Citizenship Strategy for Children Under 18: How to Prepare Documents in Advance, Citizenship by Birth, Descent, and Investment

Where a child is born, their family background, the family’s current status, language, and investments all influence citizenship—and most “levers” become available, or more beneficial, only before adulthood.

Children’s citizenship can seem settled at birth: in the country where registration is handled at the hospital, and in the passports parents hold in their hands. In practice, however, this is one of the few areas where parents can still consciously shape a child’s future path. After age 18, many options become more complicated, more expensive, or stop working.

Several “foundations” of children’s citizenship shift in parallel.

Where the child is born (jus soli, right of the soil), who they come from (jus sanguinis, right of blood), and whether the family is willing to pay to speed up or formalize the process (jus pecuniae, right of money) are being reconfigured in real time, as explained in the study Soil, Blood, and Money.

At the same time, two of the three directions narrow in high-income countries, while the third expands. That’s why parents who act early and build a step-by-step order tend to win.

Below are the levers parents can genuinely control. Each one works best before the child reaches adulthood.

Citizenship by place of birth still works

Place of birth is a unique “one-time” argument: it can only be locked in at birth, and can’t be repeated later. If a country grants unconditional citizenship by birth, the child becomes a citizen immediately—regardless of what passports parents hold.

Today, this model is concentrated in one hemisphere. Around 33 countries maintain unconditional jus soli, and almost all of them are located in the Americas—from Canada and the United States to Brazil, Argentina, and most Caribbean countries.

The trend of recent decades has been moving away from unconditional jus soli. The UK ended the practice in 1983, Australia in 1986, and Ireland abolished it via a referendum in the mid-2000s. As a result, it is the Western Hemisphere that remains the place where a child’s citizenship more often depends on a map than on the family tree.

The United States remains in this group. On June 30, 2026, the Supreme Court overturned an executive order that attempted to limit citizenship by birth for children temporarily present and for people without lawful status. The Court confirmed that virtually any child born on U.S. territory receives citizenship under the 14th Amendment. At the same time, political pressure on jus soli did not disappear, and the legal basis for “birth tourism” was not affected.

Some Latin American countries offer parents an extra advantage. For example, in Brazil the child becomes Brazilian at birth, and parents can apply for permanent residency immediately and naturalize after one year—one of the fastest family routes to a strong passport.

Parents’ passports and citizenships are a transferable asset

Any citizenship parents already have can potentially become a “legacy” for the child. In many countries, citizenship is transferred automatically by descent, so a child from a double-citizenship family may start with two passports right away—without additional applications.

But many parents underestimate what the family already owns. If one parent has the right to an additional citizenship through parents or grandparents, but never formalized that right, the child may benefit as soon as the status is officially confirmed.

Timing is crucial too. In a number of countries, eligibility depends on the parent’s status at the moment of the child’s birth. That’s why, sometimes, it is more important to acquire or register citizenship before the birth than to try to do it afterward.

In any case, the child must be registered on time. If citizenship is obtained by descent, registration often requires recording the birth through a consulate or civil registry authorities. Delays can make evidence harder to prove years later—especially when archives, documents, or witnesses become less accessible.

Rights by descent are narrowing fast

Family lines can give a child a strong passport with relatively modest document costs. Across the EU and beyond, citizenship by descent has expanded for grandchildren—and sometimes even for great-grandchildren of citizens of the relevant states. In such cases, a child may receive a “European” passport without moving with their parents.

However, this direction is narrowing the fastest. Italy, long considered one of the most “generous” under jus sanguinis, restricted citizenship transfer through Law 74/2025, and the Constitutional Court upheld the decision in March 2026. That effectively ended the model where citizenship could pass down through an endless chain of generations.

Timing matters especially here. In April 2026, the Italian Court of Cassation sitting in an expanded panel (Sezioni Unite) considered whether the naturalization of an ancestor in another country affects the “chain” if it happened while the child was still a minor. The final decision—at the time of preparing this article—will determine the fate of thousands of applications.

Canada also expanded transfer by descent, but added a “for the future” condition. Bill C-3 removed the first-generation limitation in December 2025. But for children born abroad after December 15, 2025, a Canadian parent who was themselves born outside Canada must prove at least 1,095 days (three years) of physical presence in Canada before the child’s birth.

Evidence requirements have tightened as well. In June 2026, Canada moved to withdraw certain certificates collected based on unofficial genealogy instead of confirmed original documents. The decision was then quickly adjusted: starting June 19, letters were sent about “re-validation,” and most applicants were asked to keep their documents. The outcome was not mass cancellation, but a higher standard of proof.

The overall trend is clear: descent-based requirements “wear out.” Relatives age and pass away, archives are processed more slowly, and rules are rewritten constantly. What is easy to prove for a child today may become weak or unavailable when the child applies independently later.

Italy shows this plainly. Its real connection law allows an Italian parent to pass citizenship to a minor via a declaration, but within strict time windows: for children born after May 24, 2025—within three years from birth; for those who were minors at the time the law took effect—a transitional period extended until May 31, 2029.

Living in the country until age 18 creates ties adults can’t “buy”

Time spent in the country is a calm but powerful lever. A child who genuinely lives in that state accumulates something an adult applicant cannot recreate: years of physical presence, school records, social ties, and—in many systems—time that may count toward naturalization.

Rules increasingly rely on presence rather than a “document package.” For instance, Portugal’s updated citizenship law applies from May 19, 2026: a child born in the country to foreign parents receives citizenship at birth only if at least one parent has completed five years of lawful residence (previously the threshold was one year).

