Eligibility Quiz
Application Process
You can apply for Italian citizenship by descent through a parent using one of three routes: at an Italian consulate (if you live outside Italy), at an Italian municipality (if you live in Italy), or through Italian court (if your claim involves a maternal line before 1948). The method you choose depends on your location and the specifics of your family history.
Important timing note: If you submitted a complete application or confirmed an appointment at a consulate before March 27, 2025, 11:59 PM Rome time, your application is processed under the old, more generous rules. All applications submitted after that date follow the new, stricter requirements under Law 74/2025 (effective May 24, 2025).
Consular Application (Outside Italy)
Step 1: Determine Your Eligibility Under Current Law
Before investing time and money, confirm you meet the new eligibility criteria. Under Law 74/2025, you can claim citizenship through a parent only if:
- Your Italian parent or grandparent held exclusively Italian citizenship (no dual nationality) at the time of your birth, or
- Your Italian parent or adoptive parent resided in Italy for at least two consecutive years after acquiring Italian citizenship and before your birth or adoption
If your Italian parent held dual citizenship (for example, Italian-American) at your birth and did not meet the Italy residency exception, you likely do not qualify under the new law—unless your application was submitted or your appointment was confirmed before March 27, 2025.
Step 2: Gather All Required Documents
You must collect original, certified documents for every person in your direct Italian line. This is the most time-consuming part of the process. Incomplete applications are rejected without clarification, and you must pay the €600 fee again to reapply.
For your Italian parent:
- Birth certificate: An extract (estratto dell'atto di nascita) issued within the last six months by the Italian municipality where the birth was registered
- Marriage certificate: If married in Italy, an extract (estratto dell'atto di matrimonio) issued within the last six months by the Italian municipality. If married abroad, the original long-form certificate, legalized and translated into Italian
- Death certificate (if deceased): In long form, legalized and translated into Italian if issued abroad
- Naturalization status documentation: Proof that your Italian parent never naturalized as a citizen of another country before you were born. This typically means:
- A Certificate of Naturalization from the country where they settled, or
- Certified copies of the petition for naturalization and oath of allegiance from the National Archives (for U.S. cases), or
- An official statement of non-existence of records (CONE) or "Letter of No Record" if no naturalization occurred
For you (the applicant):
- Birth certificate: In long form, showing the city of birth and both parents' names, legalized and translated into Italian
- Marriage certificate (if applicable): In long form, legalized and translated into Italian, showing the city where the marriage took place
- Divorce or dissolution documents (if applicable): Legalized and translated
- Valid passport: A copy of your current passport
- Proof of residence: Copy of a valid driver's license, recent utility bill, or latest tax statement showing your name and address
For minor children (if you are applying with them):
- Birth certificates in long form, legalized and translated
Step 3: Obtain Apostilles and Professional Translations
All non-Italian documents must be legalized with an apostille—a special certification stamp. An apostille is issued by the Secretary of State (in the U.S.) or equivalent authority in your country, typically for a fee of $10–30 per document.
All foreign-language documents must be accompanied by an official Italian translation certified as accurate by the competent diplomatic or consular representation. Professional translation costs typically range from $25–75 per page.
Step 4: Complete and Notarize Application Forms
You must complete the following forms, dated within six months of your appointment, notarized by a notary public in your state of residence, and legalized with an apostille:
- Application for Italian citizenship recognition (with your notarized signature)
- Form 1 (with your notarized signature)
- Form 2 (with your notarized signature)
- Form 3 (if your parent or grandparent is still living, with their notarized signature)
- Form 4 (if your parent or grandparent is deceased, with your notarized signature)
Step 5: Book a Virtual Appointment at Your Consulate
Visit the Prenot@mi portal and select the Italian consulate with jurisdiction over your place of residence. Choose "Cittadinanza per Discendenza" (citizenship by descent, jure sanguinis) as your service type. You will receive a request code and appointment date.
Step 6: Confirm Your Appointment
Using the Prenot@mi portal, confirm your appointment 10 to 3 days before your scheduled date. This confirmation is mandatory.
Step 7: Mail Your Complete Application
Do not go to the consulate in person. Instead, on the day of your scheduled appointment, mail your complete application package to the consulate by certified mail (with a clearly visible date stamp on the envelope). Include:
- All notarized and apostilled forms
- All vital records (birth, marriage, death certificates)
- Naturalization documentation or CONE letter
- Copies of your passport and proof of residence
- A cover letter with your name, address, appointment date, and request code from Prenot@mi
The envelope must be postmarked on or before your appointment date.
Step 8: Wait for Processing
The consulate will acknowledge receipt and begin processing. The maximum legal processing time is 24 months from the date of complete application submission, though some consulates may extend to 36 months under new legislation. In high-volume locations (Buenos Aires, São Paulo, London, New York), processing times often approach the full 24-month limit.
