Family Tree 2026: EU Citizenship & Your Roots

Building a family tree is, for millions of Brazilians, the first concrete step toward obtaining European citizenship. Whether it is Italian, Spanish, or Portuguese, documentary proof of family lineage is a fundamental requirement in almost all processes for recognizing nationality by descent.

However, genealogical research goes far beyond a bureaucratic requirement. It is a historical investigation that connects the present to the past, reveals migratory patterns, uncovers forgotten family stories, and reconstructs the trajectory of ancestors who left their countries of origin—often under adverse conditions—to build a new life in Brazil.

In 2026, the combination of digitized archives, AI-powered research platforms, and remote access to European archives has transformed genealogical research. What once required international travel and months of in-person searches can, in many cases, be done from a computer—provided the researcher knows where and how to look.

This guide covers all stages of building a family tree, from collecting family information to locating documents in European archives, with special attention to the particularities of descendants of Spaniards and Italians.

1. What Is a Family Tree and What Is It For

A family tree is a graphic representation of family relationships across multiple generations. In its classic form, it starts with an individual (or couple) at the base and branches upward, including parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, great-great-grandparents, and previous generations.

Types of Family Trees

Essential Information in Each Record

For each person on the tree, the fundamental data are:

• Full name (including variations and maiden names)
• Date and place of birth
• Date and place of marriage
• Date and place of death
• Occupation
• Parentage (parents' names)
• Notes (immigration, naturalization, name changes)

2. Why Genealogy Is Essential for European Citizenship

For descendants of Europeans in Brazil, the family tree is not just an exercise in family memory—it is the documentary foundation of any citizenship by descent process:

Italian Citizenship

The recognition of Italian citizenship jure sanguinis (by right of blood) requires proof of an uninterrupted line of transmission from the Italian ancestor to the applicant. This means every generation must have documented birth, marriage, and death certificates. Genealogical research identifies exactly who the dante causa (originating ancestor) is and verifies if there are impediments in the line (such as naturalization before the child's birth).

Spanish Citizenship

Although the Democratic Memory Law (Law 20/2022) ended its term in October 2025, descendants of Spaniards can still seek nationality through residency (2 years for Ibero-Americans) or by option in specific cases. The family tree documents the lineage and can be decisive in proving the link.

Portuguese Citizenship

Portugal allows the recognition of nationality for grandchildren of Portuguese citizens (and, in some cases, great-grandchildren) provided they demonstrate effective ties to the Portuguese community. Genealogical research is the starting point for identifying the ancestor and locating the necessary documents.

3. How to Start: The 6 Initial Steps

Genealogical research is a structured process that should start from the known to the unknown—never the other way around.

Step 1: Gather What You Already Know

Start by writing down all the information you already have about your parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. Full names, approximate dates, birth cities, professions, and any family history passed down orally.

Step 2: Interview Relatives

Older relatives are invaluable sources of information. Prepare specific questions:

• "Which city/region of Spain (or Italy, Portugal) did our grandfather/great-grandfather come from?"
• "When did he arrive in Brazil? Did he come alone or with family?"
• "What was his full name? And his parents' names?"
• "Is there any old document kept—certificate, letter, passport?"
• "Did he become a naturalized Brazilian? In what year, approximately?"

Step 3: Locate Domestic Documents

Look at home (and in relatives' homes) for: old certificates, ID cards, passports, letters, photographs with inscriptions, newspaper clippings, tombstones with dates and names, and any document containing genealogical data.

Step 4: Organize the Information

Use a spreadsheet or genealogical software to record each person with their data. Create a structure that allows you to identify gaps—which generations or individuals still need documentation.

Step 5: Search for Brazilian Documents

Before looking in European archives, exhaust Brazilian sources: civil registry offices (cartórios), parishes, immigration archives, and state collections.

Step 6: Move to European Archives

With the data obtained in Brazil—especially the ancestor's full name and region of origin—begin research in the archives of the country of origin.

4. Research Sources in Brazil

Brazil has extensive collections documenting the arrival and life of European immigrants:

Immigration Archives

Civil and Parish Records in Brazil

• Civil Registry Offices (Cartórios de Registro Civil): Birth, marriage, and death certificates of immigrants and their descendants. Mandatory civil registration in Brazil has existed since 1889.
• Catholic Parishes: Before 1889, baptism, marriage, and death records were kept by churches. Many parishes still have 19th-century books.
• FamilySearch: Free platform with millions of digitized Brazilian records—including parish, civil, and immigration records.

