Roots Recovered
Your Ancestors Left Europe.Your Citizenship Didn't Have To.
If your parents, grandparents, great-grandparents (or beyond) came from Europe, you may already have the legal right to a second passport and the freedom to live, work, and study in 27 EU countries. We handle everything from research to application for you.
The Door Your Family Left Open
Reclaim your European citizenship, 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 all over the world discover, document, and claim the European citizenship their ancestry entitles them to. This not only opens you up to a second passport, it also gives you the freedom to live, work, and study in 27 EU countries, and something you can pass to your children and your spouse.
Most people assume the process is impossibly complicated, expensive, or out of reach. It does not have to be.
Heritage is history. Citizenship is the future.
Real People. Real Passports.
Our clients come to us with a family story and leave with a passport. Here are a few of them.
How It Works
A simple, transparent process to reconnect with your heritage
Discover Your Eligibility
We research your family history and determine which European citizenship programs you qualify for based on your ancestry, the naturalization timeline of your ancestors, and any applicable exceptions.
Trace and Gather Records
Our team hunts down vital records across European archives — birth, marriage, death, naturalization — and guides you in obtaining certified translations and apostilles.
Prepare Your Application
We compile your complete application package, draft cover letters, and address any gaps or discrepancies in the paper trail before submission.
Submit and Celebrate
We coordinate with attorneys and consulates, track your application, and celebrate with you when your European citizenship — and passport — arrive.
What European Citizenship Gives You
So much more than a passport. EU citizenship by descent can be a lifeline.
Live & Work Anywhere in the EU
Full freedom of movement across all 27 EU member states — live, work, and study in any of them without a visa, work permit, or sponsor.
A Powerful Second Passport
EU passports rank among the most powerful in the world, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 180+ countries including the United States.
Pass It to Your Children
Your confirmed EU citizenship is hereditary. Your children — born anywhere in the world — can inherit it from you, protecting generations to come.
Healthcare & Social Benefits
Access to world-class public healthcare systems and social programs as a full EU citizen once you establish residence in a member state.
Dual Citizenship Permitted
Most EU citizenship programs allow you to keep your American citizenship. Hold both passports and enjoy the best of both worlds.
Reconnect with Your Heritage
More than a legal status — it's a reclaiming of identity, language, family history, and a belonging that was never truly lost.
Countries We Cover
Explore citizenship opportunities through your ancestry
Austria
Standard descent through parent, plus a persecution track with no generational limit for descendants of Nazi-era victims.
Learn MoreCroatia
Croatian descent can be claimed through a parent or grandparent who was a Croatian citizen, with ethnic Croats abroad also eligible.
Learn MoreCzechia
Czech citizenship by descent available through parents or grandparents, with a special restitution track for those expelled after WWII.
Learn MoreGermany
Passes through generations with no generational limit. A special persecution track exists for descendants of those stripped of citizenship by the Nazi regime.
Learn MoreHungary
Simplified descent process for ethnic Hungarians and their descendants, with a language requirement and cultural connection assessment.
Learn MoreIreland
Available through the Foreign Births Register if you have an Irish parent or grandparent. May extend further with early registration.
Learn MoreItaly
Continuous lineage with no naturalization breaks. No generational limit for patrilineal lines; maternal lines subject to date restrictions.
Learn MoreLatvia
No generational limit as long as the ancestral chain is unbroken by voluntary foreign naturalization.
Learn MoreLithuania
Unlimited generational depth for ethnic Lithuanians and their descendants through citizenship restoration.
Learn MoreLuxembourg
Descendants of Luxembourgers who emigrated between 1900 and 1950 can recover citizenship. Dual citizenship fully permitted.
Learn MorePoland
Through parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent. Deep research is key — many disqualifiers exist, especially around naturalization timing.
Learn MorePortugal
Parent or grandparent required. Can sometimes extend to great-grandparents and beyond. Basic Portuguese language skills required (waived for those applying through Portuguese parents).
Learn MoreSlovakia
Through parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent. Cultural connection may be assessed during the application.
Learn MoreSpain
Available through grandchildren of Spanish nationals, with a special Democratic Memory Law track for descendants of those who fled due to the Franco regime.
Learn MoreFrequently Asked Questions
The most common questions we hear from people exploring European citizenship by descent.
Roots Recovered specializes in citizenship by descent across Ireland, Germany, Italy, Poland, Austria, Slovakia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal, Latvia, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Spain, and Canada. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice.
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.