Document Checklist for European Citizenship by Descent
MS
Michael Soucek·Last reviewed: May 2026
Educational information only — not legal advice. Always verify requirements with the relevant government authority, consulate, or registry office.
Before starting any citizenship by descent application, build a complete document package. Use the checklists below to identify what you need for each country — then see our apostille guide for how to authenticate each document.
Universal Rules for All Countries
- Request certified copies — originals or certified copies from the issuing authority. Regular photocopies are not accepted.
- Apostille foreign documents — any document issued in a country other than the destination must be apostilled. See the apostille guide for your country.
- Certified translations required — most European countries require all non-native-language documents to be translated by a sworn or certified translator.
- Apostille before translating — always apostille the certified copy first, then have the apostilled copy translated.
- Order extras — get 3 certified copies of each document. You may need them for multiple countries or agencies.
- Death certificates matter — include death certificates for all deceased ancestors in the chain, especially the Italian/Irish/German ancestor themselves.
- Name consistency — any discrepancy in names between documents (anglicisation, spelling variations, maiden names) should be addressed with a statutory declaration.
Italy
Full guide →Documents for Every Generation
- Birth certificates for every generation (applicant, parents, grandparents, etc.) — with apostilles and certified Italian translations
- Marriage certificates for every generation — with apostilles and certified Italian translations
- Death certificates for deceased ancestors in the chain — with apostilles and certified Italian translations
- Your current valid passport (copy)
Country-Specific Requirements
- Italian ancestor's birth certificate from their comune (no apostille required for Italian-issued documents)
- Proof Italian ancestor did NOT naturalise before the next generation was born — typically a US/AUS/ARG naturalisation record showing the year, or a NARA search result
- If 1948 rule applies: court order from Italian tribunale is required instead of consular application — see Italy 1948 Rule guide
Note: Italy requires certified translations into Italian by a sworn (asseverato) translator. Each document must be apostilled before translation. Translations are not accepted on photocopies — apostille the original first.
Ireland
Full guide →Documents for Every Generation
- Your full birth certificate (showing parents' names)
- Your parent's full birth certificate
- Your parent's marriage certificate (if surname differs)
- Your Irish grandparent's full birth certificate (from Irish GRO or GRONI for Northern Ireland)
- Your Irish grandparent's marriage certificate (if surname changed)
Country-Specific Requirements
- Foreign birth certificates (apostille required if issued outside Ireland/UK)
- Grandparent's death certificate if deceased (strongly recommended)
- Proof of non-Irish citizenship of parent at time of applicant's birth (self-declared in application form)
- Applicant's valid passport
Note: The FBR application is now submitted entirely online via passportonline.dfa.ie. Originals are posted after online submission. Irish and UK documents do not need apostilles between each other.
Germany
Full guide →Documents for Every Generation
- Your birth certificate with apostille and certified German translation
- Birth and marriage certificates for each generation with apostilles and certified German translations
- Your valid passport (certified copy)
Country-Specific Requirements
- For standard descent (§4 StAG): ancestor's German birth certificate from Standesamt; naturalisation records showing they did not acquire foreign citizenship before the next link
- For Article 116(2) restoration: evidence of Nazi persecution (Ausbürgerungsliste, Yad Vashem, Arolsen Archives); ancestor's German civil records proving pre-1933 German citizenship
- For §5 declaration (gender discrimination remedy): birth certificate showing German mother and non-German father; evidence of pre-1975 or pre-1993 birth as applicable
- Staatsangehörigkeitsausweis application form (available from German missions abroad)
Note: German consulates accept documents in German without translation. All non-German documents need apostilles and certified translations by a sworn (vereidigter) translator. The Bundesverwaltungsamt in Cologne processes all Article 116 claims.
Poland
Full guide →Documents for Every Generation
- Your birth certificate with apostille and certified Polish translation
- Parents' birth and marriage certificates with apostilles and certified Polish translations
- Birth, marriage, and death certificates for each generation in the chain with apostilles and certified translations
Country-Specific Requirements
- Polish ancestor's birth certificate from Polish civil registry (USC) — no apostille required for Polish-issued documents
- Proof of Polish ancestor's citizenship (Polish passport, civil registry extract showing residence, or military records)
- Evidence that the ancestor did NOT naturalise in another country before the next link was born — naturalisation records from the relevant foreign country
- Completed application for confirmation of Polish citizenship (potwierdzenie posiadania obywatelstwa polskiego) — filed with the relevant Voivode (provincial governor) or Polish consul abroad
Note: All foreign documents must be certified translations completed by a certified Polish translator (tłumacz przysięgły). Polish archive records can be requested remotely from the relevant USC office or the Polish State Archives (szukajwarchiwach.gov.pl).
