Reclaim YourCitizenship by Descent
Expert guidance to help you obtain citizenship by descent through your ancestral roots. Your journey home begins here.
The Door Your Family Left Open
Reclaim your citizenship by descent, your passport, and your place in the world.
Somewhere in your family tree is a birthright. A great-grandfather who came through Ellis Island. A grandmother who left behind a country she loved. Their journey doesn't have to end with yours.
At Roots Recovered, we help people like you all over the world discover, document, and claim the citizenship their ancestry entitles them to, opening a second passport, the freedom of global mobility, and something you can pass to your children.
Heritage is history. Citizenship is the future.
Your Future Starts in the Old Country. But Don't Just Take Our Word for it.
We've helped hundreds of clients reach back into their family trees to find not only a treasure trove of information, but also the key to true global mobility: a second passport. Your story started in the old country, and your future might, too. But don't just take our word for it. Look at some of our happy clients.
Citizenship by Descent Means Global Mobility
Your roots may be worth more than you think.
If your ancestors came from Europe or Canada, there is a real chance you already qualify for citizenship by descent. That means the legal right to live, work, and build a life elsewhere. It also means the ability to pass on citizenship to your spouse or children.
Most people assume the process is impossibly complicated, expensive, or out of reach. With our help, it doesn't have to be.
Roots Recovered is a boutique consulting firm that assists you from start to finish, qualifying you and identifying your path to dual citizenship, collecting the relevant documents, and submitting your file. We handle the complexity so you don't have to. Our clients come to us with a family story and leave with a passport.
We'd love to help you do the same.
Our Process
How It Works
1Start with a Free Review
We research your family history and determine which citizenship programs you qualify for.
2Build Your File
Our team obtains all necessary vital records, legal documents, and certifications.
3Submit & Celebrate
We submit your application, then celebrate when you receive your citizenship.
Country Spotlight
Explore citizenship opportunities through your ancestry
Austria (standard track)
Austria's regular CBD program is narrow: citizenship passes only from parent to child, meaning it does not extend to grandchildren or beyond unless the parent was already an Austrian citizen at the time of the child's birth.
Key Requirements:
One parent must have held Austrian citizenship at the time of the applicant's birth.
Austria (Nazi persecution track)
Descendants of victims who were persecuted or fled Austria due to Nazi ideology may claim Austrian citizenship with no generational limit and no renunciation requirement.
Key Requirements:
Ancestor lost or fled Austrian citizenship due to Nazi persecution after 1933; descent must be documented; dual citizenship is explicitly permitted.
Not European, but we handle Canadian citizenship too!
Canada
Canadian citizenship by descent is available to those born outside Canada with at least one Canadian citizen parent. The process is straightforward for first-generation Canadians born abroad.
Key Requirements:
At least one parent must have been a Canadian citizen at the time of your birth. First generation born abroad only.
Germany
German citizenship by descent passes automatically through generations with no generational limit, but the chain breaks if an ancestor naturalized as a foreign citizen before the child's birth.
Key Requirements:
Ancestor did not voluntarily naturalize before the applicant's parent was born; persecution-based exceptions exist under Art. 116(2) for those stripped of citizenship by the Nazi regime.
Ireland
Citizenship available by Foreign Births Register if you have an Irish parent or grandparent.
Key Requirements:
May go back further generations, if recognized early
Italy
Must have an Italian-born parent or grandparent, with some exceptions on a case-by-case basis.
Key Requirements:
Continuous lineage, no naturalization breaks
Latvia
No generational limit, as long as ancestors held Latvian citizenship and descendants have not naturalized elsewhere.
Key Requirements:
No break in the chain through voluntary foreign naturalization.
Lithuania
Unlimited generational depth for ethnic Lithuanians and their descendants, through restoration of citizenship.
Key Requirements:
Lithuanian ethnic origin or pre-1940 citizenship.
Luxembourg
Descendants of Luxembourgers who emigrated between 1900 and 1950 can recover citizenship by descent, with dual citizenship fully permitted.
Key Requirements:
No prior voluntary naturalization breaks.
Poland
Must have a Polish citizen parent, grandparent or great-grandparent who was able to pass on Polish citizenship.
Key Requirements:
Deep research is key, as there are many disqualifiers
Portugal
Must have a Portuguese parent or grandparent. Can sometimes go through great-grandparents and beyond.
Key Requirements:
Basic Portuguese language skills (exempt if applying through Portuguese parents)
Slovakia
Must have a Slovak parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent. Exceptions can be made for minors under 14 years of age.
Key Requirements:
Cultural connection may be assessed.
Ready to Reconnect with Your Roots?
Let us guide you through every step of your citizenship journey. Your European heritage is waiting to be reclaimed.
Schedule a Consultation