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ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP JURE SANGUINIS

To qualify for Italian citizenship through descent, a crucial requirement entails confirming that your father possessed Italian citizenship at the time of your birth. This stipulation emphasizes the pivotal role of paternal lineage in establishing eligibility. It specifically necessitates the absence of any simultaneous citizenship affiliations with the United States or any other country during that critical juncture. The journey to claim Italian citizenship through descent involves a meticulous examination of the paternal lineage, ensuring that the foundational criterion of exclusive Italian citizenship at the moment of birth is met. This underscores the precision required to navigate the legal intricacies and affirms the singular nature of Italian citizenship during that specific period, excluding any dual affiliations.

In the pursuit of obtaining Italian citizenship through descent, individuals must intricately navigate the legal landscape to validate their Italian forebear’s citizenship status at the time of their birth. This intricate process underscores the necessity of meeting the criteria for claiming Italian citizenship, emphasizing the exclusivity of Italian citizenship without concurrent affiliations with any other country during the specified period. Therefore, the journey involves not only a comprehensive assessment of paternal lineage but also a careful evaluation of the circumstances surrounding one’s birth, with particular attention to the exclusive Italian citizenship status of the father. This thorough understanding of eligibility criteria and a meticulous approach to legal intricacies form the bedrock for individuals seeking to obtain Italian citizenship through their ancestral ties.

Eligibility Categories:

Your Father was an Italian Citizen:

To qualify for Italian citizenship through descent, a crucial requirement entails confirming that your father possessed Italian citizenship at the time of your birth. This stipulation emphasizes the pivotal role of paternal lineage in establishing eligibility. It specifically necessitates the absence of any simultaneous citizenship affiliations with the United States or any other country during that critical juncture. The journey to claim Italian citizenship through descent involves a meticulous examination of the paternal lineage, ensuring that the foundational criterion of exclusive Italian citizenship at the moment of birth is met. This underscores the precision required to navigate the legal intricacies and affirms the singular nature of Italian citizenship during that specific period, excluding any dual affiliations.

In the pursuit of obtaining Italian citizenship through descent, individuals must intricately navigate the legal landscape to validate their Italian forebear’s citizenship status at the time of their birth. This intricate process underscores the necessity of meeting the criteria for claiming Italian citizenship, emphasizing the exclusivity of Italian citizenship without concurrent affiliations with any other country during the specified period. Therefore, the journey involves not only a comprehensive assessment of paternal lineage but also a careful evaluation of the circumstances surrounding one’s birth, with particular attention to the exclusive Italian citizenship status of the father. This thorough understanding of eligibility criteria and a meticulous approach to legal intricacies form the bedrock for individuals seeking to obtain Italian citizenship through their ancestral ties.

Your Mother was an Italian Citizen:

An additional pathway to claim Italian citizenship by descent emerges if your mother was an Italian citizen at the moment of your birth, provided she did not attain citizenship in the United States or any other country by that specific date. This alternative avenue underscores the significance of maternal lineage in the process of claiming Italian citizenship, with the condition being the absence of dual citizenship affiliations with the United States or any other nation at the time of birth. To successfully secure Italian citizenship through this channel, it is crucial to verify that your mother indeed held Italian citizenship during the critical juncture of your birth, reaffirming the singular nature of the citizenship status and excluding any simultaneous affiliations with other countries.

Your Paternal Grandfather was an Italian Citizen:

The avenue to obtain Italian citizenship by descent unfolds through your paternal lineage when specific criteria are met. If your paternal grandfather held Italian citizenship, your father was born outside of Italy, encompassing locations such as the United States, and, notably, your paternal grandfather sustained his Italian citizenship continuously from his birth onwards, then you may be eligible to claim Italian citizenship through this lineage. This process, known as Italian citizenship by descent, emphasizes the intricate conditions that must be fulfilled for a successful claim through the paternal line.

To embark on this journey of claiming Italian citizenship by descent, prospective applicants must ascertain that their paternal grandfather not only possessed Italian citizenship but also retained it consistently from his birth onward. This meticulous validation is crucial for a successful application process, as it underscores the requirement of an unbroken line of Italian citizenship within the paternal lineage. It is advisable for individuals seeking to claim Italian citizenship through these parameters to engage with the Italian consulate, where detailed documentation and verification processes can be initiated to ensure the fulfillment of these specific criteria. Therefore, the intricate steps involved in claiming Italian citizenship by descent through the paternal line necessitate careful adherence to the specified conditions and collaboration with the Italian consulate to facilitate a thorough and successful application process.