Hungary
Full guide →Documents for Every Generation
- Your birth certificate with apostille and certified Hungarian translation
- Parents' birth and marriage certificates with apostilles and certified translations
- Each generation's birth and marriage certificates up to the Hungarian ancestor
Country-Specific Requirements
- Hungarian ancestor's birth certificate or civil registry record (from Hungarian National Archives MNL or local registry)
- Evidence of Hungarian citizenship or residence in Hungarian territory for the ancestor
- Completed simplified naturalisation application (kedvezményes honosítás) — submitted to the Hungarian Embassy or consulate
- Language examination or interview — basic conversational Hungarian required; may be conducted at the consulate
Note: Hungary's simplified naturalization has no residency requirement, making it one of the most accessible pathways. The Hungarian language interview is typically basic — sufficient to hold a brief conversation. A language tutor for 1–2 months is usually enough preparation.
Luxembourg
Full guide →Documents for Every Generation
- Your birth certificate with apostille and certified French or German translation
- Birth and marriage certificates for every generation with apostilles and translations
Country-Specific Requirements
- Luxembourg ancestor's birth certificate from the commune of birth — from the État Civil or ANLux national archives
- Evidence of Luxembourg citizenship for the ancestor (commune residence record, Luxembourg passport, civil registry extract)
- For the reacquisition route (emigrants 1815–1943): documentation that ancestor was born in Luxembourg and emigrated — ship manifests, foreign naturalisation records, commune registers
- Completed nationality declaration form — filed with the Ministry of Justice or Luxembourg Embassy
Note: Luxembourg accepts documents in French, German, and Luxembourgish without translation. English or other language documents require certified French or German translations. Luxembourg communes are the primary source for historical civil records — contact the commune of your ancestor's birth directly.
Portugal
Full guide →Documents for Every Generation
- Your birth certificate with apostille and certified Portuguese translation
- Parents' birth and marriage certificates with apostilles and translations
Country-Specific Requirements
- Portuguese ancestor's birth certificate from the conservatória do registo civil or Arquivo Nacional Torre do Tombo
- Certificate of A2 Portuguese language proficiency (CAPLE/CIPLE exam) — required for grandchild route
- Criminal record certificate from every country you have resided in for more than 1 year in the past 15 years
- Declaration of community ties with Portugal (for grandchild route) — cultural, professional, or associational connections
- Completed nationality attribution form — submitted to the Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado (IRN)
Note: The grandchild route (neto) requires genuine community ties and A2 Portuguese. The 2023 reforms tightened scrutiny of community ties declarations — vague statements are increasingly rejected. Joining a Portuguese cultural association or church community before applying strengthens the application.
Spain
Full guide →Documents for Every Generation
- Your birth certificate with apostille and certified Spanish translation
- Parents' birth and marriage certificates with apostilles and translations
Country-Specific Requirements
- Spanish ancestor's birth certificate from the Registro Civil in Spain or, for older records, the Archivo Histórico Nacional (AHN) or parish archives
- For Democratic Memory Law (Ley 20/2022) applications: evidence that ancestor went into exile for political, racial, or religious reasons — departure documents, refugee records, republican party or union membership records
- Completed application form — submitted to the Spanish consulate with jurisdiction over your place of residence
- Criminal record certificate from your country of residence (antecedentes penales)
Note: All foreign documents require certified Spanish translations by an official translator (traductor jurado). The Democratic Memory Law application window opened in 2023 and procedures are still being refined — confirm current requirements with your local Spanish consulate.
Greece
Full guide →Documents for Every Generation
- Your birth certificate with apostille and certified Greek translation
- Birth and marriage certificates for each generation with apostilles and certified translations
Country-Specific Requirements
- Greek ancestor's birth certificate and dimotologio (municipal register) extract — from the municipality where the ancestor was registered
- Evidence of Greek citizenship — dimotologio extract is the primary proof of citizenship in Greek law
- Completed application form — submitted to the Greek consulate or the Directorate of Nationality of the Ministry of Interior
- For omogenis (ethnic Greek) naturalization: proof of Greek ethnic origin and continuous cultural ties
Note: The dimotologio (municipal register) is the cornerstone of Greek citizenship practice. If your ancestor emigrated before registering in a municipality, establishing the connection can be complex. Some diaspora Greeks had their families entered in the registers of their home village — contact the historical municipality directly.
