The End of the "Glory Days" for Citizenship by Descent

2026-07-30

Joseph Boll — CEO & Founder, Frederick Capital

Citizenship by descent programs are facing massive delays and bureaucratic hurdles. Why high-net-worth individuals are pivoting back to investment migration.

For years, the most cost-effective route to a second passport was a matter of bloodline, not bank balances. Citizenship by Descent (CBD) programs — particularly those offered by European nations like Italy, Ireland, and Poland — allowed individuals to claim powerful passports based on the nationality of their parents, grandparents, or even great-grandparents.

It was the ultimate "life hack" for global mobility. However, as we move through the latter half of 2026, industry consensus is clear: the glory days of Citizenship by Descent are over.

The Bureaucratic Minefield

The decline of CBD is not primarily due to outright legislative closures, but rather a suffocating tightening of administrative procedures. What was once a relatively straightforward process of gathering birth and marriage certificates has evolved into a formidable bureaucratic hurdle.

According to Elena Ruda, managing partner at Immigrant Invest, the ancestry route is now characterised by "rigid language requirements, extensive document checks stretching back generations, and swelling processing times of five to six years."

Governments are scrutinising applications with unprecedented rigour. Minor discrepancies in spelling across century-old documents, missing apostilles, or gaps in the generational chain that were previously overlooked are now grounds for outright rejection. Furthermore, several nations are introducing mandatory language proficiency tests for applicants claiming citizenship through distant ancestors, ensuring that new citizens possess a genuine cultural link to the state.

The Shift to Eastern Europe and Investment Routes

As traditional Western European CBD programs become increasingly difficult to navigate, some applicants are looking toward Eastern European nations with slightly more lenient ancestry laws. However, even these pathways are experiencing increased processing times due to a surge in demand.

For high-net-worth individuals, the calculation has fundamentally changed. The opportunity cost of waiting five to six years for a passport — with no guarantee of success — is often too high. When geopolitical instability or shifting tax regimes require immediate action, a multi-year bureaucratic struggle is an unviable strategy.

This reality is driving a renewed focus on Investment Migration. While David Lincoln of Lincoln Partners correctly notes that "the cheap, fast, real estate version is largely dead" (referencing the closure of Spain's program and Portugal's real estate route), structured investment pathways remain the only reliable method for securing alternative residency or citizenship on a predictable timeline.

The European Residency Imperative

The tightening of CBD programs coincides with the European Union's aggressive stance against Caribbean Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs, demanding their closure by 2028 under threat of visa suspensions.

With ancestry routes bogged down in red tape and Caribbean passports facing restricted European access, direct European Residency by Investment (RBI) has emerged as the most secure and predictable strategy in 2026.

If you cannot wait half a decade to prove your heritage, you must invest to secure your future. The current landscape favours decisive action through established Golden Visa frameworks:

• Greece: The €250,000 commercial-to-residential conversion route remains the most accessible property-based entry into the Schengen Area.
• Hungary: The €250,000 real estate fund investment secures a highly stable 10-year residency permit.
• Portugal: While real estate is gone, the €500,000 investment fund route remains a viable path to eventual EU citizenship, despite extended timelines.

Time is the Ultimate Luxury

In investment migration, time is often more valuable than capital. Citizenship by Descent programs, while financially inexpensive, now exact a massive toll in time and uncertainty.

At Frederick Capital, we prioritise predictable outcomes. If you require a secure European foothold, relying on a congested ancestry queue is a gamble. Strategic investment in a European residency program provides immediate security and a guaranteed timeline that ancestry programs can no longer deliver.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Citizenship by Descent and which countries offer it?

A: Citizenship by Descent (CBD) allows individuals to claim citizenship based on the nationality of an ancestor — typically a parent, grandparent, or in some cases a great-grandparent. Major European programs include Italy, Ireland, Poland, and Hungary. These programs have historically been popular because they offer powerful EU passports at relatively low cost, requiring only documentation rather than investment.

Q: Why are Citizenship by Descent programs becoming so difficult in 2026?

A: Governments have significantly tightened administrative procedures. Processing times have stretched to five to six years in many jurisdictions. Applications are now rejected for minor document discrepancies — spelling variations in century-old records, missing apostilles, or gaps in the generational chain. Several countries have also introduced mandatory language proficiency tests, adding another barrier for applicants with distant ancestry.

Q: Is Citizenship by Descent still worth pursuing in 2026?

A: It depends on your timeline and risk tolerance. If you have a clear, well-documented ancestry chain and can afford to wait five to six years with no guarantee of success, it may still be worth exploring. However, for high-net-worth individuals who need a predictable outcome — particularly those responding to geopolitical risk or tax changes — the opportunity cost is too high. Investment migration offers a guaranteed timeline that ancestry programs cannot.

Q: What is the fastest alternative to Citizenship by Descent for a European passport?

A: Direct European Residency by Investment (RBI) is the most reliable route in 2026. Greece and Hungary both offer programs from €250,000 that grant immediate Schengen residency. After meeting residency requirements over several years, these programs provide a clear path to EU citizenship — on a predictable, guaranteed timeline rather than a bureaucratic lottery.

Q: How can Frederick Capital help me evaluate my options?

A: Frederick Capital provides objective, independent advice on investment migration strategies for high-net-worth individuals. Whether you are currently stuck in a CBD queue or starting fresh, we can help you assess whether to continue, pivot to an investment route, or pursue both in parallel. Book a consultation here.

References

1. Abbas, A. (2026, July 22). "The Glory Days of Citizenship-by-Descent Programs are Over": Investment Migration People in the News This Week. IMI Daily.
2. Coates Global. (2026, July 27). What the July 2026 EU ultimatum means for Caribbean citizenship by investment programmes.