Citizenship by Descent

Citizenship by descent is when a person holds citizenship based on the lineage of their father or mother, regardless of where they were born. The legal principle behind this concept is jus sanguinis, meaning right of blood.

In this way, a child born abroad can still be recognised as a citizen if their parents hold citizenship of that country, provided they meet the conditions for registration and documentation proving the blood relationship.

Many European countries such as Italy, Ireland, or Portugal allow descendants of former migrants to restore citizenship by descent, opening up opportunities to hold a European passport without the need for investment.

Each country sets its own limits on the number of generations to which citizenship can be passed and the requirements for supporting documentation. Some countries periodically amend their laws to expand or narrow the scope of application.

An example of a relevant legal change can be seen in the article on amendments to the Citizenship Act of Canada.