Citizenship by descent — ancestry and heritage routes
Citizenship-by-descent routes grant citizenship (not merely residence) through documented ancestry. Irish, Italian, Portuguese, German, and Spanish descent routes are the most commonly pursued.
Typical characteristics
- Documented lineage back to a qualifying ancestor.
- No points test; no residence or income requirement.
- Usually grants citizenship directly — not a residence intermediate.
- Document-gathering across multiple jurisdictions is typically the longest phase.
What citizenship by descent visa routes does Visa Atlas cover?
Visa Atlas covers 10 citizenship by descent routes across 10 destinations. Citizenship reclamation or acquisition through parental, grandparental, or further ancestry.
Verified against Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale on 27 June 2026.
Italian Republic(1 route)
State of Israel(1 route)
Republic of Kosovo(1 route)
Republic of Malawi(1 route)
Togolese Republic(1 route)
Kingdom of Eswatini(1 route)
Virgin Islands (British Overseas Territory)(1 route)
Independent State of Samoa(1 route)
Tuvalu(1 route)
Federated States of Micronesia(1 route)
Frequently asked questions
How many citizenship by descent visa routes are there across these destinations?+
We cover 10 citizenship by descent routes across 10 of our 233 destinations. Citizenship reclamation or acquisition through parental, grandparental, or further ancestry.
Which countries offer citizenship by descent visas?+
Among our destinations, Italian Republic, State of Israel, Republic of Kosovo, Republic of Malawi, Togolese Republic, Kingdom of Eswatini, Virgin Islands (British Overseas Territory), Independent State of Samoa, Tuvalu, Federated States of Micronesia have citizenship by descent routes. Open any country group above for its specific routes and official sources.