Your Maternal Grandfather was an Italian Citizen:

Likewise, eligibility for claiming Italian citizenship by descent extends to individuals whose maternal grandfather held Italian citizenship. To qualify, it is essential that their mother was born outside of Italy, for instance, in the United States. Importantly, the eligibility criteria demand that the maternal grandfather maintained his Italian citizenship status at the time of her birth, with a particular emphasis on births occurring after January 1, 1948. This process of claiming Italian citizenship through the maternal lineage underscores the nuanced conditions that must be met for a successful application.

For those seeking to avail themselves of this eligibility pathway, careful verification is imperative to confirm that the maternal grandfather not only possessed Italian citizenship but also retained this status consistently at the moment of their daughter’s birth. The significance of this requirement becomes particularly pronounced for births occurring post-January 1, 1948, adding a historical dimension to the application process. Moreover, individuals considering this route for claiming Italian citizenship by descent should be aware of any instances where the maternal grandfather may have renounced Italian citizenship, as this could impact eligibility. Navigating these intricacies often involves collaboration with the Italian consulate, where detailed documentation and verification processes can be initiated to ensure the fulfillment of these specific criteria. By meeting these conditions, individuals can potentially unlock the pathway to obtaining Italian citizenship and, subsequently, pursue privileges such as acquiring an Italian passport.

Your Paternal or Maternal Great-Grandfather was an Italian Citizen:

Another pathway to attain Italian citizenship by descent encompasses eligibility criteria linked to your paternal or maternal great-grandfather’s Italian citizenship. If either your paternal or maternal grandparents were born outside of Italy, and notably, if your paternal or maternal great-grandfather retained his Italian citizenship status during the time of your grandparent’s birth, you may meet the conditions for claiming Italian citizenship through this ancestral line. This process underlines the intricate requirements that must be satisfied for a successful application, establishing a connection to Italian citizens of earlier generations.

For individuals contemplating this avenue, it is crucial to verify that either the paternal or maternal great-grandfather not only held Italian citizenship but also maintained this status consistently at the moment of their grandchild’s birth. The importance of this criterion is underscored by the fact that it serves as a bridge connecting subsequent generations to the legacy of Italian citizenship. This eligibility pathway is especially pertinent when your paternal or maternal grandparents were born outside of Italy, emphasizing the transnational nature of the ancestral link. To explore this option for claiming Italian citizenship by descent, prospective applicants may find it beneficial to collaborate with the Italian consulate, where detailed documentation and verification processes can be initiated to confirm compliance with the specific criteria. By adhering to these conditions, individuals can potentially secure Italian citizenship, tracing their lineage back to great-grandparents who were Italian citizens.

Additional requirements for Italian citizenship by descent:

  1. The Italian ancestor was alive at the time of the unification of Italy which took place on March 17, 1861.
  2. Your Italian ancestor did not naturalize (i.e. received citizenship) in the U.S. prior to June 14, 1912
  3. If your Italian ancestor naturalized it must have taken place after the birth of the next person in the ascendancy. For example, if your great-grandfather emigrated to the U.S. and naturalized after the birth of your paternal grandfather, you would be eligible to apply for Italian citizenship by descent as long as the naturalization took place after June 14, 1912
  4. If your Italian ancestor never naturalized you must prove this by providing a certificate of non-existence of naturalization records from USCIS and either a copy of the ancestor’s alien file or a certified census report indicating non-US citizenship status.
  5. If your Italian ancestor was a woman born before January 1, 1948, she can only transfer Italian citizenship to her children born after 1/1/48 and to their descendants. Exceptions to this law can only be obtained through a case presented at the Civil Court in Rome.
  6. If your Italian ancestor was born in the following regions, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, or Trentino Alto-Adige, to apply for Italian citizenship, you must prove that the ancestor left Italy after July 16th, 1920.
  7. Minor children who were born in Italy and emigrated to the US with their parents who received “derivative citizenship” upon the U.S. naturalization of a parent lost their Italian citizenship and cannot transmit it to their descendants.
how to get italian citizenship
Learn if you are eligible for Italian citizenship by descent

Individuals interested in Italian citizenship by descent must apply at the Italian Consulate that has jurisdiction over their place of legal residence (unless a court case is needed as in #5 above). Each Italian consulate has slightly different procedures regarding required documents and translations, appointment scheduling, and waiting times. However, the legal criterion for granting Italian Citizenship by descent is the same. Additionally, individuals can apply for Italian citizenship by descent in Italy if they have established legal residency in an Italian Municipality.

We provide a phone consultation service to review your case, verify your eligibility to apply for Italian citizenship by descent, and provide you with the specific document and translation requirements of the Italian Consulate Jurisdiction in which you reside.

The fee for the 1-hour phone consultation is $120.00. If you would like more information on this service please go to our phone consultation page, otherwise click here to Schedule Your Appointment today!

View the steps for preparing for Italian Citizenship by Descent

steps for prepating for italian citizenship by descent
Steps for preparing for Italian citizenship by Descent infographic