Italian nationality law Totally Explained

Everything about Italian Nationality Law totally explained

Nationality law in Italy, 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 Italian diaspora. Italian nationality law is based on legislation, presidential decree and Ministry of the Interior circulars.

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 can't 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 military or civil service or have resided for two years in Italy before reaching the age of majority.

If Italian-born, 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 naturalization or after three years of marriage (if overseas), provided a lack of criminal record and lack of national security concerns. This law is going to be change in July 2008, that extends the requisite of residence within Italy starting from 2 years. Through naturalization:

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 persons and seven years for those "affiliated with an Italian citizen.")

Special acquisition of citizenship through jus sanguinis

U.S. citizens, Argentinians, Canadians, Australians, Brazilians, Venezuelans 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.
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 jus sanguinis citizenship is the same. Basic Criteria for Acquisition of Citizenship jus sanguinis:

A child is born to an Italian citizen parent or a parent with the right to Italian citizenship "jus sanguinis". Henceforth this parent will be known as the Italian parent

If the child is born before August 16, 1992, the Italian parent can't have taken foreign citizenship by naturalization at the time of the child's birth.

If the Italian parent is a woman, the child must have been born after January 1, 1948. All conditions above must be met by every person in a direct lineage. There is no generational limit. However, while there's no generational limit to claiming Italian citizenship through "jus sanguinis" the ancestor who immigrated from Italy must have died in the Italian Peninsula or abroad after 17th of March 1861, according to Italian Ministry of Interior. Any person who died prior to that date wasn't 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. Common Sample Cases:

Your father was officially recognized as an Italian citizen at the time of your birth and you never renounced your right to the Italian citizenship.

Your mother was officially recognized as 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.

Your father was born in a country other than Italy, your paternal grandfather was officially recognized as an Italian citizen at the time of his birth, neither you nor your father ever renounced your right to the Italian citizenship.

Your mother was born in a country other than Italy, your maternal grandfather was officially recognized as 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.

Your paternal or maternal grandfather was born in a country other than Italy, your paternal great grandfather was officially recognized as an Italian citizen at the time of his birth, neither you nor your father nor your grandfather ever renounced your right to Italian citizenship. NOTE: Please be aware that you may still be eligible even if your case can't be found above. Please use the basic criteria above to follow your situation in detail in any case. Basic Documents Required:

Your Birth Certificate, with apostille attached and translated into Italian

Your Parents Marriage Certificate with apostille attached and translated into Italian.

Your Parents Birth Certificates with apostille attached and translated into Italian (if not from Italy)

If you're claiming through a grandparent you'll need your grandparent's marriage certificates with apostille attached and translated into Italian (if not from Italy)

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'll need his/her naturalization records from the USCIS that shows that s/he didn't become a US Citizen before their child was born.

If USCIS responds with "No Records Found" you'll have to contact NARA for the information.

If NARA responds with "No Records Found" you'll 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'll 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'll 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'll need their Death Certificates with apostille attached and translated into Italian (if not from Italy) NOTE: Some Consulates only require death certificates for those born in 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. NOTE: These "basic documents required" are not written by a Consular Citizenship Officer. Many of the guidelines above may not reflect the guidelines that your Consulate may follow. Please check with your Consulate directly before taking the information here as what every Consulate expects and requires.

Dual/Multiple citizenship

According to Italian law, multiple citizenship is permitted under certain conditions if 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.

Further Information

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