You are two steps away from learning if you qualify for Italian Dual Citizenship jure sanguinis! Simply select the situation that applies to you and see if you fulfill all the qualification requirements!
Benefits to Italian Citizenship
Thousands of people around the world who qualify for Italian Citizenship are currently exploring the possibility to become dual citizens. Not only does it reconnect you with your Italian Heritage and Homeland, but it also allows you to be eligible to work, live and study in the European Union countries without the need for a Visa. Other benefits that you will accrue by having Italian Dual Citizenship include: transferring citizenship to all your children under 18, public education available to all EU citizens, and if you later reside in Italy, you will have easier access to public health care. By becoming an Italian Citizen, you will still maintain your US Citizenship!
If you do qualify, you will learn which documents you need to provide based on the situation that applies to you. If you are not sure you qualify, follow the links below for further assistance.
Select the relationship between you and your Italian Ancestor born in Italy and learn if you qualify *
* For each category all conditions must be met.
Your father was an Italian citizen at the time of your birth (i.e., he did not become a US citizen before your birth), and you never renounced your right to Italian citizenship. If your father became a US Citizen after August 15, 1992, he did not lose his Italian Citizenship.
Your father was born in your native country, your paternal grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of your father's birth (i.e., he did not become a US citizen before the birth of your father; or before July 1, 1912*), and neither you nor your father ever renounced your right to Italian citizenship. If your grandfather became a US Citizen after August 15, 1992, he did not lose his Italian Citizenship.
Your paternal grandfather was born in your native country, your paternal great grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of your paternal grandfather’s birth (i.e., he did not become a US citizen before the birth of your paternal grandfather; or before July 1, 1912*), and neither you nor your father nor your grandfather ever renounced your right to Italian citizenship.
Your paternal great-grandmother was an Italian citizen at the time of your paternal grandfather’s birth (i.e., she did not become a US citizen before the birth of your paternal grandfather; or before July 1, 1912*), your paternal grandfather was born after January 1, 1948** in your native country, and neither you nor your father nor your grandfather ever renounced your right to Italian citizenship.
Your paternal great-grandfather was born in your native country, your paternal great-great-grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of your paternal great-grandfather’s birth (i.e., he did not become a US citizen before the birth of your paternal great-grandfather; or before July 1, 1912*), and neither you nor your father nor your paternal grandfather nor your paternal great-grandfather ever renounced your right to Italian citizenship.
Your paternal great-great-grandmother was an Italian citizen at the time of your great-grandfather’s birth (i.e., she did not become a US citizen before his birth; or before July 1, 1912*), your paternal great-grandfather was born after January 1, 1948** in your native country, and neither you nor your father nor your paternal grandfather nor your paternal great-grandfather ever renounced your right to Italian citizenship.
Your paternal grandmother was an Italian citizen at the time of your father's birth (i.e., she did not become a US citizen before the birth of your grandfather; or before July 1, 1912*), your father was born after January 1, 1948** in your native country, and neither you nor your father ever renounced your right to Italian citizenship. If your grandmother became a US Citizen after August 15, 1992, she did not lose his Italian Citizenship.
Your paternal grandmother was born in your native country, your paternal great grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of her birth (i.e., he did not become a US citizen before the birth of your grandmother; or before July 1, 1912*), and your father was born after January 1, 1948** in your native country, and neither you nor your father nor your grandmother ever renounced your right to Italian citizenship.
Your paternal great grandmother was an Italian citizen at the time of your grandmother’s birth (i.e., she did not become a US citizen before the birth of your grandmother; or before July 1, 1912*) and your paternal grandmother was born after January 1, 1948** in your native country, and neither you nor your father nor your grandmother ever renounced your right to Italian citizenship.
Your paternal great-grandfather was born in your native country, your paternal great-great-grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of your paternal great-grandfather’s birth (i.e., he did not become a US citizen before the birth of your great-grandfather; or before July 1, 1912*), your father was born after January 1, 1948** in your native country, and neither you nor your father nor your paternal grandmother nor your paternal great-grandfather ever renounced your right to Italian citizenship.
Your paternal great-great-grandmother was an Italian citizen at the time of your paternal great-grandfather’s birth (i.e., she did not become a US citizen before his birth; or before July 1, 1912*), your paternal great-grandfather was born after January 1, 1948** in your native country, and neither you nor your father nor your paternal grandmother nor your paternal great-grandfather ever renounced your right to Italian citizenship.
Your mother was an Italian citizen at the time of your birth (i.e., she did not become a US citizen before your birth), and you never renounced your right to Italian citizenship. If your mother became a US Citizen after August 15, 1992, she did not lose her Italian Citizenship.
