What is citizenship by descent?

Citizenship by descent (CBD) is the legal right to acquire a country's citizenship through one's ancestors, based on the principle of jus sanguinis (right of blood). Over 90 countries offer some form of citizenship by descent.

Which countries offer citizenship by descent?

Over 90 countries offer CBD. The most accessible include Italy, Ireland, Poland, Germany, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, Spain, and Portugal.

How long does citizenship by descent take?

Timelines vary by country. Italy: 12-36 months. Ireland: 9-18 months. Poland: 12-24 months. Germany: 12-30 months. Mexico: 6-14 months. Brazil: 6-12 months.

Can I have dual citizenship?

In most cases yes. The US, Canada, UK, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, and most EU states permit dual citizenship. Notable exceptions: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Japan, China, Singapore.

How much does citizenship by descent cost?

Costs vary by country. Typical all-in fixed fees: Italy $8,000-$25,000, Ireland $4,000-$9,000, Poland $5,000-$15,000, Germany $8,000-$25,000, Mexico $3,000-$8,000, Brazil $3,000-$7,000.

Is the consultation confidential?

Yes. Every consultation is confidential. Nothing you share can be disclosed without your consent. When you're matched with a professional in our network, that professional's own confidentiality and privilege policies apply to your engagement.

How long does the consultation take?

The first consultation is 90 minutes for video and in-office meetings, or 60 minutes for phone calls.

Is the consultation really free?

Yes. The first 90 minutes are confidential, candid, and free of charge. No retainer required.

What should I prepare for the consultation?

Bring whatever you know about your ancestor: full name, date and place of birth, country of origin, emigration date, naturalization status, and any documents you already have.

How quickly will I hear back after requesting a consultation?

We reply to every consultation request within 24 hours, in your timezone.

What consultation formats are available?

We offer private video consultation (90 minutes), in-office meeting (90 minutes, available in New York, Lisbon, and Mexico City), and telephone call (60 minutes).

Do I need to commit to anything after the consultation?

No. The consultation is free and carries no obligation.

What languages are consultations available in?

Case leads are available in seven languages: English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, and Polish.

Latin American Law

Cartório

A cartório is a Brazilian notary public office that maintains civil registry records and processes citizenship registrations.

Last reviewed July 2026 · Part of the Ancestra CBD Glossary (Latin American Law)

In depth

What Cartório means in practice.

A cartório is a Brazilian notary public office that maintains civil registry records (registro civil) and processes various legal registrations, including citizenship registrations. Each Brazilian municipality has multiple cartórios, each with jurisdiction over specific types of records.

For Brazilian CBD cases, the cartório is the primary registration authority — after citizenship is recognized, the new citizen is registered in the cartório's registro civil, which issues the Brazilian birth certificate (certidão de nascimento) that serves as proof of citizenship.

Cartório records are public and can be requested by anyone. Ancestra coordinates with cartórios across Brazil's 26 states plus the Federal District.

Relevant countries

Brazil

Related terms

Keep learning.

Latin American Law

Filiação

Filiação is the Brazilian legal concept of filiation (parent-child relationship), which is the basis of Brazilian citizenship by descent.

Latin American Law

SRE

The SRE (Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores) is the Mexican foreign ministry that processes Mexican citizenship by descent applications.

Latin American Law

Cámara Nacional Electoral

The Cámara Nacional Electoral is the Argentine federal court that processes certain Argentine citizenship by descent cases (judicial route).

Latin American Law

RENIEC

RENIEC (Registro Nacional de Identificación y Estado Civil) is the Peruvian national registry that processes Peruvian citizenship by descent applications.

Latin American Law

RENAPO

RENAPO (Registro Nacional de Población) is the Mexican population registry that issues the CURP (Clave Única de Registro de Población) and processes citizenship records.

Latin American Law

Junta Central Electoral

The Junta Central Electoral (JCE) is the Dominican Republic's central electoral board that processes Dominican citizenship by descent applications.

Ready to apply this to your case?

Run our free 4-minute eligibility check, or book a private consultation. A case lead will explain how Cartório applies to your specific situation — in plain language, citing the relevant statute.

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