Which countries offer a ancestry / repatriation visa?

VisaPassage tracks 77 countries offering a ancestry / repatriation route — 64 with fully verified government fees, processing times and rights, and 13 more at summary level. Every entry is checked against official sources and describes typical eligibility, never a promise of approval.

Does a ancestry / repatriation visa lead to permanent residency?

In 26 of the tracked ancestry / repatriation routes there is a statutory path to permanent residency — the fastest reaches PR on grant in Belize. These are statutory minimums and may vary by individual circumstances; they are never a guarantee.

Can you work on a ancestry / repatriation visa?

Work rights vary by country: 39 of the tracked ancestry / repatriation routes carry some form of work permission — see the Rights column in the comparison table for each country's specific terms. Confirm against the official source before relying on it.

Visa types · Family & Origin

Ancestry / Repatriation visa

Citizenship or residence through descent or ethnic origin — Aliyah, OCI, Nikkei, UK Ancestry, EU citizenship by descent.

64 countries with verified fees and rights · 13 more offered at summary level.

						Rights
Albania Albanian Citizenship by Descent / Albanian Origin	—	—	—	—	—	Work: Citizenship confers full work rights. Study: Full access to education. Residency: Citizenship itself; descent within 2nd degree reduces residence to 3 years for those naturalising. Family: Children of citizens acquire citizenship by descent; dual nationality permitted.
Andorra Andorra Citizenship by Naturalisation	—	—	—	—	20 years	Work: Citizens have full and unrestricted work rights. Study: Full access to education as a citizen. Residency after 20 years Family: Spouses must show cohabitation and 5 years of residence; minor children may follow under the law's rules.
Argentina Argentine Citizenship by Option (Children of Native Argentines)	—	—	—	—	—	—
Armenia Armenian Citizenship by Descent (Ethnic Armenians)	—	—	—	—	—	—
Bangladesh Bangladesh No Visa Required (NVR) Endorsement	$100	15 days	—	—	—	—
Belize Belize Citizenship by Descent / Registration	BZD 300	—	—	—	On grant	Work: Citizens have full and unrestricted work rights. Study: Full access to education as a citizen. Residency: This is citizenship; Belize permits dual citizenship. Family: Spouses (after 1 year of marriage) and children may qualify on their own basis.
Benin Benin Recognition of Nationality for Afro-Descendants	$100	90 days	—	—	On grant	Work: Certificate grants freedom to enter, stay and leave; recognised nationals enjoy full rights including work. Study: Recognised nationals may study on national terms. Residency: Confers recognition of Beninese nationality and the right to a Beninese passport; Certificate of Eligibility valid 3 years. Family: Nationality can be transmitted to minor descendants; each adult applies on their own ancestry.
Bulgaria Bulgaria Permanent Residence by Bulgarian Origin	€51	60 days	—	—	On grant	Work: Permanent residents have free labour-market access. Study: Full access to education. Residency: Grants permanent residence directly; citizenship by descent under Art. 15 Citizenship Act. Family: Spouse and minor children may obtain residence.
Cambodia Cambodia Khmer Visa (Type K)	$0	10 days	—	—	—	Work: Holder may live and work in Cambodia much like a citizen. Study: Study permitted without restriction. Residency: Effectively lifetime residence; does not itself grant citizenship but recognises Khmer origin. Family: Each person of Cambodian descent applies on their own passport; children of a Cambodian parent qualify.
Croatia Croatian Citizenship by Descent (Emigrants and Descendants)	—	—	—	—	—	—
Cuba Cuba Repatriation / Permanent Return (Cuban-Born Emigrants)	—	—	—	—	On grant	Work: Repatriated persons regain resident rights, including the right to work. Study: Access to education as a resident. Residency: Approval restores permanent residence on re-entry; many keep their foreign citizenship. Family: A returning minor may repatriate with one or both parents; spouses follow separate family routes.
Cyprus Cypriot Citizenship by Descent / Cypriot Origin	€20	—	—	—	—	—
Czechia Czech Citizenship by Declaration for Descendants	—	—	—	—	—	—
