Tips to Claim a Passport Through Your Family Line
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Why people are rediscovering their roots
Have you ever dreamed of packing a bag, hopping a plane, and moving to a new country to discover your roots? If so, you’re not alone. A 2025 Harris Poll showed that 42% of Americans have at least considered moving abroad. That number spikes for certain generations – 66% of Gen Z and Millennials are interested in applying for foreign citizenship. It’s not just Americans though – across the globe, curious people are interested in learning more about how to become a citizen of another country.
The personal reasons vary from person to person, but a few reasons include:
- Cultural connections to your ancestors
- Job opportunities
- Access to public services
- Political situations
- Cost of living
- Financial incentives related to taxes and investments
For some of us travelers though, it’s all about the passport. Once you become a citizen of another country, you can apply for a passport for that country as well – and depending on where you’re traveling, an additional passport could help with:
- Easier entry requirements
- The ability to avoid getting a visa or work permit
- Assistance from additional consulates or embassies if you have an emergency
What is citizenship by descent?
If you have ancestors that were citizens of another country, there’s a possibility that you could be granted foreign citizenship to that country as well – even if you weren’t born there. Think of it as a birthright based on your bloodline. The Latin term for it is called Jure sanguinis, which translates to “Right of blood.” The rules vary by country, but citizenship by descent (also referred to as citizenship by ancestry) could allow you to apply for foreign citizenship based on the nationality of your relatives.
How far back in your family lineage can you go to get foreign citizenship?
Every country is different when it comes to who they will allow to apply for foreign citizenship by descent. Some will only allow you to apply if your parents are citizens, but others are more lenient and will also consider the citizenship status of your grandparents and great-grandparents.
A few examples include:
- Germany: Parents, and sometimes grandparents and great-grandparents
- Greece: Parents and grandparents
- Hungary: Parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and beyond
- Ireland: Parents and grandparents
- Italy: Parents and grandparents
- Lithuania: Parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents
- Poland: Parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and sometimes beyond
- Portugal: Parents and grandparents
- Spain: Parents and sometimes grandparents
Rules regarding immigration and citizenship can change at any given time, so always consult an attorney or take a look at the country’s official government website prior to applying.
How to start the process to get foreign citizenship?
So now you’re probably wondering… “How do I become a citizen in another country?”
Before you start the legal paperwork, we recommend visiting the country for a month or so. If you’re going to become a foreign citizen, you want to learn a little about it and make sure you like it, right? As with any trips outside of your home country, you may want to consider getting travel insurance to help with unexpected situations such as medical emergencies or stolen passports. You definitely don’t want to be without your current passport before you get one for your new country.*
Once you’ve fallen in love with the homeland of your ancestors and want to move forward with applying for foreign citizenship, you can start the process. Some choose to seek the guidance of an immigration attorney that’s focused on foreign citizenship by descent, but you can also try to navigate the red tape on your own. Although it varies by country, there’s a few things you’ll need to do.
- Get specific citizenship information for your country of interest. The most reliable place to find the rules for how to become a citizen of another country is to go to that country’s official government website.
- Gather supporting documents. You’ll need to prove your lineage, and you may need things such as birth, marriage, and death certificates.
- Look at other requirements. Some countries may have other criteria such as living in the country for a period of time or showing proficiency in their native language.
- Fill out the application. Some are online, while others require you to mail it in or apply through their consulate. Read the fine print – there are some that also specify the application must be filled out in their native language.
- Wait. After you’ve applied to be a citizen of another country, you’ll then have to patiently wait for your paperwork to be processed – possibly for a long time.
- Apply for a passport. As soon as your application has been processed and you attain citizenship, start the process of applying for a passport for your new country.
What are some of the challenges in getting another passport?
There are definitely perks to becoming a citizen of another country, but there are some things you’ll want to think about before you make the decision to apply for foreign citizenship. Some of the challenges include:
- Countries that don’t allow dual citizenship: Before you start the process, make sure this is allowed by your current country and the country where you’re applying for foreign citizenship.
- Inconsistent rules between countries: The laws for how to become a citizen in another country and get a passport can vary drastically.
- Obtaining documents: It can be challenging to track down old historical documents that may be needed to prove your eligibility to become a citizen of another country – and you’ll need those before getting a passport.
- Lengthy process: The length of time it takes to obtain foreign citizenship varies by country, but it could take months or years. Since you can’t get your passport until you’ve established citizenship in your new country, you won’t be able to plan any trips immediately.
- Cost: If you plan to apply for foreign citizenship, don’t be surprised if you have to pay fees to obtain old documents or have your paperwork processed. You’ll have to pay for your new passport, too.
What if I don’t have a relative that qualifies me for foreign citizenship by descent?
If you have interest in becoming a citizen of another country but don’t know of a direct relative that makes you eligible, you may want to do a little research before you completely give up. Millions of people across the globe are learning more about where they came from through tools such as Family Search, Ancestry, and 23andMe. Lots of people are finding biological relatives that they previously weren’t aware of -- or learning more about the origins of the ones they did know about. Results from these sites won’t be enough to apply for citizenship of another country, but it does give you a place to start your research so that you can then collect the appropriate documentation related to your ancestors and lineage.
Worst case scenario, if you still find that you don’t have an ancestor to help you get foreign citizenship, you can still travel the world. Even if you can’t settle down in one new country, you can still pack a bag and explore a variety of great destinations around the globe.
*Travel insurance coverage may not be the same or available for residents of all countries, states or provinces. Please carefully read your policy wording for a full description of coverage
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