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How to Acquire a Second European Passport

Jordan Levy-Bograd
Jordan Levy-Bograd

Michael Soffer

I would like to recommend Attorney Yehuda Elcharar. He assisted both me and my company in a complex lawsuit. He handled negotiations that led to a favorable outcome much quicker than expected.

I am extremely pleased with choosing Attorney Elcharar. Many thanks also to the office team, Oz and Chaya, for their assistance throughout the entire process.

Thanks again ????

Lauma Zariņa

This is definitely the best lawyer I know!!! very honest and super helpful he really helped me a lot dealing with immigration issues in Israel and it was very successful!
I highly recommend

Stuart Safft

I am delighted to report that my wife and I have just obtained our Israeli citizenship. We will be forever grateful for all of the help, guidance and support which Ariel Galili of Decker, Pex & Co. provided through this process.
I am a Jewish, 80-year-old American, and my wife is not Jewish. We had started the process on our own back in November 2020 via the Jewish Agency and Nefesh B’Nefesh, but soon became entangled in the delays and often-changing regulations due to Covid-19. The pandemic also caused delays in obtaining the required apostilles for various documents from various state agencies and the US State Department.
We found Decker, Pex & Co. On the internet and began working with Ariel in late November 2021. Ariel did a superb job of leading us through the process, helping us to understand which documents were essential, which would most likely be required, and which, though included on the list of required documents, were rarely required. He helped us several times to understand what was likely and unlikely to occur as “the next step.” Helping us manage our expectations was extremely useful to us.
Besides his knowing the laws, regulations and procedures, Ariel also made us feel that he was truly interested in helping us to successfully work through this process in as smooth, timely, and frustration-free manner as possible.
My wife and I strongly recommend anyone planning to go through this process seriously consider hiring Decker, Pex, Ofir & Co. and, specifically, Ariel Galili.

Sophie Cooperman

Oded Ger did an excellent job by reviewing a modeling contract I was offered. Explained the bad clauses in the contract, and their possible consequences. Thank you for your amazing job, your professionalism, your consultation and honesty. You showed me from your experience how it can be done differently. It was the best decision choosing you as my lawyer.
I highly recommend this firm, especially Oded Ger.

Adi Katina

Great Team. With no doubt, this office is actually thee best-leading office in Israel. Simply put, if you want your case to win, just join them, hand in your documents, and celebrate the victory.

Kindest regards,
Adi k.

Schruuf

We were very pleased and content with the services of this law firm. They supported us 100% and solved our case successfully, we couldn't be happier.

Наталья Мажуга

Great lawyers Joshua Pex and Nechama and Michael Deker who really want to help you and I have very trustful relationships with them. All my cases they took they won. Thank you and let’s keep working together

Jacob Newberry

A really excellent firm. They knew exactly how to handle my situation effectively and efficiently, and we got the result I needed without much fuss. Adi Berger was a wonderful advocate for me and I am deeply grateful for her help!

Eden Weiss

Extrmely friendly, professional and helpful. A big thank you to Irina especially from the Jerusalem office. Highly Recommended.

Genaan Abdelall

I cannot recommend Nechama enough! Her expertise, professionalism, and dedication to her clients is unparalleled. From the moment I reached out to her, she provided clear and concise communication, and helped me navigate through a complex legal issue with ease.

Throughout the entire process, Nechama went above and beyond to ensure that I was informed and comfortable with every decision. She demonstrated a deep knowledge of the law, and was able to offer sound advice that ultimately led to a positive outcome.

What sets Nechama apart is her compassionate and empathetic approach to her clients. She truly cares about the well-being of her clients, and it shows in the way she handles every case.

If you are in need of a lawyer, I highly recommend Nechama.

Esty A

I had a consultation with Batya and she was very helpful. She made sure I understood all the information I needed, and was patient with me in gathering documents I needed.

Sergei m Vashkevich

We came to Mr. Joshua with so many questions (and most of all, with so many concerns and worries) …

When we explained our case to him, first of all, he calmed us down and helped us to see the big picture, which took away our fears;

Then he presented us with a detailed explanation and a few options to explore, and a timeline, how things work and necessary steps to undertake on our part,

We thank and highly recommend Mr. Joshua for showing us so much empathy, care and professionalism (!)

David De La Rosa

Very friendly, professional, and effective, highly recommended

Israel iluz

We were very satisfied with the service of Nehama. She was very professional in all her dealings and kept us informed all the way.
We highly recommend this law firm. They proved to be reliable, efficient and pleasant to work with.

Joshua Pex was both an amazing human being and an inspiring human rights attorney. I reported directly to him for various activities I performed as in intern. I was impressed with his incredibly solid character. He is trustworthy, fair, and goes above and beyond to advocate for the vulnerable. He is completely trustworthy and high caliber in his work. His partners and employees are very blessed to work with him. I am honored to know them.