Dominican Republic Dominican Republic Ordinary Naturalization	—	—	—	—	On grant	Work: Naturalized citizens have full rights to live and work. Study: Full access to study. Residency: Naturalization is the end of the residency path (citizenship). Family: Spouses of Dominicans and minor children benefit from reduced or derivative conditions.
Estonia Estonian Citizenship by Descent / Returnee Support	—	—	—	—	—	—
Ethiopia Ethiopian Origin ID (Yellow Card)	$300	7 days	—	—	On grant	Work: May be employed in Ethiopia without a work permit. Study: May study in Ethiopia as a resident. Residency: Grants the right to live in Ethiopia without a residence permit; the card is a 5-year renewable residence-equivalent status. Family: Children under 18 enjoy the same facilities; spouses of Ethiopian citizens may qualify via the Origin ID by marriage route.
Finland Finland Residence Permit on the Basis of Remigration (Finnish Origin)	—	—	—	—	4 years	Work: Unrestricted right to work. Study: Unrestricted right to study. Residency after 4 years Family: Family members may subsequently apply on the basis of family ties (means of support may be required).
Georgia Georgia Residence Permit for Former Georgian Citizens / Compatriots	GEL 300	30 days	—	—	—	—
Germany German Citizenship Restoration (Art. 116(2) GG / Section 15 StAG)	€0	—	—	—	—	—
Ghana Right of Abode	GHS 3,879	180 days	—	—	—	Work: Holder may live and work in Ghana indefinitely without a visa or work permit. Study: May study in Ghana. Residency: Confers indefinite right to reside; does not by itself make the holder a Ghanaian citizen.
Greece Greek Citizenship by Descent	—	540 days	—	—	—	—
Guatemala Guatemala Naturalisation (Naturalizacion Concesiva)	—	—	—	—	—	Work: Naturalised citizens have full civil rights. Study: Full access to education as a citizen. Residency: This is the citizenship step beyond permanent residence.
Guyana Guyana Citizenship by Descent (Parent or Grandparent)	—	—	—	—	On grant	Work: Citizenship by descent confers full work rights. Study: Full access to study as a citizen. Residency: Direct acquisition of citizenship; no residence step required. Family: Each person claims on their own ancestry; minor children may register separately.
Haiti Haiti Entry & Stay for Persons of Haitian Descent	—	—	—	—	—	Study: Persons of Haitian origin may study; full access follows nationality recognition. Residency: Leads to recognition/reacquisition of Haitian nationality rather than a residence-permit track. Family: Descendants of native-born Haitians share the entry exemption; spouses follow separate naturalisation rules.
Haiti Haiti Reacquisition of Nationality by Origin	—	180 days	—	—	On grant	Work: On recognition as a Haitian national, full and unrestricted work rights apply. Study: Full access to education as a national. Residency: Confers Haitian nationality itself; no residence-permit step is required. Family: Children born abroad to a Haitian parent qualify by descent; each is registered individually.
Honduras Honduras Naturalisation	$200	—	—	—	1 year	Work: Naturalised citizens have full work rights. Study: Full access to education as a citizen. Residency after 1 year Family: Each adult naturalises individually; minor children may derive nationality.
Hungary Hungary Simplified Naturalization (Citizenship by Descent)	—	—	—	—	—	—
Iceland Iceland Residence Permit Based on Special Ties to Iceland	ISK 40,000	—	—	—	4 years	Work: General work access where the permit is granted, subject to its terms. Study: Study permitted. Residency after 4 years Family: Family reunification possible subject to conditions.
Indonesia Indonesia Repatriation / Diaspora Visa (E32 series)	IDR 12,000,000	4 days	—	—	—	—
Ireland Irish Citizenship by Descent - Foreign Births Register	€278	270 days	—	—	—	—
Israel Aliyah - Oleh Visa under the Law of Return	—	210 days	—	—	—	—
Italy Italian Citizenship by Descent (Jure Sanguinis)	€600	1,095 days	—	—	—	—
Jamaica Jamaica Returning Resident Concession	—	—	—	—	—	Work: Returning Jamaican citizens have full work rights; a non-Jamaican spouse relies on their unconditional landing/exemption status. Study: Returning citizens and settled spouses may study. Residency: Returning Jamaicans are already citizens; non-Jamaican spouses settle via unconditional landing and may pursue permanent residence. Family: Concession may extend to a returning resident's non-Jamaican spouse and household; family settle on their own immigration basis.
Japan Japan Long-Term Resident Visa (Nikkei Descendants)	¥3,000	90 days	—	—	—	—
