Jus Sanguinis (Right of Blood)
A principle by which citizenship passes to a person from their parents, regardless of place of birth.
Jus sanguinis (right of blood) is the principle by which a person acquires a state's citizenship from their parents, and sometimes from more distant ancestors, regardless of the country in which they were born. It rests on the idea of transmitting citizenship through descent rather than through place of birth.
This principle is widespread and is often combined with other grounds for acquiring citizenship. The specific conditions — which degree of kinship counts, whether documents proving descent are required, whether citizenship may pass through only one parent — vary from country to country and are set by national law.
Jus sanguinis is contrasted with jus soli (right of soil), under which citizenship is determined by place of birth. In practice most states use a mixed model, combining both principles in different proportions.
| What it is | Citizenship through parents' citizenship, not birthplace |
| Where it is common | Most countries of Europe and Asia |
| Basis | Kinship with citizens, confirmed by documents |
| Not to be confused with | Jus soli — citizenship by place of birth |
| Role in investment migration | A possible alternative to investment programs |
How it works in practice
- Before choosing a paid program, the agent checks whether the applicant has a claim to citizenship by blood — it may prove simpler and cheaper.
- The applicant documents the chain of kinship: birth and marriage certificates for every step down to the citizen ancestor.
- Documents are legalized, apostilled and translated per the country's requirements; old records sometimes have to be requested from archives.
- The application is filed with a consulate or the competent authority; once citizenship is recognized, a passport is issued.
- The applicant's children generally acquire citizenship through the same line — the family branch is processed together.
Common pitfalls
- ! Gaps in the documentary chain: lost archives, name changes and transliteration discrepancies require separate legal resolution.
- ! An ancestor may have lost citizenship — for example, upon naturalizing elsewhere — thereby interrupting transmission down the line.
- ! In some countries, transmission rules historically differed for the maternal and paternal lines — the period of the ancestor's birth matters.
- ! Expecting an «automatic» passport: having roots does not in itself confer status; a formal recognition procedure is always required.
“Jus sanguinis looks at the parent's status on the day the child was born, not today. Parents are often surprised that a passport obtained after the birth does not reach back to the child.”
Sergey Bolotin — Head of LegalFAQ
How does jus sanguinis differ from jus soli?
Under jus sanguinis citizenship passes from parents to child regardless of place of birth, while under jus soli it is determined by the territory where the person was born. Many countries apply both principles at once.
Can citizenship by jus sanguinis pass through several generations?
In some countries it can, but the depth of kinship recognised and the documentary requirements vary depending on the law of the particular state.
Can citizenship by blood be processed without moving to the country?
In many countries yes — the application is filed through a consulate at the place of residence. Some states, however, require personal presence at certain stages.
What if the ancestor lost citizenship before the next generation was born?
This can interrupt transmission down the line, but not always: a number of countries provide for reinstatement or exceptions. A lawyer assesses the situation under the specific country's legislation.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship?
It depends on the country: many recognize multiple citizenship in jus sanguinis cases, while some require a choice. This is checked before the procedure begins.
Does a child born abroad need to be registered to receive the parents' citizenship?
In a number of countries transmission by blood is automatic, but consular registration of the birth is needed to obtain documents. Sometimes deadlines or an application procedure apply — the rules are checked per country.