Irish vs Italian Citizenship by Descent (2026)
The two most popular ancestral-citizenship routes for Americans, and they work very differently. Ireland's Foreign Births Register generally requires an Irish-born grandparent and is a clean administrative process. Italy's jure sanguinis can reach further back, but a 2025 rule change tightened eligibility and the paper trail is famously demanding. Here's what actually qualifies you for each.
Side by side
| Visa | Qualifying ancestor | Processing | Cost | Citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇪 Ireland FBR | No income test | About 12 months | €278 adult, €153 under 18 | Immediate |
| 🇮🇹 Italy Jure Sanguinis | No income test | 1-3 years | €600+ + research costs | Immediate |
The details
🇮🇪 Foreign Births Register (FBR) — Ireland
Income: No income test · Processing: About 12 months · Cost: €278 adult, €153 under 18
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
Full Ireland guide · Official source
Not yet re-verified against official sources; confirm figures with the consulate.
🇮🇹 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 for descent claims
- Children automatically eligible
Trade-offs
- 2025 reform: parent/grandparent with only Italian citizenship (DL 36/2025)
- Consulate backlogs years long
- 1948 maternal-line cases need lawsuit
Full Italy guide · Official source
Not yet re-verified against official sources; confirm figures with the consulate.
Model both against your own numbers
GoThere runs your real income and family size against every visa's threshold, then tracks the document checklist for the one you choose.
Related
All passive-income visas · All digital nomad visas · Moving to Spain · Moving to Portugal