In this article, we will cover what needs to be considered and some of the associated costs of applying/petitioning both in Italy and abroad for Jure Sanguinis (citizenship by descent/ by right of blood).
One of the most important aspects of applying or petitioning for Italian citizenship is the gathering all of the necessary documents.
Because some documents costs will vary depending on your location, you may need to seek out the specific information that applies to you. However, if you have elected to use either our Executive Full-Service package or our Step-by-Step Package, we will be able to provide an estimate for these fees before we start procuring any necessary documents for your “citizenship packet”. This is the final packet of documents that will be presented to the Italian government.
This article can be used as an outline for your own personalized price list/checklist of documents and other items that are important to take into account when planning a budget. We will only be able to provide prices which are at a fixed rate at the amount as of the date when this article has been written. Other costs will vary depending on the issuing authority. For example, in the southern states of the United States, documents and apostille stamps tend to be much less expensive than if you obtain them from California or New York. The following will be a list of documents and certifications that are required for the acquisition of Italian citizenship.
In this article, we will address what the costs are associated with Jure Sanguinis both in Italy and abroad.
Jure Sanguinis (Italian Citizenship by Descent)
The application for citizenship Jure Sanguinis can be filed at the local Italian consulate or directly in Italy. The associated costs differ depending on whether you are petitioning in Italy or abroad.
1) The documents of all major life events for each member of your direct lineage connecting you back to Italy to the person who you will be making a petition through for the purposes of Italian citizenship. Prices of the necessary documents, certifications, and translations will depend on the issuing authority. The following is an example of a case under the assumption that you are making a claim through your great-grandparent (which is considered to be a relationship within the third degree). Your great-grandparent would be your direct link to Italy and your last relative who was born and lived in Italy. In this case, you would require the following documents:
Great-Grandparent (Third Degree):
– Birth Certificate. This would be your last ancestor who lived in Italy. You would need to acquire their Italian birth record from Italy. Since the document would be from Italy, an apostille would not be required nor would any translation be required.
Italian records are normally free of charge. However, in the case where there is a cost (“diritti di segreteria”), the price may vary depending on issuing municipality. In lieu of a birth certificate, if no birth certificate can be located, a baptismal record is sometimes accepted.
– Naturalization papers from the country that your ancestor immigrated to – IF they naturalized as a citizen of another country. This is one of the most important pieces of information. This is how it is established that the family chain of people with the right to Italian citizenship has not been broken.
For naturalization records issued by the USCIS Genealogy Program the cost is $65. For naturalization records issued by the State Archives or local courts the price varies depending on issuing authority (and generally on the number of pages to be certified). The naturalization records do not require an apostille nor translation.
– Marriage certificate. Price varies depending on issuing authority (generally between $2 and $40).
– Decree of divorce (if applicable). Price varies depending on issuing authority.
– Death certificate (if applicable). Price varies depending on issuing authority (generally between $8 and $35).
– A separate apostille stamp/certificate and translation for each document mentioned above that does NOT come from an Italian authority. Price for apostilles varies depending on issuing authority (generally between $1 and $40). If you choose to work with ICA, translations are included as a part of our Executive Full-Service package.
Grandparent (Second Degree):
– Birth Certificate. Price varies depending on issuing authority (generally between $8 and $35). In lieu of a birth certificate, if no birth certificate can be located, a baptismal record is sometimes accepted.
– Marriage certificate. Price varies depending on issuing authority (generally between $2 and $40).
– Decree of divorce (if applicable). Price varies depending on issuing authority.
– Death certificate (if applicable). Price varies depending on issuing authority (generally between $8 and $35).
– A separate apostille stamp/certificate and translation for each document mentioned above that does NOT come from an Italian authority.
Price for apostilles varies depending on issuing authority (generally between $1 and $40).
Parent (First Degree):
– Birth Certificate. Price varies depending on issuing authority (generally between $8 and $35).
In lieu of a birth certificate if no birth certificate can be located, a baptismal record is sometimes accepted.
– Marriage certificate. Price varies depending on issuing authority (generally between $2 and $40).
– Decree of divorce (if applicable). Price varies depending on issuing authority.
– Death certificate (if applicable). Price varies depending on issuing authority (generally between $8 and $35).
– A separate apostille stamp/certificate and translation for each document mentioned above that does NOT come from an Italian authority.
Price for apostilles varies depending on issuing authority (generally between $1 and $40).
You:
– Birth Certificate. Price varies depending on issuing authority (generally between $8 and $35).
In lieu of a birth certificate if no birth certificate can be located, a baptismal record is sometimes accepted
– Marriage certificate. Price varies depending on issuing authority (generally between $2 and $40).
– Decree of divorce (if applicable). Price varies depending on issuing authority.
– A separate apostille stamp/certificate and translation for each document mentioned above that does NOT come from an Italian authority.
