Ancestral Research
Are you interested in obtaining dual citizenship in Germany, Poland, Czechia or elsewhere within the EU? If you have European ancestors but not all the paperwork to prove your right to EU citizenship, we’re here to support you. Our specialist researchers can help you find the relevant documents for you in Poland, Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Belgium, France, UK, USA, Lithuania and more.
To reclaim EU citizenship, you need documentation to prove your lineage and connection to your European ancestors. Our professional researchers take on complex cases to find the hidden information that others often miss. We work hard to get you one step closer to an EU passport.
What is Ancestral Research?
Ancestral research involves searching international archives to find missing information about your ancestors. Some of the documents that our genealogists find are far from complete. However, they may have clues to further research and help us in our detective work to pinpoint the origins of displaced people, link to relatives and hint to where they went next.
Finding records in Europe can be difficult for many reasons. This can include the passage of time, lack of reliable information and shifts of borders. When others give up, we keep searching until we find the information you need to bring you closer to European citizenship.
What is the Process Involved?
As part of the application process, you’ll be required to obtain very specific types and pieces of documentation for yourself and each family member going back to the target ancestor. While each country has different requirements, you’ll generally need to obtain birth, marriage and death records for each direct-line ancestor. You’ll also need to obtain naturalization paperwork for your immigrant ancestor, as well passenger lists or census records.
Based on the information you provide to us, our researchers comb through the archives for further details. Our team may look for documents such as:
- Residential Records
- Army Records
- Voters List
- ID Documents
- School and Work Records
- Business and Land Ownership Records
- Birth Certificates or Marriage Certificate
- Other Records
We ask you to fill out a family tree with all the information that you do have. Based on the information you provide to us, our researchers comb through the archives for further details. To obtain EU citizenship, you will need many supporting documents, especially if your ancestral connection to Europe goes back many generations. We specialize in providing ancestral research if you don’t have all the evidence you need to prove your right to EU citizenship.
Many people immigrated or were displaced from Europe without official paperwork. People ended up in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and South America, amongst other nations. Through ancestral research, our genealogists can navigate complex archives to link missing information, uncovering the story of your European ancestors.
Once the research is complete, we send you a summary of the work conducted, the archival institutions contacted and the documents found. Dependent on the information found, we provide an eligibility assessment and discuss potential pathways to EU citizenship for you.
Why Our Team?
Our global team of specialist researchers are passionate about their work. They understand archival research, history and how to find the missing links in your family tree. They have a physical presence in countries across Europe, as well as the US, UK and Australia. This means that when information is proving tricky to find online, we can also explore the physical archives upon request. Our researchers are also multilingual and have the skill set to explore global and complex archives.
The National Archives of Australia recognizes Polaron’s EU services as a genealogical institution. We are members of the Israel Genealogical Society and enjoy excellent working relationships with institutions such as the Institute of National Remembrance and the Emanuel Ringelblum Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw. We also work with various Polish, Ukrainian, Belorussian and German archives. Furthermore, we are well-versed in the operations of other national archives. This includes archives in Canada, USA, New Zealand and South Africa.
What’s Next?
If you’re interested in pursuing ancestral research with us, we will provide obligation-free advice about your own situation and suggest the most appropriate action.
Chat with one of our citizenship specialists to see to start your journey towards European citizenship!