When applying for Italian citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis), there is one major decision you must make and that is where you would like to apply. You can apply in the consular jurisdiction where you live outside of Italy or you can also apply in Italy. Most people who are eligible for Italian citizenship by descent, live under a jurisdiction where the average wait time for an appointment can be several months. These long waits are due to the growth and popularity of applying for citizenship by descent which has caused these times to significantly increase over the past decade.
The following are some of the pros and cons of applying in Italy as opposed to applying at a consulate…
Pros of applying for citizenship in an Italian consulate:
– You have the ability to communicate in English (if that is the language of the nation where you are applying. If not, it would be whatever is the language of the country where you are applying).
– There is no need to establish residency in Italy. The entire process will take place in your country of residency.
– If you have children there would be no need to move your children to a new school or new country in order to obtain citizenship.
– The application and all the documents are submitted during a one-time in-person meeting with the consulate. There is generally no need to travel to the consulate multiple times. Instead, when applying in Italy you will have to attend multiple appointments with the local authorities.
– In most cases, there is no need to get the translations of your documents certified. Consulates in the US will usually accept any correct translations into Italian, even if not translated by a professional.
– If you have a complex case involving a more than usual amount of complexities, circumstances and/or documents from third countries (different from Italy and the US), consulates may be better suited to understand the nuances of your case.
Pros of applying in Italy:
– It is generally a more expedited process.
– You can eliminate the wait time for the initial appointment with the consulate. Depending on your location, you can literally save months of waiting. In the vast majority of municipalities appointments aren’t necessary or possible to obtain. Generally, there are walk in services only.
– You need fewer documents. When applying in Italy, you may find that some documents that may be necessary at some consulates would NOT be required in Italy. For example, you will also find that non-direct line family members’ documents are not required whereas some consulates around the world may require these non-direct Italian family line documents.
– The municipalities (comuni) are less demanding (in regard to the documents required) especially when applying at a smaller municipality (comune). Also, scrutiny over translations and their certifications may be slightly less stringent in Italy.
– Once you apply in Italy you are allowed to stay in Italy as long as your process takes without Schengen restrictions applying to you.
– You can immediately start your new life without having to wait for an answer from the consulate. You skip the wait for your initial appointment getting you even closer to be able to begin enjoying the same benefits as any other Italian.
– It is possible to be in Italy right away and experience the land of your ancestors while getting a more tangible experience in the country for those of you who are already considering and contemplating a move to Italy or Europe at some point.
– Theoretically, you could arrive in Italy and start the process to be able to apply for citizenship very quickly as long as you have prepared in advance, a service which we at Italian Citizenship Assistance are more than happy to provide.
For more information about applying for Italian citizenship in Italy check our video podcast episode on applying in Italy below:
If you have any questions about your process in Italy or your country, feel free to contact us through our web form. Our dual citizenship experts are more than happy to help you through your process and help you to acquire all the necessary documents and walk you through the steps necessary to get your Italian citizenship.