Heather Lebrun

Gáspár Erőss

If you need to solve any complicated legal issue in Israel, don't hesitate to contact them. Otherwise you will loose hours/days/weeks with things that they can solve in minutes. They helped me to obtain my expert working visa in Israel and even after that they responded further questions and gave me advices related to administrative issues in Israel which saved me a lot of time. Irena Rosenberg and Michael Decker worked on my case, they are very professional and helpful. They will not let you down, feel free to contact them.

Marce Ruth St. Rey

Party time in the heart, my beloved husband received his residence after so much time of battles and faith. Gratitude, God has blessed us with wonderful beings who have accompanied us, including a "precious angel" who touched our hearts, our excellent and fantastic lawyer: Maria Chernin Dekel, sweet and wonderful human being, who has guided us and stayed On our side. side in this intense legal transit whom we bless on every occasion. God bless you dear Maria, you have exceeded your professional duty by containing us and collaborating with us in hard times, very hard, for that we want to thank you publicly, you are unique!!!
We bless and thank the entire team at Decker Pex Tal Ofir Law Firm.

Sveta Vashkevich

We (myself and my husband) came to Mr. Joshua Pex – for his professional advice – and we received such human warmth and caring attitude, that our hearts melted …

His attention to our details and our situation peculiarities, combined with his professionalism and knowledge, helped us to map out what needs to be done on our part: we appreciate and recommend You, Mr. Joshua!

Lilian Granovsky

I can highly recommend these services!
Every time we turned to Joshua we always got a professional quick and helpful respond.

Michelle Long

Josh has been helping me on and off for a few years now. I have needed legal advice and assistance with immigration due to a complex situation of mine, and he has been extremely available and responsive, honest and clear about my route and how to proceed. Very much recommended!

Andreas Kelling

We have been working with Decker, Pex & Co - Law Firm in Tel Aviv for many years very well. Because we appreciated their lawyers services, we recommended businesses and individuals again and again to go there as well.

lynn vonne

Excellent service, very friendly and helpful, fast responding and very patient. Highly recommend. I will choose them again next time if needed.

Prima Lorenzo

I admire the Austrian citizenship team in Tel-Aviv branch! They deserve more then 5 stars!! They are very friendly and professional. I've got Austrian citizenship in 4 months for all family members which consists of 12 people! The entire team is very friendly and responsive. They are always answering questions and support during the process. I recommend to everyone. Was 100% satisfied.

Greg Olson

We highly recommend Adv. Mike Decker and have know him for many years. He has helped our family with many battles over the years. We recently received our permanent residency after 23 years in Israel. We so much appreciate Mike’s representation of us.

Priscilla Moses

competent consulting, fast processing, reliable, warm & good team. highly recommended

Dongdiet & Nellie

We are very happy with the services. Somehow they managed to translate the law lingo into language we actually understand 😉 and their outstanding YouTube videos helped us to have a better grasp of what process we had to go through. Their patience, clear explanation and experience are very valuable. It's also very nice to know that you will receive response promptly; it made us feel we can really trust their services. We recommend all those looking for immigration lawyers to get in touch.

Yossi Montrose

Very knowledgeable and professional

Michael and Ariellah Waizman

For Advocate Joshua Pex.

We were in a devastating situation when my wife received an order from the immigration office to leave Israel within 30 days, without any explanation, after we have been married and in the process for six and a half years. We heard of Advocate Pex through a friend of a friend. We contacted Mr. Pex and he was ready to help us when he heard of our situation.

The service is amazing! Always ready to assist without regard to the time it takes. The advice Mr. Pex gave us was great, such as what to do, he gave useful links, and advice about which officials to contact. The price for the service was great!

The process until we received the extension for another year for my wife was not long (3 months). Things started moving once Mr. Pex came into the picture.

We highly recommend Advocate Joshua Pex! We achieved our goal and the fear of deportation has been lifted!

Dumitrascu Cristina

Best lawyer house from Israel! I couldn’t dealt with my situation without their professionalism and effectiveness. Their dedication to every legal aspect and their drive it’s how a true lawyer house can be!
Working in European market and international now, I couldn’t dare to let myself wide my wings on countries unknown to me. Definitely they’ll be the lawyers representing me, my business at every international aspect and on personal development.
When you hear Decker,Pex,Ofir &Co, you hear 10+ class services, luxurious professionals, confidentiality and exclusive attention to your needs.

Shurouq Hajyassin

We were very satisfied with the consultation we had.
You were very straightforward with us , You tried to help us in every way you could . we really appreciate that.
And of course the fast reply we got from you on our emails and the appointment you gave us .
You deserve more than 5 stars????

