Eligibility quiz
Was at least one of your parents or grandparents an Italian citizen at birth?
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 the town hallApplying at the town hall
Find your town hall
Find the civil-status office at the town hall where you are registered as a resident.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “comune di your city ufficio stato civile acquisto cittadinanza per beneficio di legge”
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for the town hall.
See required documentsGet the declaration form
Get the citizenship declaration form from your town hall.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “comune di your city modulo dichiarazione acquisto cittadinanza per beneficio di legge”
Fill in the form
Complete the citizenship declaration form yourself.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in the Italy citizenship declaration for acquisto della cittadinanza per beneficio di legge at comune di your city?”
Make your declaration
Bring your completed form and documents to the civil-status office at your town hall and declare in person that you want Italian citizenship. You must make the declaration within one year after turning 18.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I make a declaration for acquisto della cittadinanza per beneficio di legge at comune di your city?”
Wait for the decision
Wait while the town hall reviews your declaration and records your citizenship if you meet the conditions. Answer any questions or requests for more records.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How long does acquisto della cittadinanza per beneficio di legge take at comune di your city in Italy?”
Get your confirmation
Get confirmation of your citizenship and your Italian civil-status documents from the town hall. You can then apply for an Italian passport.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I get confirmation of acquisto della cittadinanza per beneficio di legge from comune di your city in Italy?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Birth certificates
Get your full birth certificate showing your parents’ details and your Italian parent’s birth record. Get your parent’s record from the Italian municipality that holds it. If you were born in Italy, your birth certificate is not required for the residence application.
Parent’s citizenship records
Get civil-status or citizenship records from the Italian municipality that holds your Italian parent’s records. They must show that your parent is or was an Italian citizen by birth; having come from Italy is not enough on its own.
Marriage certificates *
Get your Italian parent’s marriage certificate from the office that holds the record. Include a name-change or divorce record if needed to explain a difference in names.
* Only if your parent’s marriage record is needed to identify them or explain a difference in names.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationParent’s death certificate *
Get your Italian parent’s death certificate from the office that holds the record. It can help show that the records refer to the same person.
* Only if your parent has died and their death record is needed to identify them.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationConsiderations
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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