# Citizenship Descent Checker

> Canadian citizenship by descent after Bill C-3, in force 15 December 2025: the first-generation limit is removed where a parent spent 1,095 days in Canada.

## Key facts

- Italy limited citizenship by descent to two generations (a parent or grandparent born in Italy) with Decree-Law 36/2025, converted by Law 74/2025 and in force from 24 May 2025, closing the previously unlimited jure sanguinis route for new applications.
- Ireland's Foreign Births Register makes grandchildren of anyone born on the island of Ireland eligible for citizenship, for EUR 278 as an adult and EUR 153 for a child; citizenship runs from the date of registration, so registering before your children are born passes it on.
- Germany's restitution routes (Article 116(2) Basic Law, StAG 15 and StAG 5) are free of charge under section 38(3) StAG and cover descendants of Nazi-era persecutees and of families excluded by pre-1975 gender rules, with the StAG 5 declaration window running ten years from the 2021 law, to August 2031.
- Polish citizenship claims turn on an unbroken line from an ancestor who held citizenship after the 1920 Citizenship Act, with pre-1951 foreign naturalization or military service the loss events that most often break the chain.

## Key pages

- [Do you qualify for Canadian citizenship by descent?](https://citizenshipdescentchecker.com/): the main tool, answer above the fold.
- [Canadian citizenship by descent after Bill C-3](https://citizenshipdescentchecker.com/canadian-citizenship-by-descent-bill-c-3/): The first-generation limit is removed in some situations. The second generation born abroad can now qualify where the Canadian parent spent 1,095 days in Canada.
- [Irish citizenship by descent: the Foreign Births Register](https://citizenshipdescentchecker.com/irish-citizenship-foreign-births-register/): How Ireland's Foreign Births Register works: who qualifies through a grandparent, the EUR 278 adult fee, the documents, and why registration timing decides the next line.
- [Italian citizenship by descent: what the 2025 decree changed](https://citizenshipdescentchecker.com/italian-citizenship-by-descent-2025-changes/): Decree-Law 36/2025, converted by Law 74/2025, limited Italian jure sanguinis to a parent or grandparent born in Italy. Who is still eligible and which claims survive.
- [German citizenship by declaration: StAG 5 and the restitution routes](https://citizenshipdescentchecker.com/german-citizenship-stag-5/): Germany's StAG 5 declaration restores citizenship to descendants excluded by pre-1975 gender rules, free, until August 2031. How it fits with Art. 116(2) and StAG 15.
- [Citizenship by descent: the four main routes compared, 2026](https://citizenshipdescentchecker.com/#data): original data table, updated 2026-08-15.
- [Full site content as markdown](https://citizenshipdescentchecker.com/llms-full.txt)

## Data

- Citizenship by descent: the four main routes compared, 2026. Methodology: Compiled from the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs Foreign Birth Registration page, an Italian consulate's published notice on the new iure sanguinis rules (Decree-Law 36/2025 as converted by Law 74/2025), Polish government guidance on the 1920 Citizenship Act confirmation procedure, and the German Nationality Act (StAG) sections 5, 15 and 38 together with Article 116(2) of the Basic Law, all read on the updated date above. Fees are the published government fees; professional and record-retrieval costs come on top.
- Last updated: 2026-08-15. Every figure cites its source inline.
- Source: Government of Canada, Changes to citizenship rules 2025 (Bill C-3, in force 15 December 2025): https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/act-changes/rules-2025.html
- Source: Government of Canada, Proof of Canadian citizenship (citizenship certificate): https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/proof-citizenship.html
- Source: Government of Canada, About the citizenship certificate: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/proof-citizenship/about.html
- Source: Ireland Department of Foreign Affairs, registering a foreign birth (Foreign Births Register): https://www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/citizenship/born-abroad/registering-a-foreign-birth/
- Source: Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, citizenship: https://www.esteri.it/en/servizi-opportunita/italiani-all-estero/cittadinanza/
- Source: Italian consulate notice, citizenship by descent under the new rules: https://consbrisbane.esteri.it/en/servizi-consolari-e-visti/servizi-per-il-cittadino-straniero/citizenship-by-descent-iure-sanguinis-new-rules/
- Source: Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, consular and citizenship matters: https://www.gov.pl/web/diplomacy
- Source: gov.pl, confirmation of possession or loss of Polish citizenship: https://www.gov.pl/web/gov/potwierdzenie-posiadania-lub-utraty-obywatelstwa-polskiego
- Source: German Federal Office of Administration (BVA), citizenship: https://www.bva.bund.de/EN/Services/Citizens/ID-Documents-Law/Citizenship/citizenship_node.html
- Source: German Nationality Act (StAG), sections 5, 15 and 38: https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stag/BJNR005830913.html
- Source: Ministério da Justiça (Portugal), new nationality law in force 19 May 2026: https://justica.gov.pt/Noticias/Lei-da-Nacionalidade-novas-regras-entram-em-vigor-a-19-de-maio

## Citation

Cite as: "Citizenship by descent: the four main routes compared, 2026", Citizenship Descent Checker, https://citizenshipdescentchecker.com/ (updated 2026-08-15).

## About

- Citizenship Descent Checker is an information site operated by Ellul Solutions Ltd. It is not affiliated with any government, consulate, or ministry named on this site, and nothing here is legal or immigration advice. Descent rules change, as Italy's 2025 reform showed, and individual claims turn on documents and dates no checker can verify: confirm any eligibility verdict with the relevant consulate or a citizenship lawyer before spending money on records or applications.
- Operated by Ellul Solutions Ltd. Contact: enquiries@citizenshipdescentchecker.com