YK C

We had a pleasure of working with Irena Rosenberg who assisted in getting our two U.S. born children registered in Israel and supported visa process for my wife in 2021. During the pandemic, my wife and I decided to move to Israel where I am originally from after living in the U.S. for over 20 years, but we had no idea how to go about securing visas before and after arriving in Israel. Irena is knowledgeable, reliable and competent lawyer who always had answers to all our questions which made us feel confident that everything would be fine with her assistance. We are now happily living in Israel and are so grateful to have Irena who is a genuinely nice person as our lawyer.

Paul Prince

The team of lawyers and assistants are incredibly professional. Aiming to give their clients the advice possible regarding the normative and the law of Israel. With well trained and professional secretary at the front desk to the lawyers team, I could say that I had one of the most professional services possible. I'm super glad of choosing Joshua Pex of Law office for immigration solution, lawyers to advise in my case, to me, it is remarkable.

Tomer Hila Birnbach

I received a recommendation from friends about the firm, and indeed every word is correct, a service team, professional, welcoming, a fair price for the work I requested, I am satisfied

Kfir Cohen

We were searching for a law firm that will be honest with us and really work hard for a satisfying result, it wasn't an easy task
We found them online; they were the only law firm from all of our searchings which were completely honest and NOT gave us just what we wanted to hear
Using them guaranteed honesty above all. A legal team that is friendly and cares for a superb result
They really care about helping their customers without any other interest
Nadia gave us service behind what we expected; she was professional which lead to fast and easy process with great result
We definitely recommend using them

Halvor Ronning

Courteous, clear, efficient service.

Morgan Jones

The team at Decker, Pex & Co have been awesome to work with in helping our US company establish banking in Israel and in providing counsel for legal needs in Israel. I highly recommend!

Amir Abt

The best lawyer firm I’ve had dealt with. I would like to thank Anat Levi and Ariel Galili from the Jerusalem branch for all of their efforts and patience, we could not have been Able to reach to where we are now without them

Matthias Oppliger

I have been receiving services from this Law Firm for several years now and I want to say THANK YOU to the team, especially Joshua Pex. They are doing outstanding work. The services I have received for both our Israeli non profit association but also our social business have helped us solve many issues at hand and provided solutions in complicated situations. Personally, I am grateful for support in visa issues as a foreigner living now in Israel for many years.

TarcisioePotira Freitas

I really recommend the law office's services. The service is very professional and efficient, the price is right. I am satisfied with the services I needed and happy to have known them.

Shaltiel Devorah

Mr. Joshua Pex is knowledgeable and Professional. I really appreciate his courteous and direct approach.

Alexander P Gutterman

EU PASSPORT ! Big news! Thanks to Michael Decker and the other good people at the law office, as well as to the virtue of my ancestors, the cruelty of the Inquisition, reparations issued in the Iberian Peninsula, and etc, I am delighted to be on track for Portuguese and European Union Citizenship! A truly incredible development and one which brings me deep joy.

Arielle Bosch

Incredibly knowledgeable, approachable, accessible, and evident across the board that they truly care about the people they are helping. They are quick to respond, engaged, and obviously top-notch lawyers. I couldn't recommend them highly enough. Thank you, Joshua and Itamar for your help with our Joint Life Application. You were a calming energy during a storm - always breathed a sigh of relief after speaking with you. It is so difficult to get straight answers from the Misrad Hapnim, but you guys are straight shooters. I appreciate your candor and evident integrity. Hope to work with you in the future, and will send everyone I know in need of legal aid your way. Thank you for your guidance and support.

Josh W-S

The firm had a quick response to my last-minute needs, they were helpful in communicating with me in English, and they fulfilled my needs in a timely fashion.

Our law office helps Israeli and American citizens obtain a second European passport. We assess your situation to suggest a straightforward route to EU citizenship. The avenues are discussed below – here’s a summary:

Since the expansion of the European Union, every fifth Israeli is eligible for EU citizenship. Those who arrived to Israel from one of the EU member countries, escaping Nazi persecution or surviving the Holocaust, can leverage the opportunity to stay and study/work in the EU. For security, lifestyle and investment reasons, Israelis are actively looking to Europe as a second residence that they can travel to as and when required or desired.

Right of blood, land or birth also entitles American and Israeli citizens to European citizenship. Citizenship by investment is the other option that rewards foreign investors with residency and citizenship. Answers to how do you get a second passport follow below.

Correcting historical wrongs

How to Acquire a Second European PassportBy the First World War, the Jews of Hungary were integrated into the Hungarian society. The Hungarian government sought to form an alliance with Adolf Hitler, following his rise to power in 1933. In 1938, anti-Jewish policies made an appearance, marking the beginning of many persecutions, culminating in the Holocaust of Hungary between 1941 and1945. The Hungarian citizenship opportunity corrects the historical wrongs suffered by the Jewish community in the country.

