Five EU Nationalities You May Be Eligible to Apply For
40% of Americans are estimated to be eligible for citizenship by descent. Here are the five top EU countries for citizenship by descent and a brief description of thier processes.
Citizenship in the European Union is quickly becoming a popular alternative for citizens in the United States and United Kingdom. With affordable health care, freedom of movement, right to work across 27 member states, and low-cost education, EU citizenship offers a high return on the time and cost of pursuing citizenship by descent. Below are five EU countries many Americans can claim citizenship in:
Ireland
An estimated 32 million Americans claim Irish heritage, a significant percentage of whom are eligible for Irish citizenship. Individuals with a parent, grandparent, or in some cases a great-grandparent born in Ireland could qualify for Irish citizenship by descent. Irish citizenship is claimed through a process called Foreign Birth Registration. It’s important to note that Irish heritage alone does not qualify someone for citizenship and there is additional qualifying criteria that must be met.
Italy
Italian citizenship is one of the most straightforward citizenships to obtain via descent; nearly all those with Italian ancestry are eligible, also known as jure sanguinis or "right of blood.” Any individual with a documented Italian ancestor can qualify with no generational limitation so long as the other requirements are met. The process of collecting documents and processing the application can take 12-24 months depending on the city or municipality the ancestor immigrated from.
Germany
While more restrictive due to specific historical and legal criteria, Germany does allow descendants of German citizens and victims of the Nazi regime who were resident in Germany at the time to apply for citizenship. Note that German citizens who had their permanent residence abroad for more than 10 years before 1914 automatically lost their German citizenship unless they registered themselves in the “Konsulatsmatrikel” (consular register) of the competent German consulate.
Poland
Descendants of Polish citizens are eligible to apply for citizenship via a process called “confirmation of citizenship;” however, there are strict rules around loss of citizenship especially for those who emigrated prior to 1920. In the case of loss of citizenship in the line of descent, persons of Polish descent can either apply for a citizenship grant by Presidential decree or apply for Polish residency and accelerated naturalization through what’s known as the “Karta Polaka.”
Hungary
There are two paths to obtaining Hungarian citizenship: Verification of Citizenship and Simplified Naturalization. Like Poland and Germany, there are strict rules around the loss of citizenship for those who emigrated in the first half of the twentieth century. For those who find themselves ineligible for verification, Simplified Naturalization is a near identical process. However, Simplified Naturalization applicants must prove at least an intermediate level of Hungarian language knowledge and will be interviewed in Hungarian when presenting their application.
Many other EU countries such as Spain, Latvia, and Austria offer similar paths to citizenship via descent with their own qualifying criteria for applicants. Contact us today for help identifying the correct program for you and we’ll put together a personalized plan and support in requesting all historical family documents from around the world!
Why you should apply for dual citizenship in the EU
The benefits of EU citizenship
In a highly connected world, the right to live and work wherever you choose is an asset. This is even more true when you consider increasing political turbulence throughout the world.
Today, more individuals are considering a path to dual citizenship via descent than ever before. According to the American Bar Association, many lawyers saw uptick in inquires in the months leading up to the 2024 US Presidential Election, but other studies this is also tied to the weakening of the US Passport, Brexit, and the remote work boom that followed the COVID Pandemic.
According to Forbes, 40% of Americans could be eligible for dual citizenship by descent. Unfortunately, most are unaware that this is an option and those who are aware don’t know where to start. Here’s
there are X reasons you should consider pursuing another nationality via descent
No Visa Requirements
If you qualify for EU citizenship, you can travel between the 27-member states freely, with no visas and remain there with no restrictions. Also, beginning in 2025, Americans and Brits will need a to apply for visa waivers before visiting the EU.
The Right to Live and Work in Europe
Citizens of the European Union (EU), nationals of the European Economic Area and Switzerland, are legally entitled to stay, work and look for work in any of the EU member countries. Trying to get an employee-sponsored visa if you are not an EU citizen can be very expensive and difficult. European employers look for mobile, culturally aware, bilingual professionals with experience in international settings. They prefer to work with dual citizens as they do not need complicated permits or visas.
Subsidized Education & Scholarships
There are many reasons to study in the EU: reputable universities, opportunities for international networking and career development, famously diverse cities, high quality of life, and, of course, 27 different countries with free or very affordable tuition fees.
Access to National Health Care Benefits
Unlike in the United States, EU citizens benefit from free or low-cost reciprocal healthcare when they are in any of the European Union’s 27-member states. These rights apply whether they are traveling temporarily between EU member states, residing permanently in another EU country.
Connect to Your Heritage & Family History
Obtaining citizenship through descent is a rewarding project for the entire family. The application process requires a deep understanding of the lives of your immigrant ancestors and, in some instances, requires you to learn their customs and/or language.
Privacy
The EU falls under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which covers data collection, storage and usage and allows individuals to move their personal data from one service provider to another. EU regulations offer a layer of privacy regarding taxation that is not available in many parts of the world. Privacy laws in Poland are even stricter than elsewhere in Europe and many people value this level of personal protection above anything else.
Golden Visa Programs are Shutting Down
Over the past decade, many individuals have taken advantage of “golden visa” programs; formal programs that where countries offer permanent residency in exchange for meeting certain investment criteria. However, these programs require hundreds of thousands of dollars in investment and many governments are putting a stop to these paths. For example, Spain’s parliament voted in November 2024 to end their program.
Your Family’s Plan B
In today’s unpredictable political and social environment, an EU passport allows unlimited travel, safe passage and consular assistance for you and your family in situations beyond your control. You may use it sparingly for travel -but what about your children, or their children?
Whatever your reason for applying, citizenship by descent is a cost and time-effective way to acquire a second nationality for your entire family. Contact Pangea today to learn how we can support you in identifying the right path and applying.