All countries
How to Get Old Birth, Marriage and Death Records for a Citizenship by Descent Application
Most applications need official records linking every generation. Canada, for example, wants documents issued by the original authority, such as a civil registry or vital statistics office, for every generation, and won't accept third-party records alone. Source: canada.ca
U.S. records
If your parents, grandparents or you were born, married or died in the United States, start with the state or county vital records office. RecordsDirectory lists the offices for every U.S. state and county.
Canadian records
Birth records are kept by the province or territory where the birth took place. Source: canada.ca See our Canada guide for each province.
Irish records
If an Irish grandparent was born before 1864, when Irish civil birth registration began, Ireland accepts a baptismal certificate. Source: dfa.ie
When a record is missing
Canada accepts other records from the original authority, such as hospital, baptismal or census records, and asks you to explain in writing and show proof you tried. Source: canada.ca
Translations
Canada requires translations of documents not in English or French, with a translator's affidavit, and doesn't accept family translations. Source: canada.ca Poland requires translations into Polish by a sworn translator or a Polish consul. Source: gov.pl