Your mother was born in your native country, your maternal grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of her birth (i.e., he did not become a US citizen before the birth of your mother; or before July 1, 1912*), and you were born after January 1, 1948**, and neither you nor your mother ever renounced your right to Italian citizenship. If your grandfather became a US Citizen after August 15, 1992, he did not lose his Italian Citizenship.
Your maternal grandfather was born in your native country, your maternal great grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of your maternal grandfather’s birth (i.e., he did not become a US citizen before his birth; or before July 1, 1912*), you were born after January 1st, 1948**, and neither you nor your mother nor your grandfather ever renounced your right to Italian citizenship.
Your maternal great grandmother was an Italian citizen at the time of your grandfather’s birth (i.e., she did not become a US citizen before his birth; or before July 1, 1912*), and your maternal grandfather was born after January 1, 1948**, in your native country, and neither you nor your mother nor your grandmother ever renounced your right to Italian citizenship.
Your maternal great-grandfather was born in your native country, your maternal great-great-grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of your maternal great grandfather’s birth (i.e., he did not become a US citizen before his birth; or before July 1, 1912*), and you were born after January 1st, 1948**, and neither you nor your mother nor your maternal grandfather nor your maternal great-grandfather ever renounced your right to Italian citizenship.
Your maternal great-great-grandmother was an Italian citizen at the time of your great-grandfather’s birth (i.e., she did not become a US citizen before his birth; or before July 1, 1912*) and your maternal great-grandfather was born after January 1, 1948**, in your native country, and neither you nor your mother nor your maternal grandfather nor your maternal great-grandfather ever renounced your right to Italian citizenship.
Your maternal grandmother was an Italian citizen at the time of your mother’s birth (i.e., she did not become a US citizen before her birth; or before July 1, 1912*), and your mother was born after January 1st, 1948**, in your native country, and neither you nor your mother ever renounced your right to Italian citizenship. (If your grandmother became a US Citizen after August 15, 1992, she did not lose his Italian Citizenship.)
Your maternal grandmother was born in your native country, your maternal great grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of her birth (i.e., he did not become a US citizen before the birth of your grandmother; or before July 1, 1912*), and your mother was born after January 1st, 1948** in your native country, and neither you nor your mother nor your grandmother ever renounced your right to Italian citizenship.
Your maternal great-grandmother was an Italian citizen at the time of our grandmother’s birth (i.e., she did not become a US citizen before the birth of your grandmother; or before July 1, 1912*), your maternal grandmother was born after January 1, 1948** in your native country, and neither you nor your mother nor your grandmother ever renounced your right to Italian citizenship.
Your maternal great-grandfather was born in your native country, your maternal great-great-grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of your great-grandfather’s birth (i.e., he did not become a US citizen before the birth of your great-grandfather; or before July 1, 1912*), your grandmother was born after January 1st, 1948** in your native country, and neither you nor your mother nor your maternal grandmother nor your maternal great-grandfather ever renounced your right to Italian citizenship.
Your maternal great-great-grandmother was an Italian citizen at the time of your great-grandfather’s birth (i.e., she did not become a US citizen before the birth of your great-grandfather; or before July 1, 1912*), and your maternal great-grandfather was born after January 1, 1948** in your native country, and neither you nor your mother nor your maternal grandmother nor your maternal great-grandfather ever renounced your right to Italian citizenship.
NOTE: For each category, all conditions must be met, AND the your Italy born Ancestor must have migrated abroad (left Italy) after March 17, 1861.
*Any Italian citizen who left Italy and became a citizen of another country prior to July 1 1912 lost all citizenship rights including those of all children regardless of where they were born, and so today’s descendants do not qualify for Italian Citizenship.
**The 1948 Rule can be challenged by petitioning the Italian Courts, which is your only way to qualify for Italian citizenship.
Italian Citizenship Process & Timeline
Think of this effort as a "project". Phase 1 is gathering and preparing all the necessary documents to create your application portfolio, which usually takes nine to eighteen months; Phase 2 is presenting a complete and accurate portfolio to the Italian Consulate, or the town hall in Italy, or the Italian Courts. The timeline varies greatly based on where you will be applying. Overall you can expect to receive your Italian passport between two and four years. This can take much longer if you are not familiar with all the government rules and regulations when purchasing certified vital records, which will have to be later Apostilled and translated to Italian.
If you have a unique situation or if you don't know if your Italian born Ancestor ever became a US citizen, schedule a call with us. We perform Free research! You will be able to learn more about our Start-to-Finish program!
