Get a Second Passport by Ancestry: 2026 Comparison
A second passport by ancestry is the cheapest and most durable way abroad, because it's recognition of citizenship you may already hold, not a visa you can lose. The catch is proving the paper trail. Eligibility rules differ sharply, and some (Italy, UK) changed recently, so verify current rules before assuming you qualify.
At a glance
| Visa | Qualifying ancestor | Processing | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇹 Italy Jure Sanguinis | No income test | 1-3 years | €600+ + research costs |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland FBR | No income test | 6-12 months | €278 |
| 🇵🇱 Poland Confirmation | No income test | 6-18 months | $300-1,500 (incl. archive fees) |
| 🇭🇺 Hungary Simplified | No income test | 6-12 months | Free |
| 🇩🇪 Germany StAG §15 | No income test | 12-24 months | Free or €255 |
| 🇨🇦 Canada Descent | No income test | 12-24 months | ~CAD $75 |
| 🇬🇧 UK Ancestry | Sufficient maintenance funds | 3-6 weeks | £637 + IHS ~£3,105/yr |
| 🇦🇷 Argentina By Option | No income test | 6-18 months | ~$200 |
| 🇵🇱 Poland Karta Polaka | No income test | 2-3 months | Free |
Thresholds reflect 2025–2026 rules and change often. Verify current figures at each official source before applying.
Each visa in detail
🇮🇹 Citizenship by Descent (Jure Sanguinis) — Italy
Income: No income test · Processing: 1-3 years · Cost: €600+ + research costs
Path to PR: Skip — instant EU citizenship · Citizenship: Immediate
Pros
- EU passport without moving
- No language test (until 2024 changes)
- Children automatically eligible
Trade-offs
- 2024 reform: limited to grandparents only (DL 36/2025)
- Consulate backlogs years long
- 1948 maternal-line cases need lawsuit
🇮🇪 Foreign Births Register (FBR) — Ireland
Income: No income test · Processing: 6-12 months · Cost: €278
Path to PR: Skip — instant EU citizenship · Citizenship: Immediate
Pros
- Full EU passport
- No residency requirement
- Cheap path to EU
Trade-offs
- Must register before having children for them to qualify
- Documentation rigorous
- Long DFA backlog
🇵🇱 Confirmation of Polish Citizenship — Poland
Income: No income test · Processing: 6-18 months · Cost: $300-1,500 (incl. archive fees)
Path to PR: Skip — instant EU citizenship · Citizenship: Immediate
Pros
- EU passport without residency
- No language test required
- Cheap relative to other ancestry routes
Trade-offs
- Paternal line easier (pre-1951)
- Archive research can be slow
- Mazowiecki Voivode bottleneck
🇭🇺 Simplified Naturalization — Hungary
Income: No income test · Processing: 6-12 months · Cost: Free
Path to PR: Skip — instant EU citizenship · Citizenship: Immediate
Pros
- No residency requirement
- Children eligible
- Free application
Trade-offs
- Must show Hungarian ancestor + basic conversational Hungarian
- Embassy backlog 6-12mo
- Documentation rigorous
🇩🇪 Citizenship Restoration (StAG §15) — Germany
Income: No income test · Processing: 12-24 months · Cost: Free or €255
Path to PR: Skip — instant EU citizenship · Citizenship: Immediate
Pros
- No language test required
- No residency requirement
- Children also eligible
Trade-offs
- Must prove ancestor's Nazi-era persecution
- BVA backlog 1-2yr
- Documentation rigorous
🇨🇦 Citizenship by Descent (Bill C-3) — Canada
Income: No income test · Processing: 12-24 months · Cost: ~CAD $75
Path to PR: Skip — direct citizenship · Citizenship: Immediate (proof, not grant)
Pros
- No residency requirement
- Full Canadian passport
- Children also eligible
Trade-offs
- Must prove unbroken lineage
- Documentation can be hard
- Slow IRCC review
🇬🇧 UK Ancestry Visa — UK
Income: Sufficient maintenance funds · Processing: 3-6 weeks · Cost: £637 + IHS ~£3,105/yr
Path to PR: 5 years to ILR · Citizenship: 6 years
Pros
- Commonwealth 17+ with UK-born grandparent
- Full work rights immediately
- Family included
Trade-offs
- Must intend to work in UK
- IHS health surcharge expensive
- Not for US-only citizens (need Commonwealth)
🇦🇷 Citizenship by Option (Ley 346) — Argentina
Income: No income test · Processing: 6-18 months · Cost: ~$200
Path to PR: Skip — direct citizenship · Citizenship: Immediate
Pros
- No residency required
- Children of native-born Argentines qualify
- Mercosur passport
Trade-offs
- Documentation rigorous
- Slow federal court process
- Must prove parent's Argentine birth
🇵🇱 Karta Polaka (Pole's Card) — Poland
Income: No income test · Processing: 2-3 months · Cost: Free
Path to PR: 1 year of residence · Citizenship: Naturalize via PR after 2y total
Pros
- Fast path to PR (1yr)
- Free Visa D + free PR application
- Basic A1-A2 Polish only
Trade-offs
- Must demonstrate Polish heritage + culture
- Language interview at consulate
- Not full citizenship by itself
Not sure which one fits?
GoThere's visa matcher takes your income, timeline, and goals and ranks every route for you, then tracks the checklist for the one you pick.
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