This can split siblings’ outcomes. A child born before the parent reaches the five-year threshold will receive citizenship differently and may have to go through naturalization later. A younger child born after the threshold becomes Portuguese at birth—and the difference depends only on the date.

The same example explains why a relocation strategy is important. Portugal increased naturalization requirements for most applicants to 10 years (for EU citizens and Portuguese speakers—seven years) and now counts the period only from the date the residence permit was issued.

Practical takeaway: start the residence “clock” earlier. If a family secures lawful residence while children are still young, they have maximum time to accumulate presence and—depending on the country—to potentially qualify automatically within a parent’s naturalization framework. A late entry can remove this opportunity.

A child’s education can strengthen both citizenship and integration

Education works as a dual strategy: it is both residence and integration. Years in the country’s school system build the “visible” ties that immigration authorities more often require as proof. In some legal models, this time can support both naturalization and evidence of descent—not merely “count as background.”

In addition, the value of a future passport changes. A child who already holds citizenship in the country (or EU citizenship) typically studies as a resident: gaining access to local rates, student support, and part-time work rights that many non-citizen categories cannot access.

In Portugal, this is especially noticeable in the new pathway based on great-grandchildren. Citizenship opens for great-grandchildren of Portuguese citizens, but only if they can show at least five years of lawful residence in Portugal and proof of a “real connection” to the community. This is the type of connection a child begins building over the years while studying and living in the country.

Language in childhood removes barriers that slow down adult applicants

Language is the cheapest resource for a young child—and one of the hardest to acquire “later.” Children raised in a language environment typically reach near-native proficiency as a natural byproduct of upbringing. This helps pass language checks that often delay adult applicants by months or even years.

Testing is becoming standard. For example, in Portugal, naturalization requires a Portuguese exam at A2 level and a test on civic knowledge. And in many descent-based routes for grandchildren and great-grandchildren, language plays a key role along with documented ties to society.

For adults, this is truly a “stop sign.” But for a child hearing the language at home or at school, many requirements become a formality. That’s why language planning should be included in the strategy well before filing any applications.

An investment route can add children’s citizenship at a lower cost

The investment path is the one “designed” for families. Citizenship by Investment (CBI) and Residence by Investment (RBI) programs typically allow dependent children to be included in the main application. As a result, children are added more cheaply than if citizenship were handled separately.

A telling example is Grenada. Its CBI program has been operating since 2013 and involves a non-refundable donation to the National Transformation Foundation of $235,000. This covers a family of up to four people (including government fees and due diligence). An additional payment of about $25,000 is required for each extra child. Dual citizenship is allowed, and there is no obligation to live on the island permanently.

Golden visas (residence permits through investment) work in a similar way. Most European programs allow you to include a spouse and children in one application. If a child is included early, they can spend “formative” years as a resident before parents become eligible for citizenship.

But there’s an important nuance to verify in advance. Including a child may secure their citizenship, but it does not guarantee automatic transfer to all future generations. Whether grandchildren and great-grandchildren inherit depends on the country’s descent rules. Some jurisdictions restrict transfer to those born abroad or who obtained citizenship through investment.

Obligations travel with the passport

Additional passports are assets—but they are not “free.” Citizenship obtained by a child brings a set of state obligations. And some of those obligations may apply to the child, not just the parent.

The clearest example is military service. About 60 countries use conscription. A child’s dual citizenship may mean that, at the relevant age, they fall under the rules of the second country. This must be checked before adding a passport to your strategy.

Taxes and status matter too. For example, a child who is a U.S. citizen (by birth or by descent) carries tax reporting obligations for life—even if living outside the country—unless they renounce citizenship. In some countries that restrict dual citizenship, adults may be required to choose one citizenship upon reaching adulthood.

Dual citizenship can also complicate custody issues. If parents divorce or live in different countries, the child’s second passport can become a lever of influence. That’s why it’s essential to document each child’s citizenship and record how it was obtained.

How to build the sequence of steps

Taken together, these levers work better as a “plan” than as a race to age 18. A child’s future mobility is not one passport—it’s a portfolio of options. Building that portfolio is easier while the child is still young.

Start with an audit of what the family already has. List every citizenship you and your partner hold, then review both family trees for potential “hidden” descent rights through parents and grandparents. Such rights often require only documents and can be formalized before the next child is born, so the transfer is cleaner.

Next, use time-dependent levers. If the family plans relocations, a birth in a jus soli country, or an early start of the residence “clock” can lock in options that may later become unavailable.

Formalize citizenship by descent while it is still feasible. Relatives age, archives are processed more slowly, and rules tighten. What can be proven relatively easily today may become difficult or impossible in a few years.

Overlay the strategy with residence, education, and language. This creates a “real connection” that is increasingly required in naturalization and descent rules. Then language tests and presence requirements become formalities for the child—without unnecessary burden.

Use investments as a tool to fill gaps that family descent doesn’t cover. CBI or a golden visa can add geography not present in your family tree or provide a passport sooner than waiting for standard routes—and children can be included in the same application.

Before any decisions, check obligations. Drafting risks, lifetime tax reporting, and possible requirements to choose citizenship can be accounted for in advance. But if you discover them later, the cost of a mistake becomes higher.

If done on time, a child’s citizenship stops being a matter of chance at birth and becomes a portfolio the child can genuinely use: for education, work, and as a clear backup option if one country stops being convenient. After age 18, much of that “optionality” gradually disappears.

Citizenship planning for children under 18 is not only about jus soli and jus sanguinis, but also about preparing the “right set” of options early—when the most beneficial pathways become available. If you’re considering citizenship/residency by investment, Digital Nomad will help you assess eligibility, timelines, and documentation to build a safer route. Get started with a consultation at https://digital-nomad.gr/en/goldenvisa.

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