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

RA 9225

RA 9225 (Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003) is the Philippine law that allows natural-born Filipinos who lost citizenship to reclaim it.

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

In depth

What RA 9225 means in practice.

RA 9225 (Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003, also known as the Dual Citizenship Law) is the Philippine law that allows natural-born Filipinos who lost citizenship by naturalization in a foreign country to take an oath of allegiance and re-acquire Philippine citizenship.

RA 9225 also extends to derivative children — unmarried children under 18 of re-acquiring Filipino parents automatically become Filipino citizens. Adult children can apply separately.

While India does not permit full dual citizenship (offering OCI instead), the Philippines permits full dual citizenship under RA 9225. The oath is taken at the Philippine Bureau of Immigration or at a Philippine consulate abroad.

Relevant countries

Philippines

Related terms

Keep learning.

Foundations

Dual Citizenship

Dual citizenship (also called multiple citizenship) is the status of being a citizen of two or more countries simultaneously, with the rights and obligations of each.

Foundations

Naturalization

Naturalization is the legal process by which a non-citizen acquires the citizenship of a country, typically after meeting residency, language, and integration requirements.

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

Cartório

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

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).

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 RA 9225 applies to your specific situation — in plain language, citing the relevant statute.

Loading…