Price for apostilles varies depending on issuing authority (generally between $1 and $40).
A FEW NOTES:
- Some consulates may also require non-in-line relatives’ birth and death certificates.
- For any female ancestors in your direct family line linking you to Italy who may have changed their name due to marriage or for professional reasons, you may need to show documentation connecting their birth name to their married or chosen name. If you have changed your name for other reasons, documentation may also be required. But, if your name has not been amended on your birth certificate (for example in the case of marriage), your birth name will be the name by which the Italian government will recognize you.
- In regard to translations of non-Italian documents:
- If you are applying in the USA with documents from the US only (plus Italian documents) any necessary translations are not currently required to be certified as the petition/application fee also covers the certification of those translations. There are some exceptions to this general rule. For instance, the Embassy in Washington DC charges for the certification of the translations separately and the Boston Consulate requires translations to be certified in advance by means of a notarial certificate of accuracy and an apostille.
- If you are applying in the USA with non-American documents that are not in English, a certified translation may be required
- If you are making a petition in Italy, any non-Italian documents will need to be translated and certified by an Italian court if they have not been previously translated and certified by the consulate presiding over the area that document was issued by.
- If you are not applying in your country of origin and not in Italy and your documents are not in the official language of the country you are petitioning in, certified translations will most likely be needed to present to the consulate. For example, American petitioners residing abroad in France have reported needing to get their documents translated and certified by an Italian consulate in the country where the documents originated prior to being able to submit their documents to the consulate of Paris.
2) The cost of a service provider – a cost which will vary depending on your specific needs and the fees of the provider.
If you would like to speak with one of our Italian dual citizenship experts to find out more about services offered by ICA and our fees, you can send a message to us through our contact form click here
3) Processing fee:
If applying in an Italian consulate:
The processing fee (which generally also covers translation certification of local documents) is currently €300 (payable in USD to the consulate depending on the quarterly exchange rate).
If applying directly in Italy:
-The processing fee (which does not cover translation certification) is currently €16 which is paid in the form of a “marca da bollo” which is a revenue stamp/sticker (in this case it is used in a similar to a US money order).
-The cost of living in Italy during the process. If you go to Italy with a visa and permission of stay for the purposes of work, you will be permitted to work during the citizenship recognition process. However, if you go to Italy on a tourist visa and then get the permission of stay for the purposes of citizenship, you will NOT be allowed to work until such time that you have been recognized as an Italian citizen.
– Permesso di Soggiorno (permission of stay/residency permit) costing between €100 – €200 depending on the need and length of the residency permit. There may be additional costs if you need to add minor children to your permit.
– Travel expenses (plane tickets, train tickets etc.)
4) Italian Identification papers:
Italian passport: €116
If you apply for a passport outside of Italy at an Italian consulate, a passport is currently the only identification document available to citizens of Italy issued by Italian consulates.
Please note:
– If applying in the USA or requesting a passport in the USA, the fees must be paid in US Dollars. The conversion rate is updated quarterly. For the most up to date rate in USD please visit the website of the consulate for your region.
– If applying outside of the US, some consulates may also accept Euros as well as the local currency (if outside of Europe), for accepted payment methods please visit the website of the consulate for your country/region.
For applicants who apply in Italy, you will want to acquire a Carta d’Identità (Identity Card, a document currently being phased out) or a Carta d’Identità Elettronica (aka CIE – Electronic Identity Card) before applying for a passport.
Immediately upon recognition you should be able to apply for your Italian identification card.
€5.42 – Paper Carta d’Identità
€22 to €22.21 – Electronic Carta d’Identità (€16.79 + €5.16 fixed maximum fee depending on your comune + €0.26 secretarial fee)
The Judicial “1948” process has the same requirements plus the cost of a lawyer and their services and the actual cost of the judicial proceeding.
For more information on how to acquire Italian citizenship via the Italian Court System please visit: https://italiancitizenshipassistance.com/court-cases/
Costs strictly related to the legal proceeding are:
- Filing fee: €286 (regardless of the number of co-petitioners)
- Final judgment certification costs (currently €35.87 per copy)
- Italian passport consular fee (same as above)
Any non-Italian documents will need to be translated and certified by an Italian court if they have not been previously translated and certified by the consulate of presiding over the area that document was issued by.
If the translations are to be certified by an Italian court, there will be some costs to be covered for the revenue stamps to be attached to the translations. Generally, for each document courts require €16 every 4 pages of translation (the certificate of accuracy attached at the end is to be included in the page count). Some courts also require an additional €3.87 per document to be attached to the certificate of accuracy.
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If you have any questions about anything covered in this article or any other questions, feel free to get in contact with ICA HERE and we’ll do our best to help and we may even base an upcoming article on your question. We hope this article has been helpful to you. If you know anyone else who might find this information of interest be sure to share the link to this article with them or on your social media.
