Are you interested in obtaining dual citizenship in Italy, Ireland, Canada or elsewhere? Aren’t sure where to start or how to find the records you need? Our team of professional genealogists can help!
At Legacy Tree, we can help you begin the dual citizenship process by researching your ancestors to determine the names, dates, and places needed to obtain the necessary records for your application. For more information on dual citizenship ancestry records you may need for Italy, Ireland, or Canada dual citizenship applications, read more below.
To help with your dual citizenship goal we can assist with the genealogy part — learning names and dates/places of birth, marriage, and/or death for your ancestors — but you'll likely need to work with an immigration attorney and/or your consulate to obtain the official records you need.
Because many records can only be ordered by direct family members, and you are required to make your own consulate appointments and appearances, you definitely need to be ready to be involved in the process, but our team at Legacy Tree Genealogists can identify the names, dates, and places needed to order each record, and do much of the leg work for you, leaving you a lot more time to go on with your busy life! Complete the form above for a free quote.
Legal Aspects of Dual Citizenship
Keep in mind that the privilege of dual citizenship is not available to just anyone. Each country has its own laws and requirements about who is eligible and how to apply, so it is a good idea to research those stipulations before beginning the process. If you don’t know much about your ancestors and are still not even sure if you qualify, that will be the first goal – to look at your ancestral lines, extend them as needed, and then you can talk to your consulate or an immigration lawyer to determine if you qualify based on the requirements of the country you are interested in. The team at Legacy Tree Genealogists can bring their expertise to your particular situation by gathering the necessary ancestry records. For example, for Canadian dual citizenship, according to the government resources of Canada’s Citizenship Help Centre, Canadian law allows individuals to be both citizens of Canada and another country.
Dual Citizenship Application Process
As part of the application process, you’ll be required to obtain very specific types and pieces of documentation for yourself and each family member going back to the target ancestor. While each country has different requirements, (and if you are in the U.S., each consulate also has slightly different requirements), you’ll generally need to obtain birth, marriage, and death records for each direct-line ancestor going back to the one you are applying through. These will usually need to be “long-form” copies, meaning that they show the town of birth (not just the county) and normally list the parents. You’ll also generally need to obtain naturalization paperwork for your immigrant ancestor, as well as possibly passenger lists and census records. This can be a time-consuming and expensive process, but if dual citizenship can be attained, the rewards often make it more than worth it. For example, having Irish dual citizenship allows you to buy property and work in Ireland without worrying about a visa expiring.
Benefits of Dual Citizenship
Depending on where you are from and from which country you obtain dual citizenship, having two nationalities can help you reconnect with your ancestors’ heritage, give you better access to low-cost higher education, provide you with easier business practices and access to tax shelters, give you access to the medical and/or retirement benefits of the other country, accommodate easier travel to other countries, and many more perks. For example, having Italian dual citizenship allows you to enter 172 other countries and territories without needing a visa, making travel simpler and less expensive.
Our Team of Professional Genealogists Can Help
If obtaining dual citizenship is one of your goals, the experts at Legacy Tree Genealogists can help gather important ancestral records to begin the process. Contact us for free quote to get started.
