Obtaining Vital Records from Abroad
Obtaining vital records from your ancestor's country of origin is a core part of the citizenship by descent process. Each country has different procedures, costs, and timelines.
Italy:
- Contact the Italian comune (municipality) where your ancestor was born
- Request an "estratto di nascita" (certified birth extract)
- Can be done by mail, fax, or email to the comune
- Or request through the Italian consulate in your country
- Cost: €15–€26; Timeline: 2–8 weeks
Ireland:
- Contact the General Register Office (GRO) for Republic of Ireland records
- Contact GRONI for Northern Ireland records
- Online ordering available
- Cost: €20 (Ireland); £15 (Northern Ireland); Timeline: 5–10 working days
Poland:
- Contact the Urząd Stanu Cywilnego (USC) that holds the record
- Or request through a Polish consulate
- Cost: PLN 22 (~$6); Timeline: 2–8 weeks
- For pre-WWII records: Contact the National Archives (AGAD or regional archives)
Hungary:
- Contact the civil registry (anyakönyvvezető) or church archives for older records
- Or request through a Hungarian consulate
- For pre-1895 records: Contact church archives (Catholic, Reformed, or Jewish)
- Cost: Minimal government fees; Timeline: 2–12 weeks
Croatia:
- Contact the matični ured (civil registry) or church archives
- Or apply through a Croatian consulate or the State Archives
- Cost: ~$8–$16; Timeline: 2–8 weeks
Tips:
- Always request certified copies, not informational copies
- Provide as much information as possible about your ancestor (full name, date of birth, place of birth, parents' names)
- If writing to a foreign office, include your request in the local language
- Be patient — response times vary widely