Kazakhstan Kazakhstan Ethnic Kazakh (Kandas/Oralman) Repatriation Visa (C1)	—	17 days	—	—	5 years	Work: Ethnic Kazakhs may live and work without a work permit. Study: Full access to study. Residency after 5 years Family: Family members of ethnic Kazakhs may accompany and settle.
Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan Kairylman (Ethnic Kyrgyz Returnee) Status	—	—	—	—	—	—
Latvia Latvia Residence Permit for Persons of Latvian or Liv Origin	€100	30 days	—	—	—	—
Lebanon Lebanon Reacquisition of Nationality for the Diaspora	—	—	—	—	On grant	Work: Successful applicants become Lebanese citizens with full and unrestricted work rights. Study: Full access to education as a citizen. Residency: Confers citizenship by descent directly; no residence-permit step. Family: Each descendant qualifies on their own paternal-line record; minor children included with a qualifying parent.
Lesotho Lesotho Returning Citizen Permit	—	—	—	—	—	Work: Former citizens returning to reside generally have broad residence rights; employment may still require labour endorsement. Study: Lawful residence permits study. Residency: Renewable two-year permit and an indefinite permit are available; former citizens may also pursue resumption of citizenship.
Liechtenstein Liechtenstein Naturalisation by Long Residence	—	—	—	—	—	Work: Citizens have unrestricted work rights. Study: Full access to education as a citizen. Residency: This is the citizenship endpoint; it follows long settled residence. Family: Spouse may use the shorter marriage route; minor children may be included with the parent's naturalisation.
Lithuania Lithuanian Citizenship by Descent / Reinstatement	—	—	—	—	—	Work: Citizenship grants full rights including unrestricted work. Study: Full study rights as a citizen. Residency: Grants citizenship outright, beyond residence/PR. Family: Minor children may acquire citizenship; spouses follow separate naturalisation rules.
Malta Maltese Citizenship by Descent (Registration)	€150	—	—	—	—	—
Mexico Mexican Nationality by Descent (Birth Registration Abroad)	$0	—	—	—	—	—
Monaco Monaco Naturalisation (Discretionary)	—	—	—	—	On grant	Work: Naturalised citizens have full rights, including unrestricted work and hiring priority. Study: Full access to education as a citizen. Residency: This is acquisition of citizenship itself; granted discretionarily by the Sovereign Prince. Family: Children may acquire nationality by filiation; a spouse acquires it by separate declaration after the required marriage years.
Nepal Non-Residential Nepali (NRN) Visa	$100	15 days	—	—	—	Work: NRNs enjoy facilitated rights to reside and invest; formal employment still follows non-tourist/labour rules. Study: Discounted NRN study visa (about USD 25/year) is available for NRN students. Residency: Tied to a valid NRN card; renewable yearly; persons of Nepali origin may pursue resumption of citizenship separately. Family: Family members of the NRN may obtain NRN-category visas.
Nicaragua Nicaragua Naturalisation / Nationality by Residence	—	30 days	—	—	On grant	Work: On naturalisation the person becomes a national with full, unrestricted rights. Study: Full access to education as a national. Residency: This is the citizenship step itself, reached after 4 years of permanent residence (2 years for Spanish/Central American/investor/spouse/Nicaraguan-child cases). Family: Naturalisation extends to the minor children of the naturalised foreigner under Article 57.
Nigeria Nigeria Permanent Residence - Nigerian by Birth Who Renounced Citizenship	—	—	—	—	—	Work: Permanent-residence status on the basis of Nigerian origin; work rights as a permanent resident. Study: Residence permits study. Residency: Permanent residence; persons of Nigerian origin may pursue citizenship reacquisition under statutory criteria. Family: Dependants covered under related spouse/dependant subtypes.
Pakistan Pakistan Origin Card (POC)	—	—	—	—	—	—
Peru Peruvian Nationality by Naturalisation (Nacionalidad por Naturalizacion)	PEN 301.50	—	—	—	5 years	Work: Naturalised citizens have full rights to live and work in Peru. Study: Full study rights as a citizen. Residency after 5 years Family: Minor children of a naturalised parent may acquire nationality; spouses qualify after 4 years of marriage under Law 32421.