5. Research Sources in Spain

Spain has an extensive archival system, with records dating back to the 15th century:

Main Archives

Particularities of Spanish Genealogical Research

• Civil registration in Spain has existed since 1870—before that, records are exclusively parochial.
• Each municipality has its own Civil Registry—it is essential to know the ancestor's city of origin.
• Double surnames: In Spanish tradition, each person carries the father's first surname and the mother's first surname (e.g., García López). In Brazil, often only one surname was kept.
• Autonomous Communities: Each region may have its own archives (e.g., Archive of Galicia, Archive of Catalonia).

6. Research Sources in Italy

Italy also has a rich archival system for genealogical research:

Particularities of Italian Genealogical Research

• Civil registration in Italy has existed since 1866 (unification), but in the south (former Kingdom of Naples) it has existed since 1809 (Napoleonic period).
• The Portale Antenati is the most important source for remote research—it contains millions of digitized pages.
• Italian citizenship is transmitted without generational limits, as long as there is no interruption in the line (ancestor's naturalization before the child's birth).

7. Research Sources in Portugal

8. Online Tools and Platforms

Technology has transformed genealogical research. The main platforms available in 2026:

9. Surname Guide: Variations and Portuguese Adaptations

One of the biggest challenges in genealogical research is the variation in surname spelling. Upon arriving in Brazil, many names were adapted to Portuguese, simplified, or recorded with errors by clerks who did not master the original language.

Common Variations of Spanish Surnames

Common Variations of Italian Surnames

Variations of Given Names (Italian → Portuguese)

10. Common Errors in Genealogical Research

11. When to Hire a Professional Genealogist

While many searches can be conducted independently, there are situations where hiring a professional genealogist is recommended:

• Very scarce initial information: When the family does not know the region of origin or the ancestor's full name.
• Non-digitized records: When the necessary documents are only available in in-person archives in Europe.
• Citizenship processes with deadlines: When there is urgency and the research needs to be completed quickly.
• Complex genealogical lines: Cases with multiple naturalizations, name changes, or documentary gaps.
• Need for official certificates: When it is necessary to request certificates directly from comuni (Italy), civil registries (Spain), or conservatórias (Portugal).

What to Expect from a Professional Service

• Genealogical Investigation Report: Detailed report with found data, consulted sources, and recommendations.
• Location of certificates: Search and retrieval of birth, baptism, marriage, and death certificates in the archives of the country of origin.
• Feasibility analysis: Analysis of the genealogical line to check if there are impediments to the citizenship process.
• Assembly of documented tree: Family tree with all documentary sources referenced.

12. From Tree to Citizenship: How to Connect Research to the Process

Genealogical research is the first step; the second is transforming the findings into a formal citizenship process. Connecting the two stages requires:

1. Verification of the transmission line: Confirming there is no interruption in the chain (naturalization, renunciation, etc.).
2. Obtaining original certificates: Full-form (inteiro teor) certificates for each person in the line, issued by the competent bodies.
3. Rectification of documents: Correcting discrepancies in name, date, or place between Brazilian and European documents.
4. Apostille and translation: Hague Apostille for Brazilian documents; sworn translation when necessary.
5. Process filing: Presentation of documentation to the competent body (comune in Italy, Civil Registry in Spain, conservatória in Portugal).

13. Conclusion

Building a family tree is simultaneously an exercise in memory, investigation, and planning. For the millions of Brazilians with European ancestry, it represents the most concrete path to connecting past and future—transforming family stories into documented rights.

In 2026, the digitization of collections, access to platforms like FamilySearch and Portale Antenati, and the availability of AI research tools have made genealogy more accessible than ever. However, research still requires method, patience, and documentary rigor—especially when the final goal is a European citizenship process.

Each certificate located, each name confirmed, and each connection documented is a link that strengthens the chain between generations. And this chain, built with documents and sustained by history, is what makes possible the formal recognition of a citizenship that, legally, was already yours by right of blood.

• FamilySearch — Free genealogical research platform
• Portale Antenati — Digitized Italian civil records
• PARES (Portal de Archivos Españoles) — Digitized documents from Spanish state archives
• Digitarq — Digitized Portuguese parish records
• Museu da Imigração de São Paulo — Records of the Hospedaria do Brás
• National Archive of Brazil — Passenger lists and immigration records
• Arquivo Público Mineiro — Records of the Hospedaria Horta Barbosa
• CISEI — Centro Internazionale Studi Emigrazione Italiana
• INCI — National Institute of Colonization and Immigration
• Biblioteca Nacional Digital — Historical newspaper collection
• Law 20/2022 (Democratic Memory Law) — Spanish nationality by descent