Why is Italian Citizenship so Popular?
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be an Italian citizen and move to Italy or to another EU country without the hassle of applying for an expensive work or study visa? Have you ever imagined residing in Italy without any time limitations to enjoy the country’s rich culture, art, cuisine and lifestyle?
In the past few years there has been a spike in citizenship applications among individuals with Italian descent who qualify for Italian citizenship.
This article will outline not only some of the advantages that come with being an Italian citizen, but it will also analyze the reasons why Italian citizenship is so popular and why it is one of the easiest citizenships to pursue.
No generational limits – a brief overview of the eligibility criteria
Firstly, if you are applying for Italian citizenship jure sanguinis (by descent), there are no generational limits. In other words, it does not matter if you apply through your most recent ancestor or through your most distant ancestor since there is no limit in the number of generations you can go back. This does not mean that anyone with an Italian ancestor is entitled to becoming Italian, in fact, just as a recap, you can apply for Italian citizenship by descent if:
- your ancestor who was born in Italy was alive at the time Italy was unified as a nation on March 17, 1861 or if he/she was born after that date;
- if your ancestor was never naturalized (or if he/she became a U.S. citizen after the birth of the child who was born in the U.S. and after June 14, 1912),
- and if none of your ancestors in your direct line of descent ever renounced their Italian citizenship.
If there is a woman in your Italian lineage who was born in the U.S. prior to January 1, 1948, you might be able to apply for citizenship through an application via the court as opposed to via a consulate and file a 1948 case.
If you have minor children, and you apply for Italian citizenship they will automatically be included in your application and recognized as Italian citizens.
If you were adopted as a minor by parents with Italian ancestry (who have the right to Italian citizenship) you and your children will also qualify for Italian citizenship.
Traveling to any EU member state without restrictions or time limitations
Secondly, being an Italian citizen means that you will become a European citizen, which allows you free entry within all the member states of the European Union (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden) without having to wait in long passport and border control lines. In other words, being an EU citizen means that you can work, live and study in any of the EU’s member states without any limitations or time restrictions. Moreover, according to The Henley Passport Index, which ranks countries according to the travel freedom of their passport holders, the Italian passport is considered one of the most desirable passports in the world. The Italian passport, in fact, which ranks 4th according to this Index, provides visa-free access to 193 countries as opposed to the American passport which ranks 8th.
Free universal healthcare and excellent higher education
Italian citizenship is also attractive for the country’s free universal healthcare. Italy has one of the best healthcare systems in Europe as it provides universal coverage for its citizens and residents. One of the advantages of having Italian citizenship is that you will also be covered for the necessary care if you reside in or are visiting any member state of the European Union.
As for higher education, it is worth pointing out that Italy offers both state and private universities. While tuition fees for the former are generally between €800 and €2,000 per year, depending on the university and course of study as well as on the student’s financial situation and merit, tuition fees for private universities can range from €10,000 to €15,000 per year. Many universities in Italy have an excellent reputation and rank high on an international scale. Furthermore, as an Italian citizen you can study in any other EU member state, such as the Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain, Norway or Finland, for instance, which all have excellent universities at very affordable prices. If you decide to study in Italy you can also take part in the “Erasmus programme” and study in another European country as part of your degree course.
A legacy for future generations
If you decide to have children in the future please note that it will be sufficient to register their births in order for them to be officially recognized as Italian citizens.
Your grandchildren will also be Italian citizens provided that your children register their births. The same will apply without any limits to future generations provided that the Italian parent registers the child’s birth.
It is possible to register with the A.I.R.E. (Registry of Italian Citizens Residing Abroad) via the Italian consulate that covers the jurisdiction where the Italian parent resides. This means that your descendants will not need to go through the process of applying for Italian citizenship by descent and file an application to an Italian Consulate, rather, they will be recognized as Italian citizens upon registration of their birth certificates through the Italian consulate.
What about foreign spouses married to Italian citizens?
In Italy, as well as in many other EU member states, the law protects the right for a couple to be together. In essence, if a couple wants to move to Italy, by law, the non – Italian spouse will only be able to spend 3 months in Italy on a tourist visa. However, if the foreign spouse wishes to stay longer, he/she can apply for a residency permit. The same applies if the couple want to move to another EU member state as the foreign spouse will need to apply for a residence card and report his or her presence to the relevant authorities. For more information please click here.
As for applying for Italian citizenship by marriage, if your spouse is an Italian citizen and you want to apply for Italian citizenship you can apply after 2 years from the date of marriage or civil union if you reside in Italy. By contrast, if you reside abroad you can apply after 3 years from the date of marriage or civil union; the number of years is halved if you have children under the age of 18. One of the benefits of applying for Italian citizenship by marriage is that, unlike other countries, you can apply without residing in Italy.
In order to apply for Italian citizenship by marriage you will need to pass a B1 language test , which is intermediate level. Besides the language requirement you will need to provide clear criminal record checks issued by the FBI (if you are a U.S. citizen) and by the U.S. states (and foreign countries, if applicable) where you have resided since the age of 14.
If the couple reside in the U.S., the non-Italian spouse can upload all the necessary documents on the Ministry of the Interior’s online portal without the need to travel to Italy.
Once the submitted paperwork has been assessed, the Italian consulate where the Italian spouse is registered with the A.I.R.E. will contact the non-Italian spouse to provide feedback about the outcome of the application.
On the other hand, if the couple reside in Italy, the original documents will need to be submitted to the local prefecture (Prefettura).
If you would like more information about citizenship by marriage please click here.
Do I need to speak Italian to apply for Italian citizenship by descent?
One of the advantages of applying for Italian citizenship by descent is that speaking Italian is not a legal requirement because from the Italian government’s perspective you are an Italian citizen by birth right and you are only formally applying for the recognition of such status. If you are married, your spouse does not need to speak Italian to apply for his/her residency permit to live in Italy or in another Eu country.
On the other hand, if you are applying for Italian citizenship by marriage or by residency, you need to pass a B1 language test, which is intermediate level. The language requirement for these two paths to Italian citizenship was introduced by decree law n. 113, which was passed on October 4, 2018 and converted into law on December 1, 2018 (n.132/2018). For more detailed information about the language requirement please read our article here.
The Italian real estate market
Holding an Italian passport means that you will be able to stay in Italy for as long as you wish. Unlike many overseas citizens who invest in a property in Italy but can only stay in the country for 90 days only, if you pursue Italian citizenship you will be able to enjoy your property all-year round. The process of purchasing a property will also be easier from a bureaucratic point of view. In other words, you will not have the inconvenience of showing required documents for non-European buyers, and you will be able to buy a property anywhere in Europe. The Italian real estate market offers a wide variety of choice with very competitive prices, and compared to many other countries in Europe, and especially the U.S and the U.K., prices are much cheaper. There are also tax reductions for Italian citizens who buy their first home in Italy.
In conclusion, being an Italian citizen offers many benefits, and it opens the doors to a long-term life investment. Going through the process of applying for Italian citizenship can be daunting, but we at ItalianCitizenshipAssistance.com can offer you all the help and support needed to make sure that your journey runs as smoothly as possible. If you would like a free eligibility assessment and more information about dual citizenship, do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected]. We will be more than happy to help you embark on the journey to becoming an Italian citizen.
