# EasyPassport — full content > A document-organization tool for citizenship by descent. Check your eligibility in minutes, build your lineage, and get a primary-source-backed document checklist plus Scout, your AI citizenship-by-descent research assistant, to guide your eligibility and track down your ancestors' records — for Canada and all 22 EU descent countries — Italy, Ireland, Germany, Spain, France, Poland, and more. EasyPassport helps people determine whether they may qualify for citizenship by descent (ancestry), build their family lineage, and assemble a primary-source-backed document checklist with a cost estimate. It is a document-organization tool, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. Eligibility is ultimately decided by the relevant government authority — all guidance below uses "may qualify" language for that reason. It never stores passports or government IDs. This is the expanded companion to https://www.easypassport.co/llms.txt. For investment, digital-nomad, and skilled-migration program references (with prices and requirements), see https://www.easypassport.co/llms.txt and https://www.easypassport.co/resources. ## How it works 1. Check eligibility with a free, country-specific wizard. 2. Build your lineage (ancestors and key dates). 3. Get a per-ancestor document checklist and a cost estimate. 4. Sign up to use the free working dashboard and track documents, costs, appointments, and export a consulate-ready portfolio. # Citizenship by descent — country detail (25 live) ## Canada — citizenship by descent Canada issues proof of citizenship to descendants of citizens — and Bill C-3 (in force Dec 15, 2025) removed the first-generation limit, allowing grandchildren and further descendants to claim citizenship by descent. Pathway: Bill C-3 by descent (certificate), decided by IRCC. Hub: https://www.easypassport.co/canadian-citizenship Who may qualify: - A Canadian-citizen parent — By birth or naturalization — the most direct path to citizenship by descent. - A Canadian-citizen grandparent (or further) — Bill C-3 (in force Dec 15, 2025) removed the first-generation limit on descent. - Substantial-connection test — 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada applies to the parent for children born abroad on or after Dec 15, 2025. Eligibility paths: - Through your parent — If your parent was born in Canada or became a Canadian citizen, you may have inherited citizenship at birth. - Through your grandparent — Claim through a grandparent who was born in Canada or naturalized, now that Bill C-3 (in force Dec 15, 2025) removed the first-generation limit. - Through your great-grandparent — Multi-generational claims beyond the grandparent generation, enabled by Bill C-3 which entered into force Dec 15, 2025. Key dates & laws: - Bill C-3 removed the first-generation limit: In force Dec 15, 2025, Bill C-3 opened citizenship by descent beyond the first generation born abroad, making grandchildren and further descendants eligible. IRCC is processing all applications, including in-progress ones, under these new rules. - Substantial-connection test (births from Dec 15, 2025): For a child born abroad on or after Dec 15, 2025, the Canadian parent must show at least 1,095 days (about 3 years) of physical presence in Canada before the birth; Crown-servant time can count. - Bill C-37 restored 'Lost Canadians': Citizenship lost through foreign naturalization between 1947 and 1977 was retroactively restored in 2009 — often the key to a grandparent or great-grandparent claim. - Timing breaks the chain: Each ancestor had to be a citizen when the next person was born; an ancestor who became Canadian only after their child's birth didn't pass it on. - Formal renunciation is permanent: If an ancestor formally renounced Canadian citizenship, the chain is severed at that point and later laws don't restore it. - Pre-1947 British subjects: Descendants of British subjects present in Canada before the 1947 Citizenship Act follow distinct, older rules. ## Austria — citizenship by descent Austria offers citizenship by descent through a parent, and a fee-free §58c declaration for descendants of Austrians who fled Nazi persecution — open since 2020, with dual citizenship. Pathway: Descent + Nazi-persecution restitution, decided by Provincial government. Hub: https://www.easypassport.co/austrian-citizenship Who may qualify: - An Austrian-citizen parent at your birth → citizenship by descent. - Or an ancestor persecuted by the Nazi regime who fled Austria (1933–1955) → §58c. - §58c: no fee, no residence/language requirement, dual citizenship allowed. - No deadline for the §58c route. Eligibility paths: - Descendant of a persecuted Austrian (§58c) — Direct descendants of someone who fled Nazi persecution from Austria can declare citizenship, fee-free. - Through your parent — An Austrian-citizen parent at your birth confers citizenship by descent. - Through your grandparent — Requires an unbroken line — your parent must have been Austrian at your birth. Key dates & laws: - §58c — open since 1 Sep 2020: Permanent (no deadline) for descendants of persecuted Austrians. - Persecution period: Ancestor persecuted 30 Jan 1933 – 9 May 1945 and emigrated before 15 May 1955. ## Bulgaria — citizenship by descent Bulgaria offers facilitated naturalization to people of Bulgarian origin with an ancestor up to the 3rd degree — with no residence, income, or language requirement (Art. 15 waives them). Pathway: Descent, decided by Ministry of Justice. Hub: https://www.easypassport.co/bulgarian-citizenship Who may qualify: - A documented Bulgarian ascendant within the 3rd degree (parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent). - Facilitated naturalization (Art. 15) waives residence, income, and language. - No Bulgarian-language exam for origin applicants — the language test applies only to standard Art. 12 naturalization. - A clean criminal record is required. Eligibility paths: - Through your parent — A Bulgarian parent — the most direct origin claim. - Through your grandparent — Document Bulgarian origin via your grandparent. - Through your great-grandparent — Within the 3rd-degree limit, with documented origin. Key dates & laws: - 31 Jan 2026 (SG 61/2025): Tightened the deadline for terrorism-related revocation of naturalization (Criminal Code Arts. 114а–114т) — it does NOT add a language exam for origin applicants. A separate bill to add a language test for origin applicants passed first reading only and is not in force. - Fee increase (2025): The state application fee rose from 30 to 300 BGN (~€150); Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 Jan 2026. - 1999 — Bulgarian Citizenship Law: Sets the procedure for citizenship by origin (a 1991 constitutional right); applications are filed in person and include a mandatory interview. ## Croatia — citizenship by descent Croatia grants citizenship to descendants of Croatian emigrants with no generational limit since 2020 — and the language and culture test is waived for them. Pathway: Descent, decided by Ministry of Interior. Hub: https://www.easypassport.co/croatian-citizenship Who may qualify: - A Croatian emigrant ancestor who left Croatian territory before Oct 8, 1991. - No generational cap since the 2020 reform; language/culture test waived. - Or proof of belonging to the Croatian people (ethnic Croats, Art. 16). - Relocating within the former Yugoslavia can break the claim. Eligibility paths: - Through your parent — A Croatian emigrant parent — the most direct Art. 11 claim. - Through your grandparent — No generational cap since 2020 — document the chain to the emigrant grandparent. - Through your great-grandparent — Now possible (the old 3rd-degree cap was removed in 2020) with a documented chain. Key dates & laws: - 8 Oct 1991: Emigrant = left Croatian territory before this date intending to live abroad. - 1 Jan 2020: Removed the generational cap and waived the language/culture test for emigrant descendants. ## Cyprus — citizenship by descent Cyprus passes citizenship to children of Cypriots, and lets grandchildren of Cypriot-origin persons register — with rules turning on the 1960 independence cutoff. Pathway: Descent, decided by Civil Registry. Hub: https://www.easypassport.co/cypriot-citizenship Who may qualify: - A Cypriot-citizen parent → citizenship by descent. - A grandparent of Cypriot origin → registration (some routes need ~1 year residence). - Births before 16 Aug 1960 follow father-line rules. - Maternal-line transmission was equalized for births from 11 June 1999. Eligibility paths: - Through your parent — A child of a Cypriot citizen is generally Cypriot by descent (Form M121). - Through your grandparent — Grandchildren of Cypriot-origin persons can apply by registration (e.g. Form M123). Key dates & laws: - 16 Aug 1960: Independence cutoff: father-line transmission only before this date. - 11 June 1999: Maternal-line transmission equalized for births from this date. - 2002 — Civil Registry Law: The current framework for citizenship by descent; the right application form depends on birth year (before/after 1960) and whether you claim through a parent or grandparent. ## Czech Republic — citizenship by descent Czechia lets children and grandchildren of former Czech/Czechoslovak citizens acquire citizenship by a simple declaration — no language, residence, or chain requirement. Pathway: Descent, decided by Ministry of Interior. Hub: https://www.easypassport.co/czech-citizenship Who may qualify: - A parent or grandparent who was a Czech/Czechoslovak citizen. - The ancestor lost citizenship before Jan 1, 2014. - You don't hold Slovak citizenship; exclusions apply for the 1945 Decree 33. - Great-grandchildren are not currently eligible. Eligibility paths: - Through your parent — A former Czech/Czechoslovak citizen parent — the simplest declaration. - Through your grandparent — Added by the 2019 amendment; document the chain to the former-citizen grandparent. Key dates & laws: - Act No. 207/2019: Extended the §31 declaration to grandchildren of former citizens. - Pending (2024): A proposal to extend eligibility to great-grandchildren stalled and is not yet law. - 1993 — Dissolution of Czechoslovakia: Czechia and Slovakia split; the §31 declaration route (Act No. 186/2013, extended to grandchildren in 2019) lets descendants of former Czech/Czechoslovak citizens reclaim it. ## Finland — citizenship by descent Finland passes citizenship through a parent only — there is no grandparent route — and citizens born abroad can lose it at 22 without a connection to Finland. Pathway: Descent, decided by Migri. Hub: https://www.easypassport.co/finnish-citizenship Who may qualify: - A Finnish parent at your birth → Finnish from birth. - A grandparent does NOT confer citizenship (only a residence permit). - Born abroad? You can lose citizenship at 22 without a 'sufficient connection.' - File a retention declaration between ages 18 and 22 to keep it. Eligibility paths: - Through your parent — A Finnish parent at your birth makes you Finnish — confirmed by a determination of status. Key dates & laws: - §9 (acquisition at birth): A child of a Finnish parent is Finnish from birth. - §34 (loss at 22): Citizens born abroad lose citizenship at 22 without a sufficient connection unless they declare to retain. ## France — citizenship by descent France transmits nationality by filiation indefinitely through an unbroken line — unless the family lived abroad over 50 years with no French ties (the désuétude rule). Pathway: Descent (CNF), decided by Tribunal / Service central. Hub: https://www.easypassport.co/french-citizenship Who may qualify: - A French parent at your birth → French by filiation (Art. 18). - Transmits across generations if each link was French at the next birth. - Désuétude (Art. 30-3): 50+ years abroad with no 'possession d'état' bars proof. - Recognized via a Certificat de Nationalité Française (CNF). Eligibility paths: - Through your parent — A French parent at your birth makes you French by filiation. - Through your grandparent — Possible if the line stayed French and your family kept French ties (possession d'état). - Through your great-grandparent — At risk from the désuétude rule unless recent generations held a French passport/ID or registered. Key dates & laws: - Art. 18 Code civil: French by filiation — a child of a French parent is French. - Art. 30-3 (désuétude): Upheld by the Conseil constitutionnel in April 2025: bars proof after 50+ years abroad without French ties. ## Germany — citizenship by descent Germany offers citizenship by descent through a German parent, plus restoration paths for descendants of those persecuted by the Nazi regime. Pathway: §4 Feststellung / §5 declaration / Art. 116(2), decided by BVA Cologne. Hub: https://www.easypassport.co/german-citizenship Who may qualify: - Descent from a German citizen parent (§4 StAG), or - Restoration under Art. 116(2) for descendants of people stripped of citizenship 1933–1945, or - A §5 StAG declaration for certain historical gender-discrimination cases (statutory deadline Aug 19, 2031). Eligibility paths: - Through your German parent (§4) — When a German-citizen parent passes citizenship automatically at birth under §4 StAG. - Through your German grandparent — A two-generation chain — the key question is whether your grandparent naturalized abroad (§25 StAG) before your parent was born. - Through your great-grandparent (§5) — Most great-grandparent claims fall outside §4; the likely path is the §5 StAG gender-fix declaration or Art. 116(2) restitution. Key dates & laws: - §4 StAG — descent at birth: Citizenship passes from a German parent at birth; each generation must have been German when the next was born. - §25 StAG — naturalizing abroad broke the chain: Before June 27, 2024, a German who naturalized in another country lost citizenship automatically (absent a retention permit), and those historical losses were not restored — a grandparent who became a US citizen in 1950 broke the chain then. - §5 StAG — gender-discrimination declaration: A remedy (enacted 2021) for those denied citizenship by pre-1975 maternal-line or pre-1993 paternity rules; no continuous chain needed and free to file. Hard deadline: Aug 19, 2031. - Art. 116(2) — Nazi-era restitution: Restores citizenship stripped 1933–1945 on political, racial, or religious grounds, for all descendants with no generational cap, no deadline, and no fee. - §4(4) — post-1999 registration cutoff: A child born abroad after Dec 31, 1999 to an abroad-resident German parent must be registered with a German mission within one year, or the claim is limited. - Sworn translations only: BVA requires translations by a sworn translator recognized by a German court; US 'certified' translations are routinely rejected. ## Greece — citizenship by descent Greece passes citizenship by descent with no generational limit — if an unbroken, documented chain links you to an ancestor recorded in a Greek municipal register. Pathway: Descent (municipal roll), decided by Municipality / Consulate. Hub: https://www.easypassport.co/greek-citizenship Who may qualify: - A Greek ancestor recorded in a Greek municipal register (dimotológio). - An unbroken, documented chain of birth/marriage records linking you to them. - No generational limit — but the further back, the heavier the proof burden. - Men recognized as Greek incur (reduced, deferrable) military-service obligations. Eligibility paths: - Through your parent — A Greek parent registered in a municipality is the most direct determination. - Through your grandparent — Document the chain back to a grandparent registered in their Greek municipality. - Through your great-grandparent — No generational cap — but you must document every link to the registered ancestor. Key dates & laws: - 8 May 1984: Maternal-line transmission rules differ for births before this date (procedure varies). - Military service: Men recognized as Greek owe conscription — reduced (~3 months) and deferrable for those raised abroad. - 2004 — Greek Citizenship Code: The modern code (Law 3284/2004) under which descent is determined; Greece's jus sanguinis tradition dates to its first nationality law in 1835. ## Hungary — citizenship by descent Hungary's simplified naturalization recognizes descendants of Hungarian citizens, including from the historic territories. Pathway: Simplified naturalization (honosítás), decided by Ministry of Interior. Hub: https://www.easypassport.co/hungarian-citizenship Who may qualify: - An ancestor who was a Hungarian citizen (including pre-Trianon historic territories). - A conversational Hungarian interview at the consulate. - OFFI-certified translations of your documents; no government application fee. Eligibility paths: - Through your parent — Simplified naturalization (egyszerűsített honosítás) under §4 Act LV of 1993 — a shorter document chain than the grandparent path. - Through a grandparent or earlier ancestor — No generational cutoff, but historical situations (pre-1929 emigration, Trianon territory, communist-era deprivation) may need attorney analysis. Key dates & laws: - Simplified naturalization (Act LV of 1993, §4): The route for descendants — egyszerűsített honosítás — requires a documented Hungarian ancestor, conversational Hungarian, and a clean criminal record. - No generational cutoff: Unlike Italy or Germany, Hungary sets no limit on how far back the qualifying ancestor can be. - Loss after 10 years abroad (Act XVII of 1929): Hungarians who lived abroad over 10 years without maintaining ties could lose citizenship — pre-1929 emigration needs attorney analysis. - Women's marriage loss before 1957: Before Act V of 1957, a woman could lose Hungarian citizenship by marrying a foreigner; pre-1957 marriages need review. - Trianon territories (1920): Ancestors from territories ceded by the 1920 Treaty of Trianon (now in Romania, Slovakia, Serbia, Ukraine, and elsewhere) could keep citizenship via an 'option' declaration — status must be verified. - Communist-era deprivation (1947–1989): Citizenship stripped as political punishment may be restorable for descendants with the right documentation. - OFFI translations only: All US documents must be translated by OFFI or an OFFI-certified translator; generic certified translations are rejected. - FBI check — federal apostille, ordered last: The FBI background check needs a US Department of State (federal) apostille and is time-sensitive, so order it last. ## Ireland — citizenship by descent Ireland grants citizenship by descent through a grandparent born on the island, or a parent who was an Irish citizen before your birth. Pathway: Foreign Birth Registration + passport-direct, decided by Dept. of Foreign Affairs. Hub: https://www.easypassport.co/irish-citizenship Who may qualify: - A grandparent born on the island of Ireland, or - A parent who was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth (including via the Foreign Births Register). - To pass citizenship onward, you must be entered on the Foreign Births Register before your child is born. Eligibility paths: - Through your parent (born in Ireland) — If your parent was born on the island of Ireland, you're automatically an Irish citizen. - Through your grandparent — Claim via an Irish-born grandparent through Foreign Birth Registration — no need to register your parent first. - Through your great-grandparent — Possible only if the chain of Foreign Birth Registrations was completed at each generation before the next birth. Key dates & laws: - Register before the next birth (the chain rule): FBR citizenship takes effect from the date of registration, not from birth — so to pass it on, you must be registered (or hold your passport) before your child is born. This is why great-grandparent claims are rare. - Grandparent path skips the parent: You can claim through an Irish-born grandparent even if your parent never registered — the most commonly misunderstood rule. - Pre-1956 naturalization could break the line: Under s.21 of the 1935 Act, an Irish citizen who, after age 21, voluntarily acquired another country's citizenship before 17 July 1956 automatically lost Irish citizenship — breaking the line for any child born afterwards. Acquiring foreign citizenship after 17 July 1956 has no such effect. - The whole island of Ireland: Births in Northern Ireland count identically to the Republic, with an added Good Friday Agreement guarantee for those born in the North. - Long-form certificates and the witness certification: Use long-form (parental-detail) birth certificates, and have your witness certify each copy as 'a true copy/translation of the original seen by me' — the DFA's recommended procedure, not a fixed magic phrase. Incorrect or incomplete certification is a common reason applications are returned unprocessed. - April 2025: published guidelines for naturalisation by descent or association (outside the FBR): Separate from the Foreign Births Register, the Minister may grant naturalisation by Irish descent or Irish associations at absolute discretion. In April 2025 Immigration Service Delivery published guidelines (revised December 2025) that organise evidence into four indicative categories with indicative scoring to inform — not bind — the Minister's decision. There is no guaranteed outcome. ## Italy — citizenship by descent Italy recognizes citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis) with no generational limit when the bloodline is unbroken — though Law 74/2025 tightened the consular route and was upheld as constitutional by the Italian Constitutional Court on March 12, 2026. Pathway: Jure sanguinis (consular) + 1948 judicial, decided by Consulates / Tribunal of Rome. Hub: https://www.easypassport.co/italian-citizenship Who may qualify: - An Italian-born ancestor in your direct line, with the chain of citizenship never broken. - Your ancestor did not naturalize elsewhere before the next descendant in the line was born. - Post-Law 74/2025 (upheld March 12, 2026): new consular applications are generally limited to children and grandchildren of an Italian-born citizen. - Maternal lines with a child born before Jan 1, 1948 are handled through the 1948 judicial route. - Applications filed by March 27, 2025 are exempt under Article 3-bis of Law 74/2025, as are descendants of parents who lived in Italy for two consecutive years. Eligibility paths: - Through your father — The most direct line — if your father was an Italian citizen when you were born and didn't renounce, citizenship typically passes by jure sanguinis. - Through your paternal grandfather — A two-generation chain within the Law 74/2025 cap (upheld March 12, 2026); the key question is whether he naturalized before your parent was born. - Grandfather naturalized after your