Reclaim YourEuropean Heritage
Expert guidance to help you obtain European citizenship through your ancestral roots. Your journey home begins here.
The Door Your Family Left Open
Reclaim your European 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 European citizenship their ancestry entitles them to, opening a second passport, the freedom of 27 European Union countries, and something you can pass to your children.
Heritage is history. Citizenship is the future.
Your Story Starts in the Old Country. Your Future Might Too.
Your European roots may be worth more than you think.
If your parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents came from Europe, there is a real chance you already qualify for EU citizenship by descent. That means the legal right to live, work, and build a life in any of 27 European Union countries, and the ability to pass that right to your children.
Most people assume the process is impossibly complicated, expensive, or out of reach. It does not have to be.
Roots Recovered was founded to change that. We are a boutique consulting firm specializing in European citizenship by descent, guiding families through every step of the process: from tracing your ancestry and tracking down vital records, to coordinating with attorneys and getting your documents across the finish line. We handle the complexity so you do not have to.
Our clients come to us with a family story and leave with a passport. We would love to help you do the same.
How It Works
A simple, transparent process to reconnect with your heritage
Discover Eligibility
We research your family history and determine which European citizenship programs you qualify for.
Gather Documents
Our team guides you through obtaining all necessary vital records and legal documents.
Submit & Celebrate
We prepare and 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