Which Countries Allow Citizenship Through Great-Grandparents?
Updated August 21, 2026
By DNExpress Legal Team
Yes, you can get citizenship through great-grandparents, but in 2026, this is only possible in 8 countries, with 2 more that closed in 2025. Most countries limit citizenship by descent to parents and grandparents.
Claiming through a great-grandparent requires a law with no generational limit and proof of an unbroken chain of citizenship from your ancestor to you.
This is different from a standard grandparents case. If your family link is only through a grandparent, the process is faster and cheaper.
For a standard 2-generation case, see our guide on Mexican citizenship through grandparents.
For great-grandparents, you are dealing with four generations of documentation, name changes, and naturalization checks. Here is the complete 2026 list updated with the latest legal changes.
August 2026 Update: The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Law 74/2025, originating from Decree-Law 36/2025 and effective March 27, 2025, remains fully enforced. Eligibility now requires an Italian-born parent or grandparent. Applications filed before March 27, 2025 are grandfathered under the previous rules.
In this guide:
- Can you get citizenship through great-grandparents?
- 8 open countries + 2 closed
- Why most countries stop at grandparents
- How to build an approved application
Can you get Citizenship Through Great-Grandparents?
Yes, if your country allows dual citizenship by ancestry and you can prove three things:
- The law has no generational limit: Countries like Poland and Hungary allow claims beyond grandparents. Most countries, such as the UK, Spain, and Australia, do not. Italy was unlimited but changed its law back in 2025.
- The citizenship chain was never broken: If your great-grandparent naturalized as a citizen of another country before your grandparent was born, the chain breaks for most countries in Europe.
- You have documents for every link: You need birth, marriage, and death certificates from you to your great-grandparent. Plus, proof that your ancestor held that citizenship. DNA tests are not accepted.
8 Countries That Still Allow Citizenship Through Great-Grandparents in 2026 (+2 Closed in 2025)
Here's the full list of countries that allow citizenship through ancestors.
1. Poland - Confirmation of Citizenship Through Great-Grandparents
Poland allows citizenship through great-grandparents if your ancestor was a Polish citizen after 1920 and resided in the country. You can apply directly through your great-grandparent; your parents and grandparents do not need to be registered first, as in other countries.
You just need to prove the bloodline maintained an unbroken lineage before the next generation was born.
2. Mexico - Citizenship Through Great Grandparents After 2021 Reform
After the 2021 reform to Article 30 of its constitution, Mexico removed its generational limit, so Mexican citizenship is now technically unlimited, as confirmed by the SRE. Here's what you need to know.
Does Mexico allow citizenship through great-grandparents? Yes, but only with chain registration.
Mexican authorities require you to register each generation in order: your grandparent must be registered as Mexican first, then your parent, and finally you.
Most of the cases fail at this step because families try to apply for the process directly. The “Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores” (SRE) rejects the file automatically.
You must present the birth certificates of the generations with an apostille and have them entered into the civil registry first. This adds 3-6 months but is the only legal path.
3. Hungary – Simplified Naturalization with Language
Hungary has no generational limit for simplified naturalization. If you can prove Hungarian ancestry through a great-grandparent, you qualify, but there's a crucial filter; you must speak Hungarian and pass a specific interview at their consulate.
4. Lithuania – No Proof if your Ancestor left
Lithuania allows dual citizenship through great-grandparents, must prove that your ancestor held Lithuanian citizenship between February 16, 1918, and June 15, 1940, and permanently left the country before March 11, 1990.
Under the guidelines in 2026, a barrier has been removed: you no longer need to prove that your great-grandparent left due to war or political reasons. The government no longer searches for the historical reasons for leaving.
However, you must still provide strict legal documentation and evidence of when they left and verify their unbroken citizenship link before the Soviet occupation of 1940.
5. Germany – Persecution Cases Under Article 116
Germany allows restoration under Article 116 (2) of the Basic Law. The correct legal period is between January 30, 1933 and May 8, 1945.
If your great-grandparents were stripped of German citizenship on political or religious grounds during that period, you and your descendants can reclaim it.
This also covers cases under Section 15 StAG for those who lost citizenship due to flight or general persecution.
6. Latvia – For Descendants of Exiles
Latvia allows citizenship through great-grandparents if your ancestor was a Latvian citizen before June 17, 1940, and left as a result of the occupation. You can keep dual citizenship and apply directly without your parents claiming first.
You must prove your great-grandparents were citizens and that they left due to foreign occupation.
7. Greece – For Ethnic Greeks
Greece allows claims for ethnic Greeks who can prove lineage to a great-grandparent; you can prove Greek ethnicity and registration in municipal records in Greece.
