A genealogical tree that is used to prove eligibility for citizenship by descent. It is based on the concept of Jus Sanguinis which means "right of blood." This means that citizenship can be passed down from parents to children, regardless of where the children are born. Each member of an ACT must have blood-relatives that are directly related to one another (i.e., not through marriage). A complete and accurate ACT is essential for qualified applicants to successfully apply for citizenship by descent. An ACT must include a minimum of two blood relatives called:
Anchor Ancestor: The last member of your direct family line to be born inside the territory of an EU country of origin.
Principal Applicant: The individual who wishes to obtain citizenship in country of AA’s origin An ACT can include up to five individuals who are directly related by birth. The most common ACTs include two, three, or four individuals. The potential types of individuals that could be included in an ACT are as follows:
1-Generation (1-G) case: The anchor ancestor (AA) and the AA's son or daughter.
2-Generation (2-G) case: The anchor ancestor (AA), the AA's son or daughter, and the AA's grandson or granddaughter.
3-Generation (3-G) case: The anchor ancestor (AA), the AA's son or daughter, the AA's grandson or granddaughter, and the AA's great-grandson or great-granddaughter. In each of these cases, the individual who is furthest removed from the AA is referred to as the principal applicant (PA). To be considered 100% complete, the ACT must include the Full names of each person in the ACT must be captured including all required biographical details as required by the country’s citizenship by descent program:
• Full Name • Key Events: • Date of Birth (DOBs) • Place of Birth (POB) • Emigration Date, for Anchor Ancestor only (in certain programs) • Naturalization Dates, for Anchor Ancestor (in certain programs) • Dates of Marriage (in certain programs) • Dates of Death (in certain programs