Poland Poland Repatriation Visa	€0	—	—	—	On grant	Work: Holder becomes a citizen on arrival, with full and unrestricted work rights. Study: Full access to education as a citizen. Residency: Citizenship acquired by operation of law on crossing the border; no PR step. Family: Visa may also be issued to a spouse and descendants to the fourth degree.
Poland Poland Pole's Card (Karta Polaka) Route to Settlement	PLN 0	—	—	—	On grant	Work: May work without a work permit and run a business on citizen terms. Study: Free public education in Poland. Residency: Eligible for a permanent residence permit with no minimum residence period; stamp duty waived.
Portugal Portuguese Citizenship by Descent	—	—	—	—	—	—
Romania Romanian Citizenship by Repatriation / Romanian Origin	—	—	—	—	—	Work: Full rights of a Romanian (and EU) citizen on acquisition. Study: Full access to education as a citizen. Residency: Confers citizenship directly; no residence requirement for this route. Family: Minor children may acquire citizenship with the parent; spouses follow separate naturalisation rules.
Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Descent	—	—	—	—	On grant	Work: Confirmed citizens have full work rights. Study: Full study rights as a citizen. Residency: Confers citizenship directly; no residence step. Family: Each person qualifies on their own descent; minor children may register.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Citizenship by Registration (Residence)	EC$150	270 days	—	—	On grant	Work: Citizens have unrestricted work rights. Study: Full access to education as a citizen. Residency: This is the citizenship step; dual citizenship is recognised. Family: Spouses use the marriage registration route; minor children may be included/registered.
San Marino San Marino Naturalisation (Citizenship by Residence)	—	—	—	—	30 years	Work: On naturalisation the person becomes a citizen with full, unrestricted rights. Study: Full access to education as a citizen. Residency after 30 years
Serbia Serbia Temporary Residence on the Basis of Serbian Origin	—	30 days	—	—	3 years	Work: Residence on origin grounds generally permits work; confirm with the basis granted. Study: May study while resident. Residency after 3 years Family: Family join via family reunification.
Slovakia Slovakia Residence for Slovaks Living Abroad	—	90 days	—	—	5 years	Work: May work or do business without a separate work permit. Study: Study permitted. Residency after 5 years Family: Family may join via family reunification.
Slovakia Slovak Citizenship by Descent	—	—	—	—	—	Work: Citizens have full work rights across the EU. Study: Full study rights as a citizen. Residency: Grants citizenship directly, not residence. Family: Each descendant applies individually; minor children may be included.
South Korea Overseas Korean Visa F-4	—	—	—	1,095 days	—	—
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Ex-Sri Lankans Residence Visa	$100	—	—	—	—	Study: May reside and study subject to visa conditions. Family: Spouse and dependent children fall under the same USD 100/year fee band.
Suriname Suriname Citizenship by Descent	—	—	—	—	On grant	Work: Citizens by descent have full and unrestricted work rights. Study: Full access to education as a citizen. Residency: Citizenship is acquired by descent at birth; no residence step required. Family: Each person qualifies through their own Surinamese parentage; children of a citizen acquire citizenship at birth.
Suriname Suriname Residence for Persons of Surinamese Origin (PSA)	$150	90 days	—	—	—	Work: Returned emigrants of Surinamese origin are exempt from the work-permit requirement. Study: Full access to study. Residency: Origin-based route to indefinite residence and naturalisation; MKV requirement waived. Family: Spouses and dependent children of persons of Surinamese origin are included.
Switzerland Switzerland Ordinary and Facilitated Naturalisation	CHF 100	—	—	—	On grant	Work: Full citizen rights; unrestricted work. Study: Full citizen rights; unrestricted study. Residency: Confers citizenship and a Swiss passport. Family: Spouses may apply jointly; minor children may be included in a parent's naturalisation.
Türkiye Turkey Blue Card (Mavi Kart) for Former Citizens and Descendants	—	—	—	—	—	—
United Kingdom UK Ancestry Visa	£726	21 days	—	—	—	—
Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Compatriot (Persons of Uzbek Origin) Visa	$300	—	—	—	—	—
Vietnam Vietnam 5-Year Visa Exemption Certificate (Overseas Vietnamese / Viet Kieu)	$10	5 days	—	180 days	—	—

