Italian nationality law

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Cover of an Italian Biometric passport issued in 2006

Inside cover of an Italian Biometric passport issued in 2006

Italian nationality law, like that of many European countries, favors jus sanguinis. However, like the law of many traditionally emigrant-sending countries, Italian law incorporates elements that are seen as favourable to the diaspora. Italian nationality law is based on legislation, presidential decree and Ministry of Interior circulars.

1 Acquisition of citizenship
2 Special acquisition of citizenship through jus sanguinis (Italian: iure sanguinis Right of Blood)
3 Dual/Multiple citizenship
4 External links

[edit] Acquisition of citizenship

Italian citizenship can be automatically acquired

By filiation (birth to an Italian parent)--this is consistent with the principle of jus sanguinis.
By birth on Italian territory to stateless parents or to unknown parents or to parents who cannot transmit their nationality--this is partially consistent with the principle of jus soli.
By paternal/maternal acknowledgment or legitimation.

Through special application:

For those of Italian origin up to the second degree, the applicant must have served in the Italian armed forces or the civil service or have resided for two years in Italy before age of majority.
For Italian-born of foreign parents, the applicant must have resided in Italy continuously from birth to adulthood.

Through marriage:

After six months of legal residence in Italy, the spouse of an Italian citizen can acquire Italian citizenship through naturalisation or after three years of marriage (if overseas) provided lack of criminal record and lack of national security concern.

Through naturalisation:

After 10 years of legal residence, absence of criminal record, and sufficient financial resources, a foreigner may naturalise (three years for former Italian citizens up to the second degree and for aliens born on Italian territory, four years for nationals of EU member states, five years for refugees or stateless and seven years for those "affiliated with an Italian citizen."

[edit] Special acquisition of citizenship through jus sanguinis (Italian: iure sanguinis Right of Blood)

U.S. citizens, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, or others who are descended from an ancestor (parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, etc.) born in Italy may have a claim to Italian citizenship by descent. [1]

One must apply through the Italian consulate that has jurisdiction over their place of residence. Each consulate has slightly different procedures, requirements and wait time. Most importantly the criteria for iure sanguinis citizenship is the same.

If you were born in the United States or Canada or any other Country where citizenship is acquired by birth (jus soli) and any one of the situations listed below pertain to you, you may be considered an Italian citizen. (For each category all conditions must be met).

1) Your father was an Italian citizen at the time of your birth and you never renounced your right to the Italian citizenship.
2) Your mother was an Italian citizen at the time of your birth, you were born after January 1st, 1948 and you never renounced your right to the Italian citizenship.
3) Your father was born in the United States or a Country other than Italy, your paternal grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of his birth, neither you nor your father ever renounced your right to the Italian citizenship.
4) Your mother was born in the United States or a Country other than Italy, your maternal grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of her birth, you were born after January 1, 1948 and neither you nor your mother ever renounced your right to the Italian citizenship.
5) Your paternal or maternal grandfather was born in the United States, your paternal great grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of his birth, neither you nor your father nor your grandfather ever renounced your right to Italian citizenship. (Please

NOTE: a grandmother born before 01/01/1948 can claim Italian citizenship only from her father and can transfer it only to children born after 01/01/1948.

NOTE: "Italian citizen at the time of "birth" means that he/she did not acquire any other citizenship through naturalization.

While there is no generational limit to claiming Italian citizenship through jus sanguinis the ancestor who immigrated from Italy must have left the Italian Peninsula after 17th of March 1861. Any person who left prior to that date was not a Citizen of Italy, because this was before the unified nation of Italy was formed. Subsequently, that person had no ability to pass on Italian citizenship.

Documents required for application:

Your Birth Certificate, with apostille attached and translated into Italian
Your Parents Marriage Certificate with apostille attached and translated into Italian. Note: If your parents were not married at the time of your birth you do not qualify.
Your Parents Birth Certificates with apostille attached and translated into Italian (if not from Italy)
If you are claiming through a grandparent you will need your grandparent's marriage certificates with apostille attached and translated into Italian (if not from Italy) Note: If your grandparents were not married at the time of the birth of your parent you do not qualify.
Your Grandparents Birth Certificates with apostille attached and translated into Italian (if not from Italy)
Continue this process back to the ancestor who immigrated from Italy.
For an Ancestor who immigrated to the US, you will need his/her naturalization records from the USCIS that shows that s/he did not become a US Citizen before their child was born.
If USCIS responds with "No Records Found" you will have to contact NARA for the information.
If NARA responds with "No Records Found" you will have to contact United States Census Department and ask for the census that took place before and after your Italian ancestor's child was born with the field report from the street they lived on.
If the United States Census responds with "No Records Found" it will be assumed your Ancestor never became and US Citizen and retained his/her Italian citizenship and passed it on to their child.
If there were any divorces in the line between you and your Italian ancestor, you will have to obtain all divorce records with apostille attached and translated into Italian. You will also need a "Certificate of Clerk - No Appeal"
If any of the people mentioned above are deceased you will need their Death Certificates with apostille attached and translated into Italian (if not from Italy)
All documents with errors must be corrected before being submitted. For example, if your Italian ancestor immigrated to the US and took on an "Americanized" name (Italian name: Giulia / American Name: Julia) and the Americanized name was used on any previously mentioned certificates the name will have to be corrected to match the name on their Italian Birth Certificate.
A Photocopy of your current passport and ID
Your application with sworn affidavit you never renounced your Italian Citizenship.

[edit] Dual/Multiple citizenship

According to Italian law, multiple citizenship is permitted under certain conditions if it was acquired after August 15, 1992. Those who acquired another citizenship after that date but before January 23, 2001 have three months to inform their local records office or the Italian consulate in their country of residence. Failure to do so carries a fine. Those who acquired another citizenship after January 23, 2001 can send an auto-declaration of acquisition of a foreign citizenship by mail to the Italian consulate in their country of residence. After March 31, 2001, notification of any kind is no longer necessary.