Eligibility quiz
Was one of your parents an Italian citizen when you were born?
Benefits
Benefits for youBenefits for you
Italian passport and ID
Italian citizens can get an Italian passport and an electronic identity card.
Live in Italy for life
Italian citizens can enter, live in and return to Italy without a visa or residence permit.
Study in Italy
Italian citizens can study in Italy on the same terms as other Italian citizens.
Work in Italy
Italian citizens can work or run a business in Italy without a work permit.
Get help abroad
Italian consulates provide documents and registration services to Italian citizens abroad.
They can also help citizens in difficulty where possible, including with emergencies, legal and health problems, and limited financial help.
Vote in elections
Italian citizens can vote in elections and referendums if they meet the age and voting-register rules.
Citizens living abroad who are registered with AIRE can vote in the overseas constituency for parliamentary elections and national referendums.
Use public healthcare
Italian citizens living in Italy can use the National Health Service through their local health authority.
Care includes family doctors, children's care, medicines, specialists, hospital care and emergency care.
Get family support
Italian citizens may qualify for payments for children, depending on residence, work and tax or social-security conditions.
The amount depends on family circumstances and income.
Maternity benefits depend on the kind of work and other conditions.
How to apply
Applying at a consulateApplying at a consulate
Find your consulate
Find the Italian consulate responsible for the area where you live. You cannot choose a different consulate.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Italian consulate covers your city for citizenship by descent?”
Download the application form
Download the citizenship by descent application form and any other forms your consulate asks for.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Where can I download the Italian citizenship by descent application forms from the Italian consulate for your city?”
Fill in the forms
Fill in and sign the application form and any other forms your consulate asks you to complete.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in the Italian citizenship by descent application forms for the Italian consulate for your city?”
Book an appointment
Create an account on Prenot@Mi, choose the citizenship by descent service and book an appointment. Upload the booking form if your consulate asks for it.
Book an appointmentConfirm your appointment
Confirm your appointment on Prenot@Mi during the period shown on the portal.
Confirm your appointmentGather your documents
Prepare the required documents for the consulate.
See required documentsHand in your application
Bring your completed forms and documents to your appointment, or mail them if your consulate tells you to, and pay the fee as it directs. If you already submitted your application, follow up on it rather than submitting a new one.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I submit an Italian citizenship by descent application and pay the fee at the Italian consulate for your city?”
Wait for the decision
Wait for the consulate to decide and answer any requests for more information or documents. If your citizenship is recognised, you can then ask about applying for an Italian passport.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How long does recognition of Italian citizenship by descent take at the Italian consulate for your city?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Birth certificates
Get your full birth certificate and your Italian parent's birth record; if their birth was registered in Italy, get an extract from the town hall where it was registered. If you rely on an Italian grandparent, include the birth records needed to show how you are related; if you were adopted, include the adoption decision. Ask your office how recent the records must be.
Parent's citizenship records
Get official records showing whether your Italian parent became a citizen of another country and, if so, when; include their naturalisation certificate and any official records needed to clarify their identity and birth date. Also get official proof that they did not give up Italian citizenship. If you rely on your parent's or grandparent's having only Italian citizenship, provide official proof, such as a certificate showing they did not hold another citizenship, proof they gave it up, or a certificate showing they were not on another country's voting register.
Marriage certificates *
Get the marriage certificates for you and your Italian parent, and for an Italian grandparent if you rely on them. Include divorce or name change records if they are needed to explain the family records.
* Only if you or your Italian parent married, or a grandparent you rely on married.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationDeath certificates *
Get the death certificate for your Italian parent or the Italian grandparent you rely on. Ask the office that registered the death for the record.
* Only if your Italian parent has died or you rely on an Italian grandparent who has died.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationParent's residence record *
Get your Italian parent's historical residence certificate from the Italian town hall where they lived. It must show at least two continuous years of residence after they became Italian and before you were born or adopted.
* Only if you rely on your Italian parent's two years of residence in Italy.
Considerations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Registration when living abroad
Italian citizens moving abroad for more than 12 months must register with AIRE, Italy's register of citizens living abroad.
Short stays, seasonal work and some other cases are exempt.
Registration matters for consular services, documents and voting from abroad.
Citizenship can be lost
You can lose citizenship for serving a foreign state or holding foreign public office after Italy orders you to stop, or for certain acts during war.
It can also be lost if your adoption is revoked because of your conduct and you have or gain another citizenship.
You can give it up if you have another citizenship and live or move abroad, or in certain cases if you gained it as a child through a parent.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
Dual U.S.-Italian Citizenship
English Facebook group for people interested in Italian citizenship
Request to joinCiudadania Italiana
Spanish Facebook group for people interested in Italian citizenship
Join on FacebookItalian citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis)
English Facebook group for people interested in Italian citizenship
Request to joinConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
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