THE CITIZENSHIP-BY-ANCESTRY PATHWAY

Nothing quite revealed the true power of a second passport like the inability to travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“With COVID-19 travel restrictions still persisting two years into the pandemic, inquiries for foreign citizenship have never been higher. Citizenship-by-Ancestry (View Programme)options are becoming particularly popular, as they offer direct pathways to foreign citizenships through the applicants’ bloodlines,” states Jean-Francois Harvey, Global Managing Partner of leading business immigration law firm Harvey Law Group.

“If you do not think you have any ancestors with foreign nationality, I urge you to take a closer look at your family tree, as you may find an ancestry link that could be your ticket to a second nationality and passport, which could profoundly impact your residential mobility, lifestyle, and career opportunities”

A PATHWAY TO OBTAINING SECOND CITIZENSHIP

Citizenship-by-Ancestry is where an individual acquires the citizenship of either his parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and in some cases even more distant ancestors, irrespective of where the individual was born. Today, more than 50 countries around the world offer some form of Citizenship-by-Ancestry pathway, each with its own eligibility criteria, process, and complexity.

FIRST STEP FOR THE CITIZENSHIP-BY-ANCESTRY 

The first step to understanding whether you are eligible for Citizenship-by-Ancestry is to figure out which ancestor you are claiming citizenship through and which country you want to become a citizen of. Whilst most countries that offer Citizenship-by-Ancestry typically require applicants to have at least one parent who is a citizen of their countries such as Canada, France, and South Korea, there are countries that allow you to obtain Citizenship-by-Ancestry through a grandparent who is a citizen of their countries including Greece, Ireland, Nigeria, and Portugal. In very rare cases, countries extend Citizenship-by-Ancestry to descendants of any ancestor who is a citizen of that country such as Italy and Poland.

CITIZENSHIP-BY-ANCESTRY PROCESS

Typically, the process to obtaining Citizenship-by-Ancestry involves you gathering the required supporting documentation including proof of lineage and submitting an application form either online or at your local consulate. If you can dig up birth certificates and other required documentation that prove your ties to your ancestor are legitimate, you may be able to acquire a second citizenship between eight months to three years.
“It is important to note that a degree of uncertainty is involved in proving lineage because the immigration authorities may refuse your application if you cannot provide sufficient evidence to support your relationship with your ancestor or if they find that your ancestor had voluntarily renounced or lost his citizenship before you were born. To better determine your eligibility for Citizenship-by-Ancestry, I advise that you complete a free eligibility assessment with one of our lawyers,” Harvey states.

If you would like to learn more about the CITIZENSHIP-BY-ANCESTRY pathway

Please contact us at [email protected] to complete a free eligibility assessment.