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34 country guides so far, grouped by how far back each country lets citizenship pass. Each guide is verified against official sources and dated, so you can see how fresh it is.
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How far back each country goes, whether there’s a language test, whether you keep your current passport, and the typical wait. For fees, use the cost estimator; to weigh two countries in detail, use compare countries.
| Country | How far back | Language test | Keep your passport? | Typical wait |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | Through a parent, or any descendant of Nazi-era victims | No, not for these routes. | Yes, if you’re Austrian from birth or use the route for descendants of victims. | Not published. |
| Belgium | Through a Belgian parent | No, not through a parent. | Yes. Since April 28, 2008, Belgians keep Belgian nationality when they take another. Before June 9, 2007, adults who naturalized elsewhere lost it. | Passport: about 2 weeks (ordinary procedure). Declarations: not published. |
| Bulgaria | Through a parent, or Bulgarian origin up to a great-grandparent | Possibly. Recent changes may require Bulgarian for the origin route. Ask the Ministry of Justice. | Yes, if you’re Bulgarian by birth or of Bulgarian origin. | Not published. Allow a year or more. |
| Canada | Through a parent, and further back since December 2025 | No. | Yes. Canada allows dual citizenship. | Long: IRCC shows the current figure. In October 2026 a news report put new applications at about 34 months. |
| Croatia | Any generation, from emigrants who left before October 1991 | No, not for emigrants’ descendants since 2020. | Yes, on the emigrants’ route. | Around 18 to 24 months for the emigrants’ route. |
| Cyprus | Through a parent, or as a person of Cypriot origin | No. | Yes. Cyprus allows dual citizenship. | Not published. |
| Czechia | Through a parent, or a parent or grandparent who lost it | No. | Yes. Czechia has allowed dual citizenship since 2014. | Not published. |
| Denmark | Through a Danish parent | No, not through a parent. Speaking Danish can help if you ask to keep your citizenship at 22 without enough time in Denmark. | Yes. Denmark has allowed dual citizenship since September 1, 2015. | Proof you kept your citizenship: about 13 to 15 months. Passport: about 4 weeks in the US. |
| Estonia | Through a parent, back to pre-1940 citizens | No, not for citizens by birth. | In practice yes, for citizens by birth, who can’t be deprived of Estonian citizenship. | The National Archives replies within 30 days of payment. Passport times aren’t published. |
| Finland | Through a Finnish parent | No, not through a parent, and not to get it back as a former citizen. | Yes. Finland has allowed dual citizenship since June 1, 2003. | Passport: usually 2 to 3 weeks in the US. Declarations: not published; Migri’s Processing Time Checker gives an estimate. |
| France | Through a French parent, and further back if each generation was French | No, not for nationality by descent. | Yes. France allows dual nationality. | Up to 6 months from the court’s receipt, which it can extend twice, to 18 months at most. |
| Germany | Through parents, grandparents and further back | No, not for descent, the declaration route or restoration. | Yes. Germany has allowed dual citizenship since June 27, 2024. | Proof of citizenship: no set time is published. The declaration route: the federal services portal says 2 to 3 years, sometimes longer. |
| Greece | Through a parent, or as a person of Greek origin | No written test. On the Greek-origin route, the consul’s interview assesses your Greek, and your knowledge of Greek history, geography and political institutions. | Yes. Greece allows dual citizenship. | Consulates don’t publish waits. The government estimates about 18 months for the Greek-origin route. |
| Hungary | Through any Hungarian ancestor, if you speak Hungarian | Yes. You must show you can speak Hungarian. | Yes. Hungary allows dual citizenship. | About 6 to 12 months, according to the consulate in Toronto. |
| India | No dual citizenship; the OCI card for people of Indian origin | No. | Yes, with an OCI card, because it isn’t citizenship. India doesn’t allow dual citizenship, so you can’t hold an Indian passport as well. | About 5 to 6 weeks for a new OCI card, once the consulate has registered the application (Consulate General of India, Chicago). It can’t be speeded up. |
| Ireland | Through a parent or grandparent | No. | Yes. Ireland allows dual citizenship, and so do the UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. | Through a parent born in Ireland, about 20 working days for the passport, plus postage. Through a grandparent, about 12 months on the Foreign Births Register first. |
| Italy | Parent or grandparent, with strict conditions since 2025 | No, not for citizenship by descent. | Yes. Italy allows dual citizenship. | Not published, and it varies a lot between consulates. Getting an appointment can take a long time. |
| Latvia | Any generation from 1940 citizens | No, not for registration as a descendant. | Yes for exiles’ descendants born before October 1, 2014. Others can keep citizenship of EU and NATO countries, Australia, New Zealand and a few others. | Within a month, or four months for exiles’ descendants. |
| Lithuania | Up to great-grandparents who were citizens before 1940 | Not for restoring citizenship. | Yes, if your ancestor left Lithuania before March 11, 1990. Otherwise Lithuania generally doesn’t allow dual citizenship. | Not published. |
| Luxembourg | Through a parent or grandparent; the 1900 descendants’ route has closed | No, not through a parent or grandparent. | Yes. Luxembourg has allowed multiple nationality since January 1, 2009. | Nationality takes effect 4 months after the Ministry of Justice receives your file, if it doesn’t object. |
| Malta | Any generation from Malta-born ancestors | No. | Yes. Malta allows dual citizenship. | Not published. |
| Mexico | Through a Mexican parent, even one born abroad | No. | Yes. Mexicans by birth can’t be deprived of Mexican nationality, and Mexico accepts dual nationality. | Usually done on the day of your appointment, once the consulate has checked your documents. |
