Back to Resources

FAST-TRACK Applications in Italy

Fast-Track Applications are a great way to acquire your Italian Dual Citizenship; cut the wait time in half and enjoy living in Italy while your application is processed at the Italian municipality. This option is not for everyone and we are here to explain why. If you choose to establish residency in Italy, it will be the town hall official who will process your application.  Basically, you have to sign a six preferably a twelve month lease on a living situation such as an apartment.  Alternatively, you could buy a home.  In some cases, if you have relatives living in Italy and you move into their home, your relatives will have to vouch that you are living there permanently.  You will apply directly to the town hall office, and it must be done very soon after you arrive in Italy.  Any of the towns will work, but we always suggest a medium-size town, not Rome or Milan, etc.

Beware of services who have deals with a selected number of towns in Italy. You are the one who you will choose the town of residency based on your needs and lifestyle. 

What is Fast-Track?

There is an alternative way of applying for your Italian Dual Citizenship directly in Italy rather than at one of the Italian Consulates in the country where you are currently a resident.  For example, if you are faced with a long wait time for your appointment at your U.S. Consulate, you can travel to Italy and apply in person.  Of course, there are several rules and procedures that apply to allow this “Fast Track Application” process to work in your favor.

 

HOW DOES FAST-TRACK WORK?

You have to be “seen” as actually moving there and be in town at least 51% of the time during this waiting period.  Obviously it isn’t for everyone, but it usually does result in getting citizenship in about one (1) year, unlike here where there will likely be a 2-year wait and an additional 6 to 24 months processing time after your interview at the Consulate in the U.S.
Here are the requirements:

  • You have to establish permanent residency in Italy, defined usually as a lease on a home for between 6 and 12 months, depending on what the town official wants.
  • You would have to live there for the first 90 days, and then have flexibility to come and go after that, but during the first 6 months you need to be seen there 51% or more of the time.
  • Upon establishing the residency and applying at the town hall office for a residency permit, you may very well get your citizenship within 12 months, but it really depends on the town hall you will choose.

Although there likely is no “wait” time for an appointment in Italy, you still must gather all the same documentation as if you were applying locally in the U.S. or in your country of residency prior to arriving in Italy. Recognize that putting together an application, with Italian and US vital records, apostilles and translations to Italian, certified Naturalization Records, amendments (if applicable), etc. may take a while. Thus, the process of preparing your application takes the same amount of time whether you apply in the US or in Italy and that cannot be fast tracked.

 

WHAT'S INVOLVED IN GETTING FAST-TRACK FROM BEGINNING TO END?

Our fees for assisting you throughout the process covers the following activities:

  • Assessment on eligibility and “Analysis & Planning” consultation sessions
  • Collecting all Vital Records from Italy and from the U.S. of your qualifying family lineage, including International Apostilles
  • Collecting appropriate U.S. Naturalization proof documents
  • Conducting all the required translations of U.S. Vital Records to Italian
  • Contact with the relevant Italian town hall and citizenship office for confirmation of the list of documents
  • Drafting and preparation of application documents 
  • Assistance in filing application for citizenship at the town hall and follow up
  • Assistance with permit of stay application (filing, fingerprinting and retrieval)
  • Assistance with Town Hall registration and follow up
  • Assistance after the adjudication of Italian citizenship to finalize the process: adjudication, transcriptions of documents and obtainment of an Italian identity card.

 

LET'S GET STARTED!

If this all reads like a “daunting” task, we are here to help and support you in your quest for Italian Dual Citizenship.  If this fits your situation and you are planning to become a permanent resident of Italy, this is the right option for you!

At My Italian Family, we don’t just give advice, we handle all the purchasing and preparation of your entire portfolio of documents, whether you apply at an Italian Consulate here in the US or you apply in Italy (including 1948 Challenge Courts Cases). Our experience spans the past 20 years, and we have expert knowledge of what each Consulate requires, as well as what the Italian Courts require. Sign up for our comprehensive Start-to-Finish Program and get started on your journey to Italian citizen by living "la Dolce Vita" in Italy!