5 myths about EU citizenship by descent

Why myths cost money

Every year, thousands of people begin the process of obtaining EU citizenship by descent with incorrect expectations. Some expect a passport within six months and give up in the third year. Others don't start at all - they think nothing will work out without archives. Still others go for a consultation at an Italian consulate and learn about the reform only then.

Myths on this topic are particularly harmful: they cost both time and money. Below are five of the most common misconceptions and how things actually stand.

Myth 1. Having an ancestor guarantees a passport

This is the most popular misconception. People learn that their grandfather was Bulgarian or Hungarian and consider the matter settled. In reality, descent is only the starting point.

The state does not take claims at face value. You must documentally confirm each link in your family tree: birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, and proof of your ancestor's citizenship. Documents must be officially translated, notarized, and apostilled.

If any document is missing, the process stops until it is recovered. If the archive is in another country, a request must be made through official channels. This can take months.

Practical advice: before submitting your application, conduct a document audit. Make a list of all required papers and check what you have on hand and what you need to find. More on Bulgaria's citizenship program.

Myth 2. The process will take 3-6 months

This myth persists because that was the case several years ago - and because people want to believe in the best. Reality is different.

According to Bulgaria's citizenship timeline: from submitting documents to receiving a passport takes on average 2-3 years. This is the official processing queue plus time to gather documents plus possible requests for additional information.

For Hungary: the procedure through ethnic Hungarian status (Magyar igazolvány) and then simplified naturalization realistically takes up to 2 years.

Why so long? State authorities are overwhelmed with applications. In Bulgaria, the flow of applicants from the CIS countries has increased sharply in recent years. Each case is reviewed manually.

Practical advice: plan the process with a buffer. If you need a passport by a specific date, start at least 3 years in advance. Complete guide to Bulgaria citizenship by descent.

Myth 3. You must relocate to your ancestral country

Many don't start the process precisely because of this fear: "I'm not ready to live in Bulgaria or Hungary, so the path is closed." This is incorrect.

Citizenship by descent is not the same as naturalization through residency. With naturalization, you live in the country for several years, pay taxes, and take a language exam. With citizenship by descent, you prove your descent - and that is sufficient.

Bulgaria does not require permanent residency to obtain citizenship by descent. Hungary does not either under the simplified procedure for ethnic Hungarians. You submit documents, wait for a decision, and receive a passport without relocating.

Important clarification: after obtaining citizenship, you can live anywhere. An EU passport does not require you to reside in the country that issued it.

Practical advice: clarify the requirements of the specific program. In some cases, a personal visit may be needed for an oath or passport collection - but this is one-time, not a relocation. Hungary Citizenship Program.

Myth 4. Italy grants passport through great-great-grandfather

Until 2025, Italy was indeed unique: the right to citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis) had no generational depth limitations. Great-great-grandfather, great-great-great-grandfather - theoretically any generation.

This has ended. Reform DL 36/2025 established a strict limitation: the right to Italian citizenship by descent is now recognized only for children and grandchildren of Italian citizens. That is, a maximum of two generations - parent or grandparent.

If your Italian ancestor is a great-grandfather or more distant relative, this reform closes this pathway for you. Consulates are already applying the new rules to incoming applications.

What this means in practice: if you were counting on an Italian passport through a great-grandfather and have not yet submitted documents - you need a new strategy. Alternatives: investment residence programs in Portugal or Greece, or EU citizenship of other countries through ancestry.

Practical advice: check your documents right now. If your ancestor is a grandparent or parent, you still have time. If great-grandfather - seek an alternative route. Portugal Residence by Investment.

Myth 5. Documents burned - citizenship is unavailable

"Archives destroyed during the war," "vital records burned," "grandfather fled and took nothing" - such stories are heard by practically everyone dealing with citizenship by ancestry in Eastern Europe. And many give up, considering the matter hopeless.

In reality, the absence of standard documents does not equal a dead end. Alternative sources exist.

In Bulgaria, when vital records are lost or destroyed, a court procedure for restoration is available. The court accepts church registers, confession records, parish records, and witness testimony. The Orthodox Church in Bulgaria maintained detailed records that survived where state archives did not.

In Hungary, in the absence of civil documents, you can turn to archives of Reformed and Catholic churches, land registers, and military lists. Hungarian archives are partially digitized and available for requests.

It is important to understand: restoration through alternative sources lengthens the process and requires expertise. The work of archivists and lawyers who know specific repositories and procedures is critical here.

Practical advice: do not abandon the process without consulting a specialist. Documents are often found where no one has looked. How to restore documents for Bulgarian citizenship.

Cost: what comprises the price

Citizenship by descent is often called "free" compared to investment programs. This is not entirely accurate: expenses exist, just of a different nature.

Total per applicant: from $4,500 to $12,000 depending on case complexity and country.

Total for a family of 4: from $10,000 to $25,000 - including additional passport fees and documents for children.

This is significantly cheaper than investment programs (Portugal Residence starts from 250,000 EUR), but requires time and careful work with archives.

How to check your chances before starting

Before spending money on documents, it is worth assessing the reality of your case. Here is a basic checklist.

Step 1. Establish the line of kinship. Who exactly was a citizen of an EU country - parent, grandparent, great-grandparent? For Bulgaria and Hungary, the depth is not strictly limited. For Italy - now only two generations.