parent's birth — If your Italian grandfather became a US citizen only after your parent was born, the chain stayed intact and citizenship likely passed down — the naturalization date is the decisive fact. - Through your paternal grandmother — Within the cap; if your parent was born before Jan 1, 1948 this may require the 1948 judicial route. - Through your maternal grandmother — Within the cap; maternal-line transmission before 1948 is handled through the 1948 court route. - Through your paternal great-grandfather — The most common historical line; under Law 74/2025 — upheld by the Italian Constitutional Court on March 12, 2026 — the consular route is generally limited to grandchildren, so great-grandparent claims typically proceed through the judicial route. - Through your maternal great-grandfather — A great-grandparent line passing through a woman; both the 1948 rule and the Law 74/2025 cap (now constitutionally confirmed) can apply. - Through your paternal great-great-grandfather — A four-generation line. Under Law 74/2025, upheld as constitutional on March 12, 2026, the consular route is generally limited to grandchildren, so a great-great-grandparent claim typically proceeds through the judicial route in Italy. - Through an adopted ancestor — Adoption can carry Italian citizenship under specific conditions; these lines turn on the adoption decree and its date, and usually need individual legal review. - Mother born before 1948 — Before Jan 1, 1948 Italian women couldn't transmit citizenship administratively; these cases go through the 1948 judicial route in Rome. Key dates & laws: - The 1948 rule: Italian women could not pass citizenship to children born before Jan 1, 1948. Those maternal lines are claimed through a judicial case at the Court of Rome rather than at a consulate. - Naturalization before the next birth breaks the line: If an ancestor naturalized as a US citizen before the next person in the line was born, the chain is broken at that point and citizenship did not pass down. - Law 74/2025 consular cap — constitutionally upheld: Since March 28, 2025, new consular applications are generally limited to the children and grandchildren of an Italian-born citizen. The Italian Constitutional Court rejected challenges to this law on March 12, 2026, confirming it is in force; longer lines typically proceed through the judicial route. - Article 3-bis exemption: Applications filed by March 27, 2025 are exempt from the new cap under Article 3-bis of Law 74/2025. Descendants of parents who lived in Italy for two consecutive years are also exempt. - Minor children: 2025 reforms tightened how minor children are recognized; timing relative to a parent's recognition matters, so check the current rule before filing for a child. ## Latvia — citizenship by descent Latvia recognizes descendants of its pre-1940 citizens with no generational cap — a registration route grounded in state continuity. Pathway: Pre-1940 descent, decided by OCMA. Hub: https://www.easypassport.co/latvian-citizenship Who may qualify: - An ancestor who was a Latvian citizen on 17 June 1940. - No generational cap — registration passes down each generation. - Dual citizenship is retained for exile descendants born before 1 Oct 2014. - No residence or language requirement. Eligibility paths: - Through your parent — A parent who descends from a 1940 Latvian citizen. - Through your grandparent — Document the chain back to the 1940-citizen ancestor. - Through your great-grandparent — No cap — a documented chain to the 1940 citizen still qualifies. Key dates & laws: - 17 June 1940: Your ancestor must have been a Latvian citizen on this date. - 1 Oct 2014: Exile descendants born before this date retain dual citizenship freely. - 1994 — Citizenship Law: Re-established the route for descendants of pre-1940 Latvian citizens to reclaim citizenship. ## Lithuania — citizenship by descent Lithuania reinstates citizenship for descendants — to great-grandchild — of pre-1940 Lithuanian citizens who left before independence was restored. Pathway: Pre-1940 descent, decided by Migration Department. Hub: https://www.easypassport.co/lithuanian-citizenship Who may qualify: - An ancestor who held Lithuanian citizenship before 15 June 1940. - Descendants to the great-grandchild (3 generations) qualify. - The ancestor left before 11 March 1990 and not to the USSR after June 1940. - Dual citizenship is retained for exiles/émigrés and their descendants. Eligibility paths: - Through your parent — A parent descended from a pre-1940 Lithuanian citizen. - Through your grandparent — Document the chain to the pre-1940 citizen ancestor. - Through your great-grandparent — The maximum reach (great-grandchild of the pre-1940 citizen). Key dates & laws: - 15 June 1940: Soviet occupation — ancestor must have been a citizen before this date. - 11 March 1990: Independence restored; the ancestor must have left before this date. ## Luxembourg — citizenship by descent Luxembourg passes nationality by descent through an all-male lineage to a Luxembourg-born ancestor (Article 7) — or through a maternal link if you were born after 1 January 1969. Cases that don't transmit automatically can still acquire it by option through a parent or grandparent (Article 23, in person). The Article 89 1900-ancestor recovery route is now permanently closed. Pathway: Descent / option (Art. 89 recovery closed), decided by Ministry of Justice. Hub: https://www.easypassport.co/luxembourgish-citizenship Who may qualify: - Article 7 (descent): an all-male lineage from you back to a Luxembourg-born male ancestor. - Article 7 (maternal): a maternal link is accepted if you were born after 1 January 1969; pre-1969 maternal gaps don't transmit. - Article 23 (option): a parent or grandparent who is/was a Luxembourg citizen, where the Art. 7 chain didn't transmit. Requires an in-person trip to Luxembourg. - Article 89 recovery via a 1900 ancestor is permanently closed (the 2018 application cut-off and the 2025 completion deadline have both lapsed). - No residence or language requirement for the Art. 7 / Art. 23 routes; dual citizenship allowed. Eligibility paths: - Through your parent — A Luxembourgish parent makes you Luxembourgish at birth (Art. 7); you apply by post. - By option (parent/grandparent) — If the Art. 7 chain didn't transmit, you may acquire by option under Art. 23 via a parent or grandparent who is/was a citizen. Requires an in-person trip. - 1900-ancestor recovery (closed) — Art. 89 recovery via an ancestor Luxembourgish on 1 Jan 1900 is permanently closed — both the 2018 and 2025 deadlines have lapsed. Key dates & laws: - 1 Jan 1969: Cut-off after which a maternal-line link transmits Luxembourg nationality under Article 7. - 31 Dec 2018: Step-one certificate cut-off for the Article 89 1900-ancestor recovery route — no new applications accepted since. - 31 Dec 2025: Final completion deadline for pre-2018 Article 89 filers — the recovery route is now fully closed. ## Malta — citizenship by descent Malta passes citizenship to children of citizens, and lets descendants of a Malta-born ascendant register where the direct line has two consecutive Malta-born ascendants. Act XXI of 2025 unified the link-severance deadlines (now 1 Aug 2028) and refined how adopted children are treated. Pathway: Descent (grandparent + great-grandparent), decided by Community Malta. Hub: https://www.easypassport.co/maltese-citizenship Who may qualify: - A Maltese-citizen parent → citizenship by descent. - Or two consecutive Malta-born ascendants in your direct line → registration. - Your relevant parent must have