Citizenship by descent: every country compared
A side-by-side view of each route, checked against official sources on October 22, 2026. Open a country for the full rules and the cases that break the chain.
| Country | Status | How far back | Language test | Government fee | Typical timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | Open | Grandparent, great-grandparent and beyond, for people born before December 15, 2025 | No | $75 CAD per certificate | About 34 months (IRCC, reported October 2026) |
| Germany | Open | Depends on the route. The restoration routes cover all descendants. | No | Restoration (Art. 116(2) / §15) is free; a confirmation of citizenship (Feststellung) is €51 | Often 2 to 3 years at the Federal Office of Administration (BVA) |
| Ireland | Open | Grandparent born in Ireland (parent born in Ireland means you are already a citizen) | No | €278 for adults, €153 for under-18s | About 12 months (DFA, 2026) |
| Italy | Restricted | Parent or grandparent (for applications filed after March 27, 2025) | No | €600 per adult applicant (non-refundable) | Varies widely by consulate; plan for well over a year |
| Poland | Open | No fixed limit. The ancestor must have held Polish citizenship after the modern state was founded (1920 law). | No | US$118 at US consulates | Varies by voivode's office; often more than a year |
| Austria | Open | All direct descendants (children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and beyond) | No | Check with the consulate | Varies; check with the consulate |
| Greece | Open | Usually parent or grandparent; further back if every link is documented | No | Check with your Greek consulate | Varies widely; Article 10 cases can take several years |
| Hungary | Open | No fixed limit, if the ancestor was a Hungarian citizen and the line is documented | Yes | Check with the consulate | About 1 to 2 years (reported) |
| Lithuania | Open | Unlimited, if the ancestor was a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania before June 15, 1940 | No | Check with the consulate | The right-to-reinstate certificate: decision within 6 months; full process longer |
| Slovakia | Open | Parent, grandparent or great-grandparent | No | From US$35 (check the current fee schedule for your case) | Varies; check with the embassy or consulate |
| Portugal | Changing | Grandchildren, who must show an effective connection to Portugal. Great-grandchildren only after legal residence. | Yes | €175 for adults (fee before the 2026 reform) | Long; implementing regulations are still pending |
| Spain | Closed | The window for grandchildren closed on October 22, 2025 | No | Not applicable | Only applications already filed are still being processed |