The process for acquiring EU citizenship by descent through a European Union member nation varies from country to country, but proper documentation is always a key requirement for applicants. Some ancestry citizenship schemes, such as German citizenship by descent, Irish citizenship, or Italian citizenship, require the applicant to show proof that their ancestor did not naturalize in the United States upon emigrating from European countries.
To show proof of their ancestor’s non-naturalization, applicants for EU citizenship by descent need to obtain a Certificate of Non-Existence for their ancestor through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). In this guide, we outline how to file a request for Form G-1566, explain the application process, and answer common questions about where to file, application form requirements, relevant fees, and more.
Who Can Request the Certificate of Non-Existence Form?
If you’re applying for EU citizenship by descent, you can request a Certificate of Non-Existence in the following instances:
- A subject of record who is deceased.
- A subject of record who is deceased and who was born at least 100 years ago.
- A subject of record who is alive and consents to a USCIS response to the requestor.
- The subject of record requesting for yourself.
- A person who received a letter from USCIS Genealogy telling them to file.
Requesting a Certificate of Non-Existence: Form G-1566
To prove that your ancestor did not naturalize in the U.S., you’ll have to request a Certificate of Non-Existence from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services – Form G-1566.
It’s a fairly straightforward application process, though you will want to make sure that you follow the specific USCIS instructions so that your form is not rejected due to missing pages, having the wrong edition, etc. Rejection could result in timeframe setbacks, on top of the sometimes lengthy process of applying for citizenship by descent under various citizenship laws, including German Citizenship Law, Polish law, and Cypriot citizenship by descent regulations.
How to Submit Your Request
- Download Form G-1566 from the USCIS website.
- Fill out electronically and print or print and then fill out the form (making sure to follow instructions outlined here).
- Sign the form and pay the relevant fee.
- Mail the form to the USCIS Elgin lockbox.
Note that you can submit multiple forms from multiple individuals at the same time, as long as the cases are clearly separated in the envelope.
Submitting Evidentiary Documents
Filers must submit supporting evidentiary documents with their request. For example, if you’re requesting for a deceased person born less than 100 years ago, you must include an obituary, death certificate, or other proof of death. If you’re requesting for a U.S. citizen who married foreign parents or a foreign national between 1907 and 1922, you must include a marriage certificate or other proof of marriage.
Many applicants also attach copies of birth certificates, birth certificate extracts, or passports for additional evidence — particularly when proving German ancestry, Polish nationals lineage, or Cypriot citizenship eligibility.
How much does the Certificate of Non-Existence cost?
On the pathway to EU citizenship by descent, there are some fees you’ll incur. Form G-1566, to prove an ancestor’s non-naturalization, is free. However, there are application fees for filing it:
- $330 paper filing fee
- $280 online filing fee
The USCIS does offer fee waivers for certain qualifying filers. Note that you typically can’t file a request for fee waiver online; you must request fee waivers via mail.
Filing Tips
A request for Certificate of Non-Existence must be filed via mail – not online. When you mail your request, make sure that you use the complete address provided on the USCIS site, including the Attn: line. Further, make sure you mail your form(s) through one of the acceptable mailing options, listed on the USCIS site.
Grounds for form rejection and processing delays:
- Mailing the form to the wrong USCIS filing location.
- Submitting unrelated forms in the same envelope when filing.
- Not writing details like name or date of birth exactly the same way on multiple forms sent together.
- Failing to pay the correct filing fee.
- Filing the wrong edition of the form.
If you have any trouble filing your request, you can contact [email protected] with questions.
Next Steps for EU Citizenship by Descent
Finding proof of an ancestor’s non-naturalization for EU citizenship by descent applications requires filing a request for a Certificate of Non-Existence through the USCIS.
If you need to find proof of your ancestor’s U.S. naturalization for EU citizenship by descent purposes, we have a separate guide for searching records in genealogy databases, local courts, and other archives. Check it out here.
Proper documentation is an essential part of the pathway to acquiring European citizenship and potentially an EU passport, which offers visa-free travel across EU member countries. If you’re ready to start your journey, learn your eligibility, or receive guidance from our citizenship experts, sign up today!
Whether your heritage links to German ancestry, Irish association (through the Foreign Births Register or Irish embassy), Polish nationals, or even Cypriot citizenship by descent, our experts can guide you through each nation’s application by registration forms and requirements under German Basic Law, Department of Justice oversight, or Polish law frameworks.