You can check the status of your application by contacting your consulate directly or through the Prenot@mi portal.
Step 9: Receive Your Recognition
Once approved, you will receive a decree of recognition (decreto di riconoscimento) from the consulate. This document confirms your Italian citizenship. You can then apply for an Italian passport at the same consulate.
Application in Italy (Municipality Route)
If you can establish legal residence in Italy, applying directly at an Italian municipality (comune) is often significantly faster than applying at a consulate abroad—sometimes taking only months rather than years.
Step 1: Establish Legal Residency in Italy
Move to Italy and register for a residency certificate (certificato di residenza) at your local municipality. This typically requires proof of a rental agreement or property ownership and can be completed within days or weeks.
Step 2: Gather Documents
Collect the same documents required for a consular application (see Consular Application, Step 2 above). However, documents issued in Italy do not need apostilles; only foreign documents require legalization and translation.
Step 3: Submit Your Application at the Municipality
Visit the comune where you are registered and submit your complete application. Some municipalities accept walk-in applications; others require an appointment. Processing times vary by municipality but are generally much faster than consular processing.
Step 4: Receive Your Recognition
Once approved, the municipality will issue a decree of recognition and register you in the Italian civil registry. You can then apply for an Italian passport.
Judicial Application (1948 Cases)
If your Italian parent is a woman and you were born before January 1, 1948, you cannot apply at a consulate or municipality. Under the 1912 Italian citizenship law, women could not transmit citizenship to their children. However, Italian courts have recognized such cases since 2009 based on constitutional principles of gender equality.
Step 1: Consult an Italian Lawyer
You must file your claim in Italian court. Hire an Italian lawyer specializing in citizenship cases. Legal costs typically range from €2,000–5,000 for representation.
Step 2: File in the Appropriate Court
As of June 2022, you can file in the Immigration Court (Tribunale) in the jurisdiction where your Italian female ancestor was born, rather than exclusively in Rome. Your lawyer will handle the filing.
Step 3: Gather Documents
Collect the same documents as for a consular application, with particular emphasis on proving your maternal line and your ancestor's Italian citizenship.
Step 4: Await Court Decision
Court cases typically take 24 to 36 months or longer to conclude, depending on the court's docket. However, properly documented 1948 cases have a very high success rate (95%+).
Step 5: Receive Court Judgment
Once the court rules in your favor, you receive a judgment recognizing your Italian citizenship. You can then apply for an Italian passport.
Fees
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Consular application fee (non-refundable) | €600 |
| Apostille per document (U.S.) | $10–30 |
| Professional Italian translation per page | $25–75 |
| Notarization per document (U.S.) | $5–15 |
| Italian passport application | €72 (in Italy) or €116 (at consulate) |
| Municipality application fee (in Italy) | €0–16 (revenue stamp only) |
Estimated total government fees: €600 (consular) or €0–16 (municipal) plus translation, apostille, and notarization costs.
Does not include: Document acquisition fees from vital records agencies, legal representation (€1,500–10,000+ if using a lawyer), genealogical research services, or travel to Italy.
Processing Time
Consular Processing
The maximum legal processing time is 24 months from the date of complete application submission. Under new legislation (Law No. 11 of January 19, 2026), processing may extend to 36 months for complex multigenerational cases.
In practice, processing times vary significantly by consulate:
- Low-volume consulates: 12–18 months
- Medium-volume consulates: 18–24 months
- High-volume consulates (Buenos Aires, São Paulo, London, New York): 24–36 months or longer
Plan for the full 24-month window as a realistic expectation.
Municipal Processing (In Italy)
Processing times at Italian municipalities vary widely but are generally much faster than consular processing:
- Fast municipalities: 2–6 months
- Average municipalities: 6–12 months
- Slow municipalities: 12–24 months
Some municipalities operate on a walk-in basis and can complete applications in weeks.
Judicial Processing (1948 Cases)
Court cases typically take 24 to 36 months or longer to conclude, depending on the court's docket and case complexity. However, the success rate for properly documented cases is very high (95%+).
Document Validity Periods
- Italian vital records extracts: Valid for 6 months from date of issue
- Application forms: Must be dated within 6 months of your appointment date
- Apostilles and translations: No expiration date, but documents should be current
End-to-End Timeline
The overall process from initial research to final recognition typically takes 3–5 years or longer in high-demand locations, accounting for:
- Time spent researching ancestry and gathering documents: 6 months–2 years
- Waiting for a consular appointment: 3 months–2 years (depending on location)
- Processing time after application submission: 24–36 months
Centralization and Future Changes
Starting January 1, 2029, a new centralized Citizenship Directorate in Rome will assume responsibility for processing most citizenship applications submitted from abroad, replacing the current consulate-based system. During the transition period (2026–2029), consulates may limit the number of new applications they accept each year. Observers expect a significant rush to file in 2026–2028 before this transition, which could further strain consulate resources and extend processing times.