Jews of Hungarian origin can file to receive Hungarian citizenship if they have Hungarian parents or a heritage of Hungarian origin, such as a grandparent, even from the 19th century. Evidence of family relationships and a basic knowledge of the Hungarian language is needed. Our law office helps you arrange for documents that prove your Hungarian ancestry.

Portuguese Citizenship for Sephardi Jews

The Alhambra Decree enacted in 1492 gave Jews from the Spanish kingdoms of Castile and Aragon the option to convert to Christianity or exile. Dissenters faced expulsion and sought refuge across the border, in Portugal, before being expelled there as well. Under the Decree-Law 30-A/2015, Sephardic Jews and their descendants can apply for Portuguese citizenship.

Applicants seeking a second European passport must prove ties with a Portuguese Sephardic community, including showing their Portuguese ancestry and tradition. Documents that can be submitted as evidence are:

  1. A certificate from a Sephardic community recognized under Portuguese law.
  2. A certified document from the applicant’s Jewish community.
  3. Certified documents attesting to the applicant’s family ties with Portuguese Sephardim.

Right of Blood or Land

Polish Citizenship

Polish citizenship is based on the “right of blood” or Jus sanguinis. It automatically qualifies anyone of Polish descent to obtain Polish citizenship, with no limit to the number of generations separating the applicant from their Polish ancestors.

If you’re of Polish descent, you will need to undergo an initial eligibility verification check, which involves providing proof that at least one of your ancestors was a Polish citizen. Furthermore, you must check whether the Polish citizenship was passed from one generation to the next, without missing a generation in the chain.

Our law office can help expedite the process of applying for Polish citizenship. Talk to us for more information on getting a second European passport today.

Lithuanian Citizenship

If your ancestors were Lithuanian citizens before June 15, 1940, or if you were a Lithuanian citizen prior to that date, you can apply for a Lithuanian passport. Requirements include showing that your parents, grandparents, great-grandparents or any of these, lived in Lithuania for at least ten years before 1914, owned property, and had a permanent place of employment.

The other way in which you become eligible for Lithuanian citizenship is if you’re the wife or widow of a Lithuanian citizen. Documents that serve as evidence include; a Lithuanian and foreign passport and birth certificate issued before 15 June, 1940; other documents confirming Lithuanian citizenship; documents indicating the applicant’s military service in the Lithuanian army, or residence in Lithuania, until 15 June, 1940.

French or Dutch Citizenship

If one of your parents is a French citizen, even if you were born in Israel, you can claim French citizenship. You can also get your second European passport if your spouse is French or if their ancestors were French citizens or eligibile to it (even if they born in French colonies) and you meet other required criteria. You can claim Dutch nationality if you were born before 1 Jan, 1985 and your father was a Dutch citizen at the time of your birth, or if you were born after 31 December, 1984 and your mother was a Dutch citizen.

Citizenship based on investment

How to Acquire a Second European PassportYou may be wondering how to get a second passport if you can’t prove ancestry and ties to the countries above. There’s another route, and it has become an increasingly popular one given the benefits it brings in return, and the relatively short time within which it allows you to acquire European citizenship. Quite a few EU member states welcome non-EU citizens to make investments in their country in exchange for a European passport.

A minimum investment of $250,000 qualifies you for EU citizenship. That said, requirements vary by EU member state. Our law office helps you explore your legal options and make a judicious choice that clears the path for a second European passport.

Bulgarian Citizenship

Let’s look at how citizenship by investment works for someone seeking Bulgarian citizenship. Bulgaria is a promising destination for several reasons. It has a diverse culture and a pleasant temperate climate. The country has the lowest personal income tax rate – a flat 10%, as well as conditional tax exemptions on world income. As a citizen, you gain the right to own land in any EU country.

A look at the investment requirements for Bulgarian citizenship:

  • At least one year of permanent residency status.
  • An investment of BGN 1 million (€ 511,864/$625,000) in a government bond portfolio for a period of five years. At the end of this term, the full amount will be returned without any accrued interest.
  • You can invest that amount in a Bulgarian company undertaking a Priority Investment Project; provided it was deemed important to the economic development of the Republic of Bulgaria or regions thereof.
  • An LLC-investment can also be considered. It involves investing €257,000/$313,000 in a Bulgarian company, as a shareholder with no less than a 50% share of the capital.

Israeli citizens who were born in Bulgaria are eligible to receive Bulgarian citizenship if they left Bulgaria between 1948-1950 (the mass Aliyah). But if the migration occurred in the years other than those just mentioned, the next option is to provide proof of having resided in Bulgaria for at least three years consecutively. Children of parents who were citizens of Bulgaria can also apply for a Bulgarian passport. Marriage to a Bulgarian citizen is another route to a second European passport.

Contact us for advice

As you can see, many paths lead to European citizenship. A clear and complete understanding of eligibility and evidence that must be produced, is necessary to avoid futile efforts. Get in touch with our law office to know the next steps.

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