While the exact procedure varies depending on the EU country in question, it broadly follow this process:

STEP 1: Confirm your eligibility for citizenship by descent

• This involves determining your eligibility for citizenship by analysing and applying the specific citizenship rules to your individual circumstances; and

• Researching and collecting the ancestral documents needed to support your eligibility for citizenship by descent. This can take up to 6 months’ time depending on the archives that need to be searched.

STEP 2: If eligible, prepare and submit the citizenship application 

• This involves preparing all the documents needed to submit your citizenship application, including collating, verifying, legalising and translating all the documents needed for your citizenship application; and

• Submitting a clear and persuasive application with the relevant government authority, e.g., a consulate or interior ministry.

STEP 3: Wait for and receive the citizenship confirmation,  and apply for the passport

• It can take up to 1.5 years’ time for the relevant government authority to process your application.

• However, once you have received your citizenship confirmation certificate and or national ID number, you then apply for your EU passport, which is typically processed within 6 weeks’ time.

• In the unlikely event your application is rejected, you will normally have 14 days to submit an appeal.

From begining to end, the whole process can take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years.