| Netherlands | Through a Dutch parent | No, not through a parent. | Yes if you were born with both. Adults who later choose another nationality usually lose Dutch nationality. | Passports: not published. Opting in: usually 13 weeks. |
| Norway | Through a Norwegian parent | No, not through a parent. | Yes. Norway has allowed dual citizenship since January 1, 2020. | The UDI shows current waiting times on its website. |
| Philippines | Through a Filipino parent, and further back if each generation was Filipino | No. | Yes. Filipinos from birth can also be US citizens, and former Filipinos can take Philippine citizenship back under Republic Act 9225 and keep their US citizenship. | Report of Birth: 3 to 5 business days once complete (Washington), with a Philippine Statistics Authority copy about 6 to 12 months later. Dual citizenship: the same day as your oath. |
| Poland | Through parents, grandparents and further back | No, not to confirm citizenship. | Yes in practice. Poland doesn’t penalize dual citizens, but Polish authorities, including consulates abroad, treat you only as Polish. | No fixed time. It depends on how quickly the governor’s office can check the records. |
| Portugal | Through a parent or grandparent | Through a grandparent, yes: you must show knowledge of Portuguese language and culture. | Yes. Portugal allows dual citizenship. | Not published. |
| Romania | Up to great-grandchildren of former citizens | Yes, for most descendants: B1 Romanian since March 2025. | Yes. Romania allows dual citizenship. | Long. The law allows up to two years, and backlogs have run longer. |
| Slovakia | Up to great-grandchildren of Slovak-born citizens | No, not for the descendants’ route. | Yes, Slovakia doesn’t ask you to give it up. | The law allows up to 24 months. |
| Slovenia | Through a Slovenian parent, declared by 36 | No, not through a parent. | Yes. | Not published. |
| Spain | Through a parent; grandchildren’s route closed | Not through a parent. The 1-year residence route for grandchildren includes Spanish language and culture tests. | Usually, if you’re Spanish through a parent. Other routes may ask you to give up your other citizenship. | Not published. |
| Sweden | Through a Swedish parent | No, not through a parent. | Yes. Sweden has allowed dual citizenship since 2001. | Swedish coordination number: about 8 weeks. Passport: usually 2 to 4 weeks (US). |
| Switzerland | Through a Swiss parent | No, if you’re Swiss from birth. To apply from abroad to become Swiss or get it back, you must be able to get by in a Swiss national language. | Yes. Switzerland has allowed dual citizenship since January 1, 1992. | Passport: up to 30 days abroad. Simplified naturalization or reinstatement: usually up to 12 months for the embassy’s report, then up to 12 months for the decision. |
| United Kingdom | Through a parent | No, not for these routes. | Yes. The UK allows dual citizenship. | Registrations: not published. A passport from abroad: allow at least 6 weeks. |
Through a grandparent or further back
These countries let citizenship pass beyond your parents, though each has its own conditions and dates.
Austria
Through a parent, or any descendant of Nazi-era victims
Read the guideBulgaria
Through a parent, or Bulgarian origin up to a great-grandparent
Read the guideCanada
Through a parent, and further back since December 2025
Read the guideCroatia
Any generation, from emigrants who left before October 1991
Read the guideCyprus
Through a parent, or as a person of Cypriot origin
Read the guideCzechia
Through a parent, or a parent or grandparent who lost it
Read the guideEstonia
Through a parent, back to pre-1940 citizens
Read the guideFrance
Through a French parent, and further back if each generation was French
Read the guideGermany
Through parents, grandparents and further back
Read the guideGreece
Through a parent, or as a person of Greek origin
Read the guideHungary
Through any Hungarian ancestor, if you speak Hungarian
Read the guideIreland
Through a parent or grandparent
Read the guideItaly
Parent or grandparent, with strict conditions since 2025
Read the guideLatvia
Any generation from 1940 citizens
Read the guideLithuania
Up to great-grandparents who were citizens before 1940
Read the guideLuxembourg
Through a parent or grandparent; the 1900 descendants’ route has closed
Read the guideMalta
Any generation from Malta-born ancestors
Read the guideMexico
Through a Mexican parent, even one born abroad
Read the guidePhilippines
Through a Filipino parent, and further back if each generation was Filipino
Read the guidePoland
Through parents, grandparents and further back
Read the guidePortugal
Through a parent or grandparent
Read the guideRomania
Up to great-grandchildren of former citizens
Read the guideSlovakia
Up to great-grandchildren of Slovak-born citizens
Read the guideMainly through a parent
These countries mostly pass citizenship only to children of their citizens.
Belgium
Through a Belgian parent
Read the guideDenmark
Through a Danish parent
Read the guideFinland
Through a Finnish parent
Read the guideNetherlands
Through a Dutch parent
Read the guideNorway
Through a Norwegian parent
Read the guideSlovenia
Through a Slovenian parent, declared by 36
Read the guideSpain
Through a parent; grandchildren’s route closed
Read the guideSweden
Through a Swedish parent
Read the guideSwitzerland
Through a Swiss parent
Read the guideUnited Kingdom
Through a parent
Read the guideNo dual citizenship, but a nearest option
These countries don’t let most adults hold another citizenship, but offer a card or status for people with family links.
Why an EU passport is worth more than you think
A passport from any EU country lets you live and work in 31 countries, not just one. What an EU passport lets you do.
A plain-English guide, not a legal opinion. Nationality laws can be amended at short notice, so confirm the details with the consulate or the official body before you send an application or pay anything. The full disclaimer.
Cousins and siblings may qualify as well
One ancestor can open the same door for a whole branch of the family, and you can split the cost of the certificates. Send them this page while it’s fresh in your mind.