Sort by any column. Fees are shown in each program's own currency and are government fees only. Blank cells (—) mean we haven't verified that fact — never that it is zero. “PR in” is a statutory minimum and may vary.

Also offered by

Countries where we track this route at summary level only — no verified fee or processing data yet, so they aren't comparable in the table above.

Nationality of origin by option (2023 diaspora amendment)Cabo Verde
A 2023 law extends nationality of origin to persons born abroad who are children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren or great-great-grandchildren of Cape Verdean nationals, on declaration and without any residence requirement.
Five-year visa / residence permit for foreigners of Chinese originChina
Since February 2018, former Chinese citizens and children/grandchildren of (former) Chinese citizens can obtain 5-year multiple-entry visas and 5-year residence permits on proof of Chinese heritage.
Decade of Return citizenship grantsGuinea-Bissau
Under its Decade of Return initiative (launched 2021), Guinea-Bissau grants citizenship case-by-case to Afro-descendants who trace ancestry (typically via DNA and heritage associations), issuing the first passports to a Balanta diaspora group in January 2025; there is no formal application portal.
Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)India
Former Indian citizens (on/after 26 Jan 1950) and their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren register online for a lifelong visa and residence-like status (no political rights); persons with Pakistani or Bangladeshi ancestry are excluded.
Citizenship by recognition (Art. 12)Moldova
Persons who lived in Bessarabia, Northern Bukovina, the Herta district or the MASSR before 28 June 1940 and their descendants (parents/grandparents born there qualify) are recognized as Moldovan citizens without residence, typically within 6 months.
Simplified naturalization for emigrants and their descendantsNorth Macedonia
Emigrants from North Macedonia and their first-generation descendants can naturalize without the residence period or Macedonian language requirement that applies to ordinary naturalization.
Dual citizenship reacquisition (RA 9225)Philippines
Natural-born former Filipinos who naturalized abroad reacquire Philippine citizenship by taking an oath of allegiance at a consulate or the Bureau of Immigration, with unmarried children under 18 included as derivative citizens.
State Programme for Voluntary Resettlement of Compatriots (repatriation)Russia
Compatriots (former USSR citizens and their descendants) receive a resettlement/repatriation track with relocation support and simplified citizenship, expanded by Decree No. 634 of 8 September 2025 (1-year visas, broader eligibility, language-exam exemptions); ~27,000 moved in 2025.
Rwandan nationality by origin (Organic Law 002/2021)Rwanda
Persons born to at least one parent of Rwandan ancestry (not by acquisition) can apply for nationality by origin through the IremboGov portal (RWF 5,000, ~180 days), the route used by the Rwandan diaspora and descendants of refugees.
African Diaspora citizenship by DNA / Heritage NaturalizationSierra Leone
Members of the African diaspora who prove Sierra Leonean/West African ancestry via DNA testing can obtain citizenship (diaspora accession route), and since January 2025 a fast-track Heritage Naturalization grants citizenship in ~60 days for a USD 100,000 contribution.
Naturalization for persons of Slovenian descentSlovenia
Persons of Slovenian descent up to the fourth generation can naturalize after just one year of residence, and active members of Slovenian communities abroad (descent up to the second generation) can apply for exceptional naturalization without residence under Art. 13.
Simplified citizenship for ethnic Ukrainians / multiple citizenship law (Law 4502-IX)Ukraine
From 16 January 2026, Law 4502-IX lets foreign Ukrainians and diaspora members from Cabinet-approved 'friendly' states acquire citizenship via a simplified procedure without renouncing their other nationality, subject to Ukrainian language, history and constitution exams; wartime obligations apply inside Ukraine.
Ley de nietos (Law 19.362)Uruguay
Since 2016, grandchildren born abroad of natural Uruguayan citizens born in Uruguay can register as natural citizens (cedula/passport via DNIC or consulates); nearly 1,000 people had used the law by 2018.