If you’ve started researching second citizenship or dual citizenship, you already know how overwhelming it feels — dozens of countries, conflicting rules, high costs, and endless fine print.
Most people begin by exploring citizenship-by-investment programs like Portugal’s Golden Visa, Caribbean investment passports, or Malta’s naturalization scheme.
That’s backwards.
At Total Freedom, we always start our clients in one place: ancestry.
Before spending $100,000+ on second citizenship or residency-by-investment programs, ask one simple question: Do you already qualify for a passport through your family tree?
You’d be surprised how often the answer is yes.
The Hidden Passport in Your Lineage
If you’re American, there’s a strong chance your family traces back to Europe — and that connection might be worth more than you realize.
Countries like Ireland, Italy, Poland, and Portugal offer citizenship by descent, often reaching back two or three generations. If your grandparent or great-grandparent was born there, you may already have a legal right to reclaim that citizenship.
This isn’t the fastest route — government paperwork takes time — but it’s almost always the most affordable way to obtain a second passport. Your expenses are mostly administrative: document retrieval, translations, and filing fees. We’re talking thousands, not hundreds of thousands.
The quality of these passports is world-class. Many European passports offer visa-free travel to 170+ countries and, if they’re from an EU nation, the right to live, work, and retire anywhere in Europe.
How to Uncover Your Ancestry-Based Citizenship
Map your family tree
Start with parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. Note birthplaces, immigration dates, and naturalization details.
Collect documentation
Gather birth certificates, marriage records, and citizenship or naturalization documents from both U.S. and foreign archives.
Understand eligibility rules
Each country has different dual citizenship laws. Some allow citizenship through maternal lines, others only paternal. Some require proof that your ancestor never renounced their original nationality (even unknowingly).
Work with specialists
This process can get bureaucratic quickly. At Total Freedom, we help clients research lineage, request records from abroad, and coordinate with legal partners who specialize in citizenship-by-descent applications.
If you qualify, this path can save you anywhere from $50,000 to $500,000 compared to investment programs — and best of all, it’s a legacy passport you can pass down to your children automatically.
Start Where It’s Already Yours
When starting your second citizenship journey, don’t default to the most expensive option.
Start with the one that might already belong to you.
Because freedom isn’t always something you buy — sometimes, it’s something you inherit. You just have to claim it.