Primary law:
- Law on Citizenship No. 2235-III; Law 4502-IX (2026)
- Generations:
- No limit for emigrants' descendants; ethnic Serbs by declaration
- Dual citizenship:
- YesNo renunciation required for diaspora routes
- Cost range:
- €150–€600
- Timeline:
- 3–12 months
- Primary law:
- Law on Citizenship 2004, arts. 7–9, 18, 23
- Generations:
- No limit for people of Armenian origin (residence rule proposed for 2028)
- Dual citizenship:
- YesPermitted since 2007
- Cost range:
- €300–€600
- Timeline:
- 3–18 months
- Primary law:
- Law on Citizenship 1995, art. 13
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Start Free Eligibility CheckCommon Questions About European Citizenship by Descent
Which European country has the most generous citizenship by descent rules?
Poland, Greece, Latvia, Croatia, Serbia and Armenia have no fixed generational limit (each with its own conditions), and Hungary's simplified naturalization has none either, though it requires a conversation in Hungarian. Italy no longer does for most new applicants: since 2025, people born abroad with another citizenship qualify only through a parent or grandparent who held only Italian citizenship, unless they filed by 27 March 2025. Luxembourg's old 1900-ancestor recovery route closed on 31 December 2025; its option route now covers parents and grandparents.
Which countries allow dual citizenship after claiming European ancestry?
Italy, Ireland, Germany (since 2024), Poland, Hungary, Portugal, Greece, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, France, Romania, Croatia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Armenia and the UK all allow dual or multiple citizenship for people claiming by descent. Spain lets Spaniards by origin keep a nationality held from birth, but people who opt in or naturalise must usually renounce a nationality from outside Latin America, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal and France. Lithuania allows it mainly when the family left before 11 March 1990; Latvia for exiles' descendants and for citizens of EU, EFTA and NATO countries, Australia, Brazil and New Zealand; Estonia tolerates it for citizens by birth. Austria allows it under §58c, the Netherlands and Austria take it away from adults who naturalise elsewhere, Ukraine allows it for 33 listed countries, and Slovakia keeps you Slovak after naturalising elsewhere only in specific cases (birth, marriage, or five years' residence there).
How much does citizenship by descent typically cost?
Most European citizenship by descent applications cost €300–€1,000 in document-related expenses (apostilles, translations, certified copies) when done independently. Application fees are often low or free. Italy is unique in that attorney-assisted consular-route packages regularly cost $2,000–$8,000 USD, and court-route 1948 cases exceed €10,000 in legal fees. Hungary is one of the cheapest options — the application is free and total costs rarely exceed €700 even with a language tutor.
What is the fastest European citizenship by descent to obtain?
Latvia can process applications in as little as 3–6 months once a complete application is submitted, and confirming existing Hungarian citizenship is usually quicker than naturalization. In Italy, applying at a comune while resident there is usually faster than the consular route — for people who qualify under the 2025 rules. Ireland, Germany, and Italy via consulate are among the slower processes due to backlogs and document volumes.