acquired Maltese citizenship under the article (or be deemed to have done so) — there is no separate rule that every generation individually register. - A link-severance rule applies; Act XXI of 2025 unified the earlier cutoffs into a single 1 Aug 2028 deadline. - Adoption counts only on conditions: an adopter is a parent mainly for lawful adoptions on/after 1 Aug 2020 where the adoptee was under 18; earlier windows and over-age adoptions are deemed without effect (Act XXI of 2025). Eligibility paths: - Through your parent — A child of a Maltese citizen is generally Maltese — register to confirm. - Descendant of a Malta-born ascendant — Registration requires two consecutive Malta-born ascendants in your line. - Through adoption — An adopter counts as a parent only on conditions set by Act XXI of 2025 — mainly lawful adoptions on/after 1 Aug 2020 where the adoptee was under 18. Key dates & laws: - 21 Sep 1964 — Independence: Malta's independence; descent claims trace a documented line back to a Malta-born ascendant from this era. - 2007 amendment: Extended registration to 2nd-and-later generations born abroad of a Malta-born ascendant. - Act XXI of 2025 — enacted: Amended the Maltese Citizenship Act: unified the earlier link-severance cutoffs into a single 1 Aug 2028 deadline, and refined the treatment of adopted children (an adopter counts as a parent mainly for adoptions on/after 1 Aug 2020 where the adoptee was under 18; earlier or over-age adoptions are deemed without effect). - 1 Aug 2028 — link-severance deadline: Final date, set by Act XXI of 2025, by which a descendant must register to preserve a line whose link would otherwise be treated as severed. ## Poland — citizenship by descent Poland confirms citizenship for descendants of Poles, provided the chain of citizenship was never broken after 1920. Pathway: Confirmation of citizenship, decided by Masovian Voivode. Hub: https://www.easypassport.co/polish-citizenship Who may qualify: - An ancestor who held Polish citizenship after 1920. - No intervening loss of citizenship in the chain (naturalization and military-service rules can break it). - Confirmation is decided by the Masovian Voivode in Warsaw, usually filed via your consulate. Eligibility paths: - Through your parent — The simplest chain — most post-1951 naturalized parents retained Polish citizenship automatically. - Through your grandparent — Requires verifying your intermediate ancestor never formally renounced (zwolnienie) Polish citizenship. - Through your great-grandparent — A three-generation chain — each intermediate ancestor must have retained citizenship. Key dates & laws: - The zwolnienie rule (post-1951): Under the 1951 Act, foreign naturalization alone doesn't cancel Polish citizenship — only a formal release decree (zwolnienie) from the Council of State (later the President) does, and it was never automatic. - The Military Paradox (1918–1950): Under the 1920 Act, loss on naturalization required a prior release from military duty — but consulates systematically refused these to men aged 18–50, making citizenship loss legally impossible for that cohort. - Foreign military service (1962 Act): Voluntary service in a foreign army was its own chain-breaker — some Polish-Americans who served in WWII, Korea, or Vietnam may have lost citizenship without realizing it. - Marriage loss for women (1920–1950): Under Art. 7 of the 1920 Act, a Polish woman who married a foreign man lost citizenship automatically at marriage; the 2009 Act fixed this going forward. - Pre-1918 emigration: Ancestors who emigrated and naturalized before Poland's independence in November 1918 generally never acquired Polish citizenship — the most common reason descendants of the 1880–1914 wave are ineligible. - Kresy (eastern borderlands): Ancestors from places now in Ukraine, Belarus, or Lithuania need analysis of Soviet–Polish treaties and records split across archives; specialized review is recommended. - The chain must never have broken: Every intermediate ancestor must have held Polish citizenship when the next child was born; a single zwolnienie, Art. 7 marriage loss, or foreign military-service event breaks it for all descendants. ## Portugal — citizenship by descent Portugal grants citizenship by descent through a parent, and through grandparents with a language certificate and community connection. Pathway: Descent (parent / grandparent + CIPLE A2), decided by IRN. Hub: https://www.easypassport.co/portuguese-citizenship Who may qualify: - A Portuguese parent (citizenship by origin), or - A Portuguese grandparent — with a CIPLE A2 language certificate and proof of effective connection to the community. Eligibility paths: - Through your parent — Citizenship through a Portuguese parent — no language exam or effective-connection requirement (Art. 1(1)(b), Lei 37/81). - Through your grandparent — Through a Portuguese-born grandparent — requires the CIPLE A2 language exam and proof of effective connection (Law 43/2013). Key dates & laws: - October 1981 dual-citizenship cutoff: Ancestors who naturalized abroad after Oct 3, 1981 kept Portuguese citizenship; those who naturalized before may have lost it — Article 30 offers a restoration path for some pre-1981 cases. - No 'minor rule': Unlike Germany, an ancestor's naturalization didn't strip their minor children — each generation is judged on its own actions. - Parent path: no language, connection, or residency: Under Art. 1(1)(b) of Law 37/81, the only condition is that a parent held Portuguese citizenship when you were born. - Grandparent path: A2 + effective connection (Law 43/2013): Grandchildren must pass the CIPLE A2 exam and show ligação efetiva; the A2 certificate is the statutory presumption of that connection under Portaria 1403-A/2006. - No direct great-grandparent descent claim: Attribution by descent caps at grandchildren — there is no from-abroad great-grandchild descent claim. Since 19 May 2026 (Lei Orgânica 1/2026) a great-grandchild can NATURALIZE after 5 years' legal residence in Portugal: a relocate-and-naturalize route, not a consular descent claim. - Sephardic route abolished: Lei Orgânica 1/2026 (in force 19 May 2026) abolished the Sephardic Jewish descent track for new applicants. Filings made before 19 May 2026 are still processed under the prior law. - Former overseas territories: Ancestors born in Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, or Brazil have complex nationality histories that need civil-registry checks. - Watch name discrepancies: Americanized names (José→Joseph, Maria→Mary) are a common delay; include a sworn affidavit of same identity when records differ. ## Romania — citizenship by descent Romania lets descendants up to the 3rd degree of Romanians who lost citizenship not by their fault reacquire it — keeping foreign citizenship and domicile abroad. Pathway: Descent, decided by ANC. Hub: https://www.easypassport.co/romanian-citizenship Who may qualify: - A Romanian ancestor within the 3rd degree (parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent). - The ancestor lost citizenship for reasons not their fault (includes former-territory cases). - Reacquisition by application (Art. 10/11) is discretionary and requires B1 Romanian — an accredited certificate or ≥3 years of Romanian schooling; exemptions for former citizens and age 65+. - If your Romanian-citizen line was never broken you are a citizen at birth (Art. 5/6) — outside this application process and not language-tested. - You may keep your current citizenship and live abroad. Eligibility paths: - Through your parent — A former Romanian-citizen