Note: It's not automatic; you must prove ties to Greek ancestry and be recorded in the municipal offices. There is no generational limit for Greek descendants, but applicants must establish an uninterrupted legal lineage and show strong ties to their heritage.
8. Ireland – Conditional Through Registration
Ireland allows it, but with a strict registration key rule. If your great-grandparent was born in Ireland, your grandparent is an Irish citizen. Your parents then had to register in the Foreign Births Register (FBR) before you were born to pass it on.
If your parents forgot to register, you cannot apply through a great-grandparent. This is a chain registration system that you cannot skip.
9. Italy – Now Limited Since Law 74/2025
Historically, Italy was the most popular route, with no generational limit. Since Law 74/2025, which entered into force on March 27, 2025, Italy now has a 2-generation limit. The limit applies to all pathways, including 1948 maternal-line court cases.
As of 2026, new claims through great-grandparents are not accepted unless you filed your application or your court case before March 27, 2025.
Since 2022, cases must be filed in the local tribunal where your great-grandparent was born, not only in Rome. Timelines depend on the region, from 12 to 24 months
10. Luxembourg – Recovery Closed for New Applicants
Luxembourg's recovery program under their Article 89 required a direct ancestor alive on January 1, 1900. On December 31, 2018, this program started to reject new applications. The final deadline to submit the declaration was December 31, 2025.
As of 2026, you cannot start a new direct Article 89 application. Only families where a parent or grandparent already completed the first step can continue the chain to nationality.
Comparison Table - Direct vs Chain Registration 2026
| Country | Can you apply direct? | Language | Status in 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Yes - persecution cases | No | Open - Art 116 |
| Greece | Yes | No | Open Ethnic Greeks |
| Hungary | Yes | Yes - interview | Open |
| Ireland | No - Chain | No | Conditional |
| Latvia | Yes | No | Open - Exile |
| Lithuania | Yes | No | Open |
| Mexico | No - Chain | No | Open - After 2021 reform |
| Poland | Yes | No | Open |
| Italy | N/A | N/A | Closed since March 27, 2025 |
| Luxembourg | N/A | N/A | Closed - Deadline Dec 31, 2025 |
Why Most Countries Stop at Grandparents
Short answer: To prevent fraud and weaker cultural ties, also the burden of searching and verifying old documentation. Unlimited descent creates millions of potential dual citizens.
That's why when you search for countries that allow dual citizenship by descent, you get more than 25 results, but for great-grandparents it drops to 8.
For the USA, Canada, and the UK, citizenship by descent stops at parents for children born abroad, which shows how restrictive it can be.
How to Build an Approved Application
Request the naturalization record. In the USA, it is a USCIS Genealogy search. If you find a naturalization before the next generation is born, your case may be closed for countries like Poland and Italy.
Second, obtain civil records from newest to oldest and try to fix misspelled names if necessary.
Third, apostille and translate everything; translation must be done by court-approved translators
Note: While foreign consulates may accept older documents, local European municipalities can reject records older than 6 months from their issue date if you apply abroad.
Updated 2026 FAQs
Here are some updated FAQs about applying through great-grandparents
Can I skip my parents and apply directly through my great-grandparents?
It depends on the country. For Poland, yes. You can apply directly through your great-grandparent without your parent(s) or grandparent having to claim citizenship first.
For Mexico, a chain registration is necessary. Each generation must be registered in order.
What is the easiest country to get citizenship through great-grandparents?
In 2026, Poland and Hungary are the most flexible for great-grandparent claims. Hungary has no generational limit but requires you to pass a Hungarian intermediate-level language interview.
Poland has no language requirement but requires a longer confirmation process.
How long does it take for great-grandparent cases in 2026?
Poland: 18 to 25 months by the consular route due to administrative delays. Italy: 2-3 years by the judicial route, but strictly applicable only to cases filed before the March 2025 deadline. New great-grandparent applications are rejected
Conclusion: Is Claiming Through Great Grandparents Worth It?
Claiming citizenship through great-grandparents is possible, but harder in 2026 compared to the last few years. Italy closed its unlimited route, and Luxembourg's direct recovery ended in 2025.
Today, Poland and Hungary are the best European options, while Mexico's 2021 reform allows full dual citizenship through great-grandparents, as long as you follow the chain of registration.
If your grandparent was Mexican, see our guide to Mexican citizenship by descent 2026.
At DNExpress, our legal team verifies your chain and explains how you can obtain Mexican dual citizenship remotely. Reconnect with your roots now!
