Filing an application for citizenship in Italy can be one of the fastest and perhaps one of the most exciting ways to apply for Italian citizenship by descent. In fact, applying for citizenship in Italy is generally swifter than applying via an Italian consulate abroad. Often people who choose to apply in Italy decide to do so in the town where their ancestors were born; on the other hand, others may choose to apply in one of their favorite cities in Italy and travel around the country in their free time while their application is being processed. If you are thinking of applying for citizenship in Italy, our team at Italian Citizenship Assistance will guide you through all the required steps, from establishing residency in a municipality to helping you submit your application at the citizenship office in the municipality’s town hall. Are you curious to learn more? This article will provide you with further information about applying for citizenship by descent in Italy by answering some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the process.
What are the eligibility requirements to apply?
In order to apply for Italian citizenship by descent you must meet a number of eligibility requirements. Among these
- your Italian ancestor must have been alive when Italy was unified as a nation on March 17, 1861, or he/she must have been born after that date;
- your ancestor who was born in Italy was never naturalized or he/she was naturalized after his/her child’s birth in the U.S.;
- the individuals in your Italian lineage must not have renounced their Italian citizenship voluntarily;
- if there is a woman in your Italian lineage her child must have been born after January 1st, 1948[1].
An important requirement to apply for citizenship in Italy is that you establish residency in the municipality where you intend to file an application. You must also be physically present in Italy in order to apply.
How do I establish residency in Italy?
In order to apply for citizenship you can travel to Italy as a tourist with the purpose of applying for Italian citizenship by descent and formally establish residency in a municipality. You will need an address where you can legally establish residency; a hotel or Airbnb are not suitable accommodations, in fact, most municipalities generally require a lease agreement, or a deed indicating that you own the property where you are staying. In order to establish residency you will need to fill out a form and submit it to the municipality where you have chosen to apply for citizenship. The local police will verify that you are living in the property where you have established your residency. By law, they will have up to 45 days to verify this.
Can I apply at any municipality?
You can choose to apply for citizenship at any municipality in Italy, however, please bear in mind that not all municipalities are familiar with applications for Italian citizenship by descent. At ICA we work with a network of municipalities and we are familiar with how they operate. Generally, municipalities should follow the same guidelines when assessing applications for Italian citizenship by descent but it is not uncommon for some to apply slightly different rules; this is why we normally advise our clients to apply at a municipality which is part of our network.
Which office do I need to apply to?
You can book an appointment at the citizenship office in the municipality’s town hall. A municipality in Italy (“Comune”) is the smallest administrative unit in Italy. It is worth clarifying that the word “Comune” refers both to the municipality itself and the town hall, thus the municipal building where the local government is located.
Do I need to speak Italian?
Speaking Italian is not a requirement to apply for Italian citizenship by descent. This is due to the fact that you are Italian by birth-right and you are only formally applying for the recognition of your right to Italian citizenship. Some clerks in municipalities in Italy speak English whereas others may not so you may need an interpreter or a lawyer to help you during the process. At ICA we can translate and interpret for you at every stage of the application process.
Which documents do I need to apply?
In order apply for citizenship you will need to provide the municipality with all your family’s vital records and your ancestor’s naturalization records or proof that your ancestor was never naturalized. Certified copies of the records are required. Generally, municipalities in Italy require the records pertaining to the individuals in the Italian lineage only, thus records pertaining to out-of-line spouses are not strictly required. All the records need to be authenticated with an Apostille seal except for your Italian ancestor’s vital records issued by the Italian authorities. Finally, all the translations into Italian need to be certified. You will need to submit your documents in person and allow the time necessary for your application to be processed. Please note that if the processing time exceeds 90 days, you will be issued a residency permit (“permesso di soggiorno in attesa di cittadinanza”), which will allow you to stay in Italy until your application is approved.
Can I apply with my family?
If you are applying with other family members you will all need to be physically present on the day of your appointment. You will be able to share the vital records pertaining to the individuals in the Italian lineage, however, each applicant will need to provide copies of his/her own vital records (birth, marriage and divorce records, if applicable).
Can I move to Italy with my spouse?
If you decide to move to Italy with your spouse, he/she will only be able to spend three months in Italy on a tourist visa. Some municipalities might allow your spouse to stay longer, however, this depends on the municipality where you file your citizenship application. On the other hand, once you are recognized as an Italian citizen your spouse will be eligible for a residency permit for spouses of EU citizens, which will allow your spouse to stay in Italy without any time limitations.
How long will it take to be granted citizenship?
Applying via a municipality is generally faster than applying via an Italian consulate in the U.S; in fact, Italian consulates have two years, by law, to process an application. On the other hand, the application process in Italy takes a few months although this might vary depending on the municipality to which you apply.
Can I travel to the EU while my application is being processed?
While your application is being processed you can travel to other EU countries, but you can only stay there for a maximum of 90 days.
What happens after I am granted citizenship?
If you decide to live in Italy after you are granted citizenship, you can apply for a passport at the local police headquarters (“Questura”). On the other hand, if you decide to return to your home country you will need to register with the AIRE and apply for a passport at the Italian consulate that covers the jurisdiction where you reside.
What are the advantages of applying for citizenship in Italy?
Undoubtedly, applying for Italian citizenship in Italy comes with a number of benefits. Among these are:
- shorter processing times compared to applying via an Italian consulate in the U.S.;
- the ability to spend time in Italy without any restrictions; de facto, as mentioned above, while your application is being processed you will be issued a special permit which will allow you to stay in Italy until your application is approved;
- you only need to collect the vital records pertaining to the individuals in your Italian lineage;
- you can explore your family’s roots and enjoy Italy’s culture, food, art-infused cities and natural landscapes while you wait for your application to be approved.
If you would like to learn more about the process to apply for Italian citizenship by descent in Italy, do not hesitate to contact Italian citizenship Assistance at [email protected] or at +1 (951) 742 5830.
[1] If there is a woman in your Italian line who gave birth to her child prior to 1948 you can file your case through the Italian court system. This is due to the fact that prior to January 1, 1948 (which is when Italy’s constitution came into effect) Italian women were not allowed to pass citizenship on to their children. A legal precedent was established in 2009 in the Civil Court of Rome and since then, it is possible to apply for Italian citizenship retroactively by filing a lawsuit in a court in Italy.