Step 2. Find the anchor document. This is the main proof of ancestor's citizenship - birth certificate, passport, or archival certificate. Without it, the process will not begin. If the document is missing - proceed to Step 3.

Step 3. Check alternative sources. Church records, military lists, land records. Find out if the archives of the required parish or district have been preserved.

Step 4. Assess the chain of documents. Each link between you and your ancestor must be confirmed. A missing generation is a separate task.

Step 5. Consult with a lawyer. Only a specialist who has reviewed your specific documents can provide a realistic forecast. About the cost of Bulgarian citizenship.

If the ancestry route is closed: alternatives

Not everyone has suitable ancestors or documents. This is not the end of the story - there are other routes to an EU passport or resident status.

Portugal Residence Permit. Golden Visa Program grants residence through investments from 250,000 EUR. After 5 years - right to citizenship. Physical residence is barely required: 7 days per year is sufficient. Complete guide to Portuguese Golden Visa.

Portugal D7. Passive income visa suitable for those with stable income from rent, pension, or dividends. Cheaper than the investment route, but requires actual residence.

Bulgarian or Hungarian citizenship through programs. In parallel with the ancestry route - explore investment options of these countries. Sometimes it is easier to purchase a path than to spend years restoring archives.

Which documents are needed: basic list

The package varies by country and depth of genealogy, but the basic composition is as follows.

For the ancestor: birth certificate, citizenship document (passport, birth certificate with citizenship notation, archival certificate), marriage certificate (if surname changed), death certificate.

For intermediate generations: the same types of documents for each link between you and your ancestor.

For the applicant: valid passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate if surname changed.

Translations and certifications: all documents are translated into the destination country's language by a notarized translator. Foreign documents must have an apostille or undergo consular legalization.

Photographs: according to country requirements, usually 3-4 photographs in the prescribed format.

If a document is missing - this is a task for archival research, not a reason to abandon the process.

Bulgaria by ancestry: what you need to know

Bulgaria is one of the most popular EU citizenship routes by descent among natives of Bessarabia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Russia.

From 2026, the procedure has changed: documents are submitted directly to the Ministry of Justice, participation of DABBH (State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad) is no longer mandatory, Bulgarian heritage certificate is no longer required as a mandatory stage. This has simplified and slightly accelerated the procedure.

Language and residence requirements for obtaining citizenship by descent do not exist. You do not need to learn Bulgarian and do not need to live in Bulgaria.

Realistic timeline - 2-3 years from the submission of a complete document package. Delays are most often due to incomplete document package or processing queue.

Special case - burned or lost archives on Bessarabia and Dobrudzha. Church records of Bulgarian Orthodox parishes are used here. Learn more about the program.

Hungary by descent: simplified naturalization

Hungary offers simplified naturalization for ethnic Hungarians - those with ancestors holding Hungarian citizenship or of Hungarian origin.

First step - obtaining Magyar igazolvány (Hungarian identity certificate). Next - applying for simplified naturalization. The entire process takes up to 2 years.

Important detail: Hungary permits dual citizenship. You will not need to renounce your current passport.

Documents, in the absence of standard vital records, can be recovered through church archives of Reformed and Catholic churches, as well as through Hungarian state archives. Some collections have been digitized.

Basic language proficiency check is present, but requirements are minimal - conversational level, not academic knowledge. Learn more about Hungary's program.

Italy after the 2025 reform: new rules

Prior to adoption of DL 36/2025, Italy was the EU country with the most lenient citizenship by descent rules. Formally, one could claim citizenship through any number of generations if the ancestor did not renounce citizenship before the next generation's birth.

The 2025 reform closed this possibility. The new rule is: citizenship by descent is recognized only if the Italian ancestor is your parent or grandparent. Maximum two generations.

For those who already filed before the reform, the situation is ambiguous - specific case consultation is needed. For those planning now: if the ancestor is a great-grandparent or further back, the Italian path is closed.

If you have Italian roots within two generations - the process is open, but consulate queues are long and waiting times are extended.

Risks and pitfalls

Beyond five main myths, there are several practical risks worth knowing in advance.

Ancestor's renunciation of citizenship. If an ancestor formally renounced EU country citizenship before the next generation's birth - the chain is broken. This is particularly relevant for Italian and Bulgarian law.

Legislative changes. Italy's reform is a recent example. Rules change, and what worked a year ago may not work today.

Poorly assembled documentation package. Rejection due to incomplete or incorrectly certified package - the most frequent cause of delays. Each document must meet the requirements of the destination country.

Fraudsters. The citizenship by descent topic attracts unscrupulous intermediaries who charge for "guaranteed" results. No result in this process is guaranteed until a state body decides.

Summary: what to do right now

EU citizenship by descent is a real and legal path. But it requires a clear-eyed view of documents, timelines, and expectations.

If you have ancestors from Bulgaria or Hungary - start with a document audit. Find the anchor document for your ancestor. Assess whether there are gaps in the chain and how to close them.

If you were counting on Italy through a great-grandfather - reconsider your strategy. Portuguese residence permit or Bulgarian citizenship by descent may become an alternative.

If documents are lost - do not give up without consultation. Church records and courts recover what seemed lost forever.

Main rule: plan with time to spare and work with those who know specific archives and procedures.