What Documents Do I Need for Citizenship by Descent?
Every citizenship by descent application requires a chain of vital records connecting you to your qualifying ancestor. Here is the complete checklist.
Universal Document Checklist
- Your birth certificate (long form, with parents' names)
- Your parents' birth certificate
- Your parents' marriage certificate
- Grandparents' birth certificates
- Grandparents' marriage certificate
- Death certificates for any deceased persons in the chain
- Your ancestor's foreign birth certificate (from the country of origin)
- Proof of non-naturalization (or naturalization certificate with date)
- Valid passport or government ID
- Passport-size photos
Country-Specific Requirements
Italy
All US documents must be apostilled by the issuing state. You also need a USCIS FOIA search to prove your ancestor did not naturalize before the next generation was born.
Ireland
Simpler requirements — mainly your birth certificate, parent's birth certificate, and grandparent's Irish birth certificate. Documents do not need apostilles for FBR.
Poland
All documents must be translated into Polish by a sworn translator. You need to prove unbroken Polish citizenship from your ancestor to you.
Where to Get Documents
- US vital records: County clerk or state vital records office where the event occurred
- USCIS naturalization records: File Form G-1041 (FOIA request) — free but takes 3-6 months
- Foreign birth certificates: Contact the civil registry (comune, USC, etc.) in your ancestor's hometown
- Apostilles: Secretary of State in the state that issued the document
Use our interactive document checklist to track your progress.