parent — the most direct reacquisition. - Through your grandparent — Document the chain to your former-citizen grandparent. - Through your great-grandparent — The 3rd-degree limit — a documented chain to a great-grandparent still qualifies. Key dates & laws: - Law 14/2025 (in force 15 Mar 2025): Made reacquisition-by-application (Art. 10/11) require B1 Romanian and be discretionary; added biometric capture, a digital case-tracker, and a 2-year processing target. The B1-certificate submission deadline was extended to 14 Mar 2027. Citizens at birth (Art. 5/6) are unaffected. - Former territories: Bessarabia / Bukovina cases are explicitly covered by the reacquisition route. - Law 21/1991: Romania's base citizenship law, under which reacquisition runs; the process includes taking an oath of loyalty to Romania and can involve an appeals stage. ## Slovakia — citizenship by descent Slovakia's 2022 law lets descendants — to a great-grandparent — of a Czechoslovak citizen born in Slovak territory acquire citizenship, with no language test and dual citizenship allowed. Pathway: Descent / Czechoslovak lineage, decided by Ministry of Interior. Hub: https://www.easypassport.co/slovak-citizenship Who may qualify: - An ancestor (to great-grandparent) who was a Czechoslovak citizen born in Slovak territory. - No language or knowledge test; dual citizenship allowed. - A Slovak residence permit is filed together with the application. - More distant ancestors don't qualify under the standard route. Eligibility paths: - Through your parent — A parent who was a Czechoslovak citizen born in Slovakia (€30 fee tier). - Through your grandparent — Same €30 tier; document the chain and the ancestor's Slovak birthplace. - Through your great-grandparent — The maximum reach (a higher ~€1,000 fee applies). Key dates & laws: - 1 Apr 2022: Act 40/1993 amendment opened descent to grandchildren and great-grandchildren. - Great-grandparent max: More distant ancestors fall outside the standard descent provision. ## Slovenia — citizenship by descent Slovenia passes citizenship to children of Slovenians, and lets émigrés and their descendants up to the 4th generation naturalize. Pathway: Descent, decided by Ministry of Interior. Hub: https://www.easypassport.co/slovenian-citizenship Who may qualify: - A Slovenian parent → citizenship by descent (register before age 36). - An émigré ancestor → naturalization for descendants up to the 4th generation. - The émigré route needs ~1 year residence; active community ties can exempt 2nd-generation descendants. - No general language exam for the émigré route. Eligibility paths: - Through your parent — A Slovenian parent confers citizenship by descent (Art. 4). - Émigré ancestor (to 4th generation) — Descendants of a Slovenian émigré can naturalize up to the 4th generation. Key dates & laws: - Art. 4 (descent): Parent-to-child; register a child born abroad before age 36. - Arts. 12–13 (émigré): Naturalization for émigrés and descendants to the 4th generation; active-ties exemptions for the 2nd generation. ## Spain — citizenship by descent Spain grants nationality by origin to children of Spaniards, and by option to those whose parent was born Spanish in Spain — but the Democratic Memory 'Grandchildren Law' closed to new applications in October 2025. Pathway: By origin (Art. 17) + option (Art. 20), decided by Registro Civil / Consulate. Hub: https://www.easypassport.co/spanish-citizenship Who may qualify: - A Spanish parent who was a citizen when you were born → nationality by origin (Art. 17). - A parent who was originally Spanish and born in Spain → you may opt for nationality (Art. 20.1.b), with no deadline. - Grandparent-only claims ran through the Democratic Memory Law, which stopped accepting new applications on Oct 22, 2025 (pending files still processed). - No language exam or residence requirement for descent-based registration. Eligibility paths: - Through your parent — If your parent was a Spanish citizen when you were born, you're Spanish by origin (Art. 17) — register at the consulate. - Parent born in Spain (option) — If your parent was originally Spanish and born in Spain, you can opt for nationality under Art. 20.1.b — no deadline. - Through your grandparent — Grandparent-only claims ran through the Democratic Memory 'Grandchildren Law', which closed to new applications on Oct 22, 2025; pending files are still processed. Key dates & laws: - Oct 22, 2025 — Democratic Memory Law: The 'Grandchildren Law' window closed to new applications, with no extension. Applications filed in time are still processed. - Art. 17 & Art. 20 Código Civil: Nationality by origin (children of Spaniards) and by option (parent originally Spanish, born in Spain) remain available. - 2007 — Historical Memory Law (Law 52/2007): An earlier window for descendants of Civil War and Franco-era exiles — the precursor to the 2022 Democratic Memory 'Grandchildren Law'. ## Switzerland — citizenship by descent Switzerland passes citizenship through a parent only — there is no grandparent route — and a citizen born abroad can lose it at 25 without registering. Pathway: Descent (register before 25), decided by SEM / Cantonal authority. Hub: https://www.easypassport.co/swiss-citizenship Who may qualify: - A Swiss parent at your birth → Swiss by descent (Art. 1 BüG). - No grandparent route — transmission is parent-to-child each generation. - Born abroad with another nationality? Register (or declare to retain) before age 25 or you forfeit it. - A parent who already forfeited at 25 can't pass it on. Eligibility paths: - Through your parent — A Swiss parent at your birth makes you Swiss by descent — confirm via your Swiss representation. Key dates & laws: - Art. 1 BüG: Citizenship by descent from a Swiss parent. - Art. 7 BüG (age 25): A citizen born abroad with another nationality forfeits Swiss citizenship at 25 without registering/declaring to retain it. ## United Kingdom — citizenship by descent British citizenship passes one generation by descent — a child born abroad to a UK-born or registered British parent. Going further usually needs a registration route or the UK Ancestry visa. Pathway: UK Ancestry (grandparent) / descent, decided by UKVI. Hub: https://www.easypassport.co/british-citizenship Who may qualify: - A parent who is British 'otherwise than by descent' → you're British by descent (one generation). - British-by-descent parents generally can't pass it to a child born abroad without UK residence or special service. - Registration routes (s.3, s.4C, s.4L) fix historical unfairness (pre-1983 maternal line, unmarried fathers). - A UK-born grandparent + Commonwealth citizenship → the UK Ancestry visa (work → settlement → naturalisation). Eligibility paths: - Through your parent — A parent British otherwise than by descent passes citizenship to a child born abroad (one generation). - UK-born grandparent (Ancestry visa) — A Commonwealth citizen with a UK-born grandparent can use the UK Ancestry visa → settlement → naturalisation. - Historical-unfairness registration — Routes like s.4C and s.4L register people affected by old maternal-line / unmarried-father rules. Key dates & laws: - 1 Jan 1983: Commencement of the British Nationality Act 1981. - s.4L (since 28 June 2022): The main route for historical injustice (e.g., a UK-born grandmother, pre-1983 cases). # Glossary (97 terms) ### Jus sanguinis “Right of blood” — the principle that citizenship passes by descent from an ancestor, regardless of where you were born. The basis of every program here. ### Jure sanguinis The Italian term for citizenship by descent — you're recognized as having been a citizen all along, not naturalized. ### Naturalization Becoming a citizen of a new country. Its timing is critical: an ancestor naturalizing before the next descendant's birth can break a descent chain. ### Chain break When an ancestor lost or renounced citizenship before the next generation was born, severing the line for all later descendants. ### Apostille A Hague-Convention certificate that authenticates a public document for use abroad. In the US you obtain it from the issuing state's Secretary of State. ### Vital record An official record of a birth, marriage, death, or divorce. You'll need certified copies — not photocopies — from the issuing authority. ### Consulate A diplomatic office handling citizenship services abroad. Some countries (e.g. Italy) assign you to a consulate by your state of residence. ### USCIS US Citizenship and Immigration Services. Its Genealogy Program (Form G-1041) searches and releases historical naturalization records. ### NARA The US National Archives and Records Administration, which holds historical immigration and passenger-arrival records (request via Form NATF 81). ### C-File A USCIS naturalization case file — it contains the certificate of arrival, petition for naturalization, oath, and certificate of naturalization. ### Certificate of Naturalization The document issued when someone became a US citizen. Its date is decisive for descent eligibility — it shows when the ancestor naturalized. ### Certificate of Arrival A record verifying an immigrant's arrival in the US, created during naturalization and kept in the C-File. ### Petition for Naturalization The application an immigrant filed to become a US citizen; it lists arrival details and the date citizenship was granted. ### CONE Certificate of Non-Existence of Naturalization — a USCIS letter confirming no naturalization record exists, used to prove an ancestor never naturalized. ### 1948 case A court route in Rome for lineages passing through a woman whose child was born before Jan 1, 1948, when Italian law barred maternal transmission. ### AIRE Anagrafe degli Italiani Residenti all'Estero — the registry of Italians living abroad, which you join through your consulate once recognized. ### Article 12 Art. 12(2) of Law 555/1912: a minor child lost Italian citizenship when their parent naturalized abroad — the basis of the “minor issue.” ### Minor issue The question of whether a parent's foreign naturalization stripped their minor child's Italian citizenship, breaking the line for all descendants. ### Comune An Italian municipality (town hall). You request Italian vital records from the comune's Ufficio di Stato Civile. ### Ufficio di Stato Civile The civil-registry office inside an Italian comune that records births, marriages, deaths, and citizenship — your source for Italian vital records. ### Estratto A certified extract of an Italian vital record (e.g. estratto di nascita for birth, estratto di matrimonio for marriage). ### Asseverata A sworn translation made before an Italian court official, required for the 1948 judicial route. ### Jure sanguinis (recognition) Italy recognizes (rather than grants) citizenship by descent, which is why there is no language or residency test on the consular route. ### Decreto Tajani Decree-Law 36/2025 (later Law 74/2025), which limited automatic descent to applicants with a parent or grandparent born in Italy. ### Law 74/2025 The 2025 law capping automatic jure sanguinis at roughly two generations for new applications; pre–Mar 28, 2025 filings keep the old rules. ### Law 555/1912 Italy's citizenship law from 1912 to 1992 governing transmission and loss — home of the Art. 12 “minor issue.” ### Law 91/1992 Italy's modern citizenship law, under which standard consular recognition applications are decided. ### Law 124/2006 A recognition route for descendants of Italians who lost citizenship when their territory (Istria, Fiume, Dalmatia, Trieste Zone B) was ceded after WWII. ### Grandfathering Law 74/2025's transitional rule preserving old-rule eligibility for applications filed with a consulate, comune, or court before Mar 28, 2025. ### Constitutional vs legislative claim A court-based claim challenging a law as unconstitutional (e.g. pre-1948 discrimination) versus an administrative application under current law. ### Corte di Cassazione Italy's Supreme Court of Cassation — it interprets the law rather than retrying facts. ### Sezioni Unite The Joint Sections of the Court of Cassation, a panel convened to settle conflicting interpretations; its rulings bind lower courts. ### Sentenza 142/2025 A 2025 Constitutional Court ruling holding that unlimited-generation descent was constitutional, protecting pre–Mar 28, 2025 applications. ### Retroactivity The question of whether Law 74/2025 reaches back to people already Italian at birth under the old rules. ### Reporting judge The giudice relatore assigned to summarize a case and the competing interpretations for the rest of an Italian appellate panel. ### Full adoption Adozione legittimante severs ties to the biological family; for citizenship, full adoptions (post-1967 in Italy, post-1983 abroad) transmit like biological parentage. ### Simple adoption Adozione semplice keeps the child's biological ties while adding the adoptive relationship — legally complex for citizenship; get advice. ### Treaty of Paris 1947 The WWII peace treaty that ceded Italian territories; Art. 19 let nationals in ceded areas opt for Italian citizenship within a year. ### Free Territory of Trieste A postwar international zone; Zone B residents who held on through cession in 1977 lost citizenship and are covered by Law 124/2006. ### Optante Someone who exercised the treaty right to opt for Italian citizenship (e.g. Dodecanese residents); those who relocated to Italy kept it for their line. ### Foreign Birth Registration Ireland's process for claiming citizenship by descent through a grandparent — applied for online, signed before a witness, and mailed to Dublin. ### FBR (register) The Foreign Births Register kept by Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs; registration is how citizenship by descent is recorded. ### Department of Foreign Affairs The Irish department that runs the Foreign Births Register and passport services; it processes all FBR applications. ### GRO Ireland's General Register Office (Roscommon), holding Republic of Ireland civil records from 1864; order at irishgenealogy.ie. ### GRONI The General Register Office for Northern Ireland (Belfast), which holds Northern Ireland civil records separately from the Republic's GRO. ### 27th Amendment The 2004 amendment (effective Jan 1, 2005) ending automatic birthright citizenship on the island unless a parent is an Irish/British citizen or resident. ### Good Friday Agreement The 1998 peace agreement guaranteeing people born in Northern Ireland the right to hold Irish citizenship. ### Bundesverwaltungsamt Germany's Federal Office of Administration in Cologne — the sole adjudicator of all citizenship-by-descent cases (§4, §5, Art. 116(2)). ### Feststellung The formal determination of German citizenship under §4 StAG; success yields a Staatsangehörigkeitsausweis from the BVA. ### Staatsangehörigkeitsausweis Germany's official citizenship certificate, issued by the BVA after a successful Feststellung and required before applying for a passport. ### StAG §25 The main German chain-breaker: a citizen who voluntarily naturalized abroad lost German citizenship — the question is whether that happened before the next birth. ### StAG §5 declaration A free