If you are interested in European citizenship, it makes sense to check if you are eligible for citizenship by descent based on one of your ancestors. Many European countries offer citizenship to descendants of their citizens, and acquiring citizenship this way is usually faster and more comfortable than regular naturalization.
As a European citizen, you will gain visa-free access not only to the European Union and the Schengen zone, while you can expect simplified visa application to many other countries around the world. You will also gain access to European education and healthcare, and find a second home in a safe environment with high living standards. As a result, if you are eligible for European citizenship by descent, it makes sense to take advantage of it.
If you live long enough somewhere, after some time you will usually become eligible for local citizenship. In European countries this typically takes 5-10 years of residency, although the waiting time may be reduced if you get married and have children with a local citizen.
At the same time, in most European countries, citizenship is based not on the place of birth, but on the citizenship of the parents. As a result, if your parents were citizens of a European country, there is a high chance you are eligible for citizenship in the same country. Some countries apply the same principle to grandparents, great-grandparents, or even further ancestors. As a result, you might be eligible for European citizenship if you have at least one European ancestor over the last 100-150 years.
Each country offers different conditions for citizenship by descent. When you are looking into your options, consider the following aspects:
For example, in Hungary:
From the table below, you can get a quick overview of European citizenship by descent for countries where you can base your citizenship not only on your parents, but also on other ancestors.
| Country | Relevant ancestry | Dual citizenship | Processing time | Language requirement |
| Hungary | no restrictions | permitted | 12-14 months | it depends |
| Croatia | no restrictions | permitted | 18-30 months | yes |
| Portugal | grandparent / back to 15th c. for Sephardic Jews | permitted | 24 months | yes |
| Spain | grandparent / back to 15th c. for Sephardic Jews | permitted only for some countries | 24 months | yes |
| Italy | back to 1861 | permitted | 2-3 years | no |
| Latvia | back to 1881 | permitted | 4-12 months | yes |
| Luxembourg | back to 1900 | permitted | 4-8 months | no |
| Czechia | back to 1918 | permitted | 18-24 months | no |
| Slovakia | back to 1918 | permitted | 2 years (you can get permanent residency in the meantime) | no |
| Poland | back to 1920 | problematic | 1-3 years or longer | no |
| Lithuania | back to 1940 | with some restrictions | ca. 1 year | no |
| Slovenia | up to 4th degree | only for EEA citizens | 12-18 months | yes |
| Bulgaria | great-grandparent | with some restrictions | 9 months | no |
| Ireland | grandparent | permitted | 9 months | no |
| Greece | grandparent | permitted | at least 2 years | yes |
| Malta | grandparent | permitted | 5 months – 2 years | no |
| Romania | grandparent | permitted | varies greatly | yes |
Additionally, you can become a European citizen in the following countries if at least one of your parents is/was a citizen:
Monday – Friday
9am – 5pm CET
Helpers Hungary Kft
Budapart Gate
Dombóvári út 27
Budapest 1117, Hungary
If you’re visiting us, please use entrance A and come to the 2nd floor.
