Italian Citizenship (La cittadinanza italiana) by Descent (Jure Sanguinis)

Are you interested in acquiring Italian citizenship to fulfill your aspiration of residing in Italy? While holding an American passport may offer you a unique opportunity to visit Italy, it does not grant you the privilege of permanent residence in the picturesque Italian countryside. The solution lies in obtaining Italian citizenship and enjoying dual citizenship with Italy.
Moreover, Italy permits dual citizenship with the United States, allowing you to apply without renouncing your American citizenship. To be eligible, you must demonstrate a continuous lineage of Italian ancestry. Applications for citizenship can be submitted through your local Italian consulate.

Advantages of obtaining dual Italian citizenship

• The right to live, work, and study in Italy and the European Union without the need for a visa
• Access to public healthcare and educational services
• Opportunity to participate in elections for the Italian Parliament
• Ability to pass citizenship automatically to children under the age of 18
• More straightforward and economical process for purchasing property in Italy
• privilege of importing vehicles from the United States to Italy without incurring taxes

Basic Requirements for Dual Italian citizenship Eligibility

To qualify, you must be a descendant of an individual born after March 17, 1861, the date marking the unification of Italy. Prior to this date, there were no recognized Italian citizens.
The Italian ancestor in question must not have naturalized in any other country before July 1, 1912. According to Law no. 555, enacted on July 13, 1992, Italian citizenship cannot be passed down to descendants.
Additionally, the Italian ancestor must not have naturalized prior to the birth of the descendants seeking Italian citizenship.
In cases where the direct Italian ancestor is a woman born before January 1, 1948, citizenship can only be claimed through her father’s lineage. Furthermore, her citizenship can only be transmitted to her children if they were born after this date. While applications may be denied on this basis, there is the possibility of having the case reviewed in Italian courts, which may still result in the granting of citizenship. For further information on this matter, we encourage you to contact us for a consultation.
Lastly, neither you nor your ancestors should have renounced their Italian citizenship through naturalization or any other means.

Document required for dual Italian citizenship

To pursue dual Italian citizenship, it is essential to present documentation that substantiates your Italian heritage, including the following:

• Birth certificate with an apostille and a certified translation into Italian
• Marriage certificate with an apostille and a certified translation into Italian
• FBI and criminal background clearance with an apostille and translated into Italian
• Proof of residency
• Birth certificates for your paternal grandfather, father, mother, and paternal grandmother
• Marriage certificates for your paternal grandparents and parents
• Paternal grandfather’s naturalization certificate or a letter from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service
• Judgement of Divorce and Certificate of Non-Appeal with apostille and Italian translation

Italian Citizenship Through Marriage

The provisions outlined in Articles 5 to 8 of Law No. 91 of 1992 concerning Italian Citizenship address the acquisition of citizenship via civil union or marriage. This method of obtaining Italian citizenship through marriage is referred to as “Jure Matrimonii.”
Thus, a non-Italian spouse of an Italian citizen may apply for Italian citizenship after two years of marriage or civil union, provided that the couple has resided in Italy during this period. If the couple has children under the age of 18, whether biological or adopted, the waiting period is reduced to one year.
In addition, for couples residing outside of Italy, the non-Italian spouse must wait three years from the date of their civil union or marriage before applying for citizenship. This duration is shortened to 18 months if there are children involved, regardless of whether they are biological or adopted.
In 2016, Italy extended recognition to same-sex civil unions, granting them the same legal protections as those afforded to heterosexual married couples.

New Requirement for Italian Citizenship: Proficiency in the Italian Language

As of December 1, 2018, Law n. 32 has established a new criterion for individuals applying for Italian citizenship through marriage, effective for applications submitted after December 4, 2018. Therefore, applicants are now required to demonstrate adequate proficiency in the Italian language by obtaining a B1 level certification.  Moreover, this certification must be validated by the Italian Ministry of Education (MIUR) or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI) and must originate from an accredited educational institution.

Services for Individuals Seeking Italian Citizenship

Apoling Solutions is equipped to manage the complete process of document apostile and translation into Italian for applications for citizenship by descent. Our services include obtaining documents from  various institutions and archives, overseeing the apostille process, and translating necessary documents into Italian. Should you be considering applying for Italian citizenship by descent for yourself, your child, or your parent, we invite you to contact us for tailored information pertaining to your circumstances. We are committed to providing you with the necessary support.