Picture this: You’re sipping espresso in a Roman café, knowing you can legally work there. Or strolling through Berlin’s vibrant neighborhoods, building a career in Europe’s economic powerhouse. This isn’t just a vacation fantasy—it could be your reality through EU citizenship by descent.
Europe might be calling—but the journey to practicing there can feel like a bureaucratic obstacle course. Think: language exams, credentialing mazes, and the all-too-familiar red tape. Plus, without a job lined up or family ties, the visa path can feel like a dead end.
While the Golden Visa requires a significant financial investment and the digital nomad visa offers a flexible but temporary solution, EU citizenship by descent stands out as one of the most powerful—and permanent—paths to making your global dream a reality. And with it, the freedom to live and work throughout the EU.
Why EU Citizenship Changes Everything
The Freedom Factor: Most of the countries listed below acknowledge Dual Citizenship or don’t have direct laws preventing it. This means that US citizens don’t have to renounce their American Citizenship – so you get the best of both worlds.
As an EU citizen, you can live, work, and study in 27 EU nations plus Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark—indefinitely, with minimal paperwork.
Reality Check: EU Citizenship Applications typically take 1–2 years (sometimes longer). Consider hiring an immigration lawyer for complex cases.
🟢 The Golden Seven: Easiest Pathways
These countries offer the most straightforward and most favorable routes to EU citizenship by descent.
Germany
Legal changes now grant citizenship to those previously excluded by gender-discriminatory laws—including their descendants. Descendents of victims of Nazi-era persecution are eligible for citizenship. Through this pathway, you’re eligible to retain your US citizenship. ✅ Dual Citizenship allowed
Ireland
Irish citizens enjoy EU rights PLUS the unique ability to live and work in the UK—making it a triple citizenship goldmine for Americans. Eligibility extends up to great-grandparents (three generations). You can complete the questionnaire here to check eligibility and register with the Foreign Birth Registry. Irish-American dual citizens can work in the US, Ireland, UK, and entire EU. The luck of the Irish! ☘️ ✅ Dual Citizenship allowed
Italy
Italian citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis) passes through any ancestor born in Italy after 1861 who never renounced citizenship. Maternal lineage works for children born after 1948; earlier claims need judicial proceedings. Rules recently tightened and are genuinely complex—professional help often essential. ✅ Dual Citizenship allowed
Poland
Polish Citizenship by descent covers parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents who were Polish citizens. Poland’s 20th-century occupations create nuanced eligibility rules worth investigating. ✅ Dual Citizenship allowed
Portugal
Still offers citizenship to descendants of Sephardic Jews persecuted in the late 15th century, though requirements now include 3 years of Portuguese residency. The D7 visa pathway for financially self-sufficient non-EU citizens can lead to citizenship with A2-level Portuguese. ✅ Dual Citizenship allowed
Latvia
Offers multiple citizenship by descent pathways, including for descendants of Latvian exiles and Livs, as well as for descendants of Latvian citizens prior to the Soviet occupation. ✅ Dual Citizenship permitted under certain conditions
Lithuania
Citizenship restoration available if ancestors were Lithuanian citizens before June 15, 1940, and were deported or left before March 11, 1990. Requires proof of lineage and historical circumstances. ✅ Dual Citizenship allowed
🟡 Moderate Challenge: Worth the Extra Effort
These countries allow citizenship by descent but have more documentation, language, or legal barriers.
Austria
Descendants of victims of Nazi-era persecution are eligible—and uniquely, get to keep US citizenship despite Austria’s general dual citizenship prohibition. Here’s a questionnaire to determine if you qualify.
Hungary
Hungary’s dramatically shifting borders mean eligibility depends heavily on when and where ancestors lived. May be eligible for Hungarian Citizenship if you’re a descendant, but basic Hungarian language knowledge often required. ✅ Dual Citizenship allowed
Spain
10 years Spanish residency required, unless you have Spanish parents/grandparents (only 1 year residency needed) or you’re a citizen of Ibero-American nations, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Andorra, Portugal, Puerto Rico, or of Sephardic origin (2 years residency). ⚠️ Dual citizenship generally not allowed with US
🟠 Additional Options: Less Common but Viable
Czech Republic: Claimable through parent or grandparent, ✅ Dual Citizenship allowed
Slovakia: Allows citizenship claims through parents or grandparents, ✅ Dual citizenship allowed
Croatia: Allows descent through parents or sometimes grandparents, ✅ Dual citizenship allowed
Romania: Citizenship can be restored if ancestors lost it involuntarily, ✅ Dual citizenship allowed
Bulgaria: Descent through parent or grandparent ✅ Dual Citizenship allowed
Greece: Available through parent or grandparent. Requires Greek records documentation ✅ Dual allowed
Your Next Steps
Start with Research: Dive into your family history—old documents, immigration records, and family stories often hold crucial clues.
Consider Professional Help: Given the complexity of eligibility criteria, citizenship services can navigate bureaucratic hurdles efficiently.
Understand Tax Implications: Remember, U.S. taxes its citizens on worldwide income regardless of where you live. Factor this into your global lifestyle planning.
Think Long-term: This isn’t just about a passport—it’s about fundamentally expanding your and your family’s possibilities across continents.
Bottom Line
If you’re an American with European roots, your family history could unlock incredible opportunities—from living and working freely across Europe to tapping into vibrant new cultures and career paths.
If you dream of Europe, look back—your roots might be the key to your future.
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Updated July 28, 2025. Originally Published June 10, 2021.
Ashwini Bapat, MD, is a palliative care doctor and co-founder of Hippocratic Adventure. She lives in Portugal with her husband and 2 kids. When she’s not blogging, you’ll find her swimming in an Olympic-sized pool, frosting a cake, or watching the Korean reality show “Single’s Inferno” with her husband.