Czech Republic
Full guide →Documents for Every Generation
- Your birth certificate with apostille and certified Czech translation
- Birth and marriage certificates for each generation with apostilles and certified translations
Country-Specific Requirements
- Czech or Czechoslovak ancestor's civil registry records — from Národní Archiv or regional state archive (SOA)
- Evidence of Czech/Czechoslovak citizenship — pre-1993 Czechoslovak passport, civil registry extract, or state archive record
- For the declaration route (Act 193/1999): evidence that citizenship was involuntarily lost (e.g., via the Beneš Decrees or the 1993 Czech–Slovak split)
- Completed application — submitted to the regional authority (krajský úřad) in the Czech Republic, or Czech consulate abroad for the declaration route
Note: The 1993 split of Czechoslovakia is a common complication: Czechoslovak citizens were automatically allocated Czech or Slovak citizenship based on republic-of-birth records. Documents from the Czechoslovak era (before 1993) are now split between Czech and Slovak archives.
Slovakia
Full guide →Documents for Every Generation
- Your birth certificate with apostille and certified Slovak translation
- Birth and marriage certificates for each generation with apostilles and certified translations
Country-Specific Requirements
- Slovak ancestor's birth certificate from the matrika (civil registry) of the relevant Slovak municipality
- Evidence of Slovak citizenship — pre-1993 Czechoslovak passport, registry extract from Slovak civil registry office
- Criminal record certificate from your country of residence
- Completed application — submitted to the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic, or Slovak military/police for certain categories
Note: Slovakia's dual citizenship rules are conditional: gaining Slovak citizenship while holding another nationality is fine. The risk runs the other way — if you later voluntarily naturalise in a third country, Slovak citizenship may be automatically lost unless you have been resident there for 5+ years (a key exception added by the 2022 reform). Read the dual citizenship rules carefully before proceeding.
Lithuania
Full guide →Documents for Every Generation
- Your birth certificate with apostille and certified Lithuanian translation
- Birth and marriage certificates for each generation with apostilles and certified translations
Country-Specific Requirements
- Lithuanian ancestor's civil registry records — from the Lithuanian State Historical Archives (LVIA) or Lithuanian Special Archives (LYA)
- Evidence that ancestor was a Lithuanian citizen before 15 June 1940 (Soviet occupation date)
- Evidence that ancestor (or descendants) departed Lithuania before 11 March 1990
- Completed restoration application — submitted to the Migration Department of Lithuania or Lithuanian consulate abroad
Note: Lithuania requires unbroken documentation of the emigration chain between 1940 and 1990. The Lithuanian archives have good digitisation of pre-war records, and many records are accessible online via Epaveldas and the Lithuanian archives portal.
Latvia
Full guide →Documents for Every Generation
- Your birth certificate with apostille and certified Latvian translation
- Birth and marriage certificates for each generation with apostilles and certified translations
Country-Specific Requirements
- Evidence that ancestor was registered in the Latvian People's Register on 17 June 1940 — obtainable from the Latvian State Historical Archive (LVVA) in Riga
- Completed application — submitted to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA/PMLP) in Latvia, or Latvian Embassy or consulate abroad
- Proof of relationship for each generation (birth certificates, marriage certificates showing name changes)
Note: The People's Register (Iedzīvotāju reģistrs) entries from 1940 are the cornerstone of Latvian descent claims. The LVVA archive in Riga is the most important resource — requests can be made remotely in English for a fee.
Estonia
Full guide →Documents for Every Generation
- Your birth certificate with apostille and certified Estonian translation
- Birth and marriage certificates for each generation with apostilles and certified translations
Country-Specific Requirements
- Proof that ancestor held Estonian citizenship under the 1938 Constitution (before 16 June 1940 occupation) — from the National Archives of Estonia (Rahvusarhiiv/RA)
- Evidence that the citizenship chain was not broken by voluntary acquisition of Soviet citizenship
- Completed application — submitted to the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) in Estonia, or Estonian Embassy abroad
Note: The National Archives of Estonia (ra.ee) has an excellent online search system (AIS) for pre-war records. Many citizenship and civil registry records from the 1920s–1940s have been digitised and are searchable without a fee.
Not Sure Which Country Applies to Your Ancestry?
Use our free eligibility checker to identify which European citizenship routes are open to you before you start gathering documents.
Start Free Eligibility CheckAbout the author
Michael— Claimed Hungarian citizenship by descent firsthand
Founder & Researcher, Heritage Passport Finder
I built Heritage Passport Finder after going through the process of claiming Hungarian citizenship by descent myself. Tracing my family's records and working out what actually qualified turned into a genuine obsession with how citizenship-by-descent law works across Europe, so I started gathering what I learned in one place. I'm not a lawyer, and I don't treat these guides as the final word — citizenship law changes constantly and differs by country, so every page points to official sources and I recommend confirming your own case with the relevant consulate or an immigration attorney. What I can offer is a clear map of the landscape, drawn from official sources and the experience of someone who has actually been through it.