declaration restoring citizenship to those denied it by pre-1975 gender rules (or pre-1993 paternity rules) and their descendants. Deadline: Aug 19, 2031. ### Art. 116(2) GG Germany's Basic Law right to restitution for those stripped of citizenship on political, racial, or religious grounds in 1933–1945, and their descendants — no deadline, no fee. ### Beibehaltungsgenehmigung A retention permit letting a German naturalize abroad without losing citizenship under §25; if an ancestor held one, the chain may be intact. ### Standesamt Germany's local civil-registry office, which issues certified birth, marriage, and death records (first copy €12, additional €6). ### Masovian Voivode The Warsaw provincial office (Mazowiecki Urząd Wojewódzki) that decides Polish citizenship-confirmation cases for descendants abroad. ### Potwierdzenie A formal confirmation of Polish citizenship issued by the Masovian Voivode — proof of citizenship held since birth. ### Zwolnienie A formal release from Polish citizenship. Since 1951 it's the only way to lose it — foreign naturalization alone doesn't, absent a zwolnienie. ### Military Paradox Because consulates refused to release men aged 18–50 from military duty, they couldn't get a zwolnienie — so they kept Polish citizenship despite naturalizing (1918–1950). ### Polish Citizenship Act 1920 Poland's first citizenship law: foreign naturalization caused loss only after a formal release; women lost citizenship on marrying a foreigner (Art. 7). ### Polish Citizenship Act 1951 From Jan 19, 1951, naturalizing abroad no longer caused loss of Polish citizenship — only a formal zwolnienie did. ### Kresy Pre-WWII Poland's eastern borderlands (now Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania); citizenship analysis there is complicated by Soviet–Polish treaties and split archives. ### Metryka urodzenia A Polish birth record — the primary proof of a qualifying ancestor, searchable for free at Szukajwarchiwach.gov.pl. ### Tłumacz przysięgły A sworn translator registered with the Polish Ministry of Justice; required for certified translations submitted to the Voivode (generic US translators are rejected). ### Egyszerűsített honosítás Hungary's simplified naturalization for the diaspora under §4 of Act LV of 1993 — needs Hungarian ancestry, conversational Hungarian, and a clean record. No government fee. ### Honosítás Hungarian for “naturalization” — in this context the simplified descent pathway for diaspora Hungarians. ### OFFI Hungary's official translation office; all US documents must be translated by OFFI or an OFFI-certified translator — generic ones aren't accepted. ### Anyakönyvi kivonat A Hungarian civil-registry extract (birth/marriage/death); when used in a Hungarian application it needs no apostille or OFFI translation. ### Önéletrajz A short autobiographical statement applicants handwrite in Hungarian at the consulate appointment, part of the conversational language check. ### Fogadalom The Hungarian citizenship oath ceremony at the consulate after the Ministry approves your case; you become a citizen once you take it. ### Konzinfo Hungary's online appointment system (konzinfo.mfa.gov.hu) used to book citizenship appointments at the DC, New York, and Los Angeles posts. ### Trianon The 1920 treaty that transferred large parts of historic Hungary abroad; ancestry from ceded territories can complicate the citizenship chain. ### IRN Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado — the Portuguese Ministry of Justice body that processes citizenship registrations (via the CRC in Lisbon). ### Conservatória dos Registos Centrais The central civil registry in Lisbon (part of IRN) that decides citizenship applications from abroad; heavily backlogged as of 2026. ### Lei da Nacionalidade Portugal's citizenship statute, Law 37/81, as amended — defines who is Portuguese by birth, descent, and naturalization. ### Law 43/2013 The amendment that created the direct grandchild path: grandchildren can claim without the parent being Portuguese, given A2 Portuguese and an effective connection. ### CIPLE A2 Portugal's A2-level language exam (Camões Institute), required on the grandparent path; offered in May, July, and November and fills within minutes. ### Ligação efetiva The “effective connection” a grandchild applicant must show; the A2 certificate is the statutory presumption of it, optionally backed by visits, a NIF, or property. ### Portaria 1403-A/2006 The order defining acceptable evidence of effective connection, establishing the A2 certificate as the presumption. ### NIF A Portuguese taxpayer number; with documented use it supports effective connection on the grandparent path, but isn't sufficient on its own. ### Certidão de nascimento A Portuguese birth certificate — the core proof of an ancestor's Portuguese identity; request the full-text certidão completa. ### IRCC Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — the federal department that processes proof-of-citizenship applications. ### Bill C-3 The law (in force Dec 15, 2025) that removed the first-generation limit on citizenship by descent, following the Bjorkquist ruling. ### Bill C-37 The 2009 law that retroactively restored citizenship to many who lost it through pre-1977 foreign naturalization — often key to a grandparent claim. ### First-generation limit The pre–Bill C-3 rule that barred Canadians born abroad from passing citizenship to children also born abroad; removed for births before Dec 15, 2025. ### Substantial connection test For births on/after Dec 15, 2025, the Canadian parent must have at least 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada before the birth. ### Responsible parent A pre-1977 rule letting only one parent transmit citizenship (the father in wedlock, the mother in limited cases); addressed by Bill C-37. ### Retention declaration Under the 1947 Act, Canadians born abroad had to declare between ages 21–22 to keep citizenship, or lose it at 22. ### Anchor ancestor The furthest-back Canadian in your chain — the person born, naturalized, or resident in Canada from whom the line descends. ### Citizenship certificate IRCC's official proof of Canadian citizenship, applied for with Form CIT 0001. ### CIT 0001 The application for a Canadian citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship), updated January 2026 for Bill C-3. ### CIT 0014 The document checklist that must accompany a CIT 0001 application. ### CIT 0555 The physical-presence calculator form, required when the applicant is born on/after Dec 15, 2025 and the substantial-connection test applies. ### Long-form birth certificate A birth certificate showing the parents' names — required for descent claims; short-form versions aren't accepted. ### Landing record A historical record of an immigrant's admission to Canada, available from Library and Archives Canada. ### RBA Registration of Birth Abroad — a pre-1977 certificate for Canadians born outside Canada, the precursor to today's citizenship certificate. ### Provincial vital statistics The provincial/territorial offices that issue Canadian birth, marriage, and death certificates (Quebec records can be notably pricier). # What we are NOT - We are not an attorney, law firm, or accredited agent, and we do not provide legal advice. - We do not file applications on a buyer's behalf. - We do not sell second passports, accept investment funds, or hold escrow. - We do not store passports or government IDs. - Country rules are authored from primary legal sources with a last-verified date, but final eligibility is decided by the relevant government authority.