Are you ready to apply for Italian citizenship by descent? Do you have all the vital records needed to apply at an Italian consulate and are wondering how to go about your appointment and which forms to present? If the date for your appointment is approaching and you would like to know what to expect then keep reading this article and we will explain everything you need to know about submitting your citizenship application.
Which documents do you need?
Firstly, as explained in many of our previous articles, you must ensure that your citizenship application is complete and that you have all the vital records needed to apply. These comprise birth, marriage, divorce, and death certificates pertaining to all the individuals in your Italian lineage, and proof of naturalization or non-naturalization of the ancestor who was born in Italy and who emigrated to the United States. At ICA we always recommend checking the specific requirements of the consulate to which you will be applying because some consulates only require the vital records pertaining to the individuals in the Italian lineage, whereas others also require their respective spouses’ vital records. Please note that all the records will need to be authenticated with an Apostille and accompanied by a translation into Italian.
How do you prepare a citizenship kit?
Generally speaking, Italian consulates require all the vital records to be presented in a specific order (from the applicant’s records to the ones pertaining to the last individual in the Italian lineage or vice versa). In addition to your family’s vital records, your citizenship kit will also need to include proof of your appointment confirmation, a photocopy of a valid form of ID (passport and/or driver’s license), and proof of address such as a utility bill or a bank statement verifying your name and address; this must not be older than 90 days from the date of your appointment. You will also need to include a money order made payable to the consulate to which you will be applying in order to pay the fee for the consulate to process your application. The information about the fee is available on the consulate’s website. It is worth pointing out that the fee changes every three months but the amount is generally around $300. Finally, you will also need to include the consular forms needed to process your application. These are divided as follows:
- FORM 1 (Application form for Italian citizenship jure sanguinis): this must list all of the information regarding the individuals in your Italian lineage and their respective spouses’ dates of birth, marriage, and death. You will also need to add your contact details such as your residency address, phone number, and email address. If you are mailing your citizenship application to the consulate your signature on the form will need to be notarized. On the other hand, if you are applying in person, you can sign the form before the citizenship clerk on the day of your appointment.
- FORM 2 (Declaration of applicant): this form must list all the residency addresses where you have resided since the age of 18. The consulate needs the form to verify that you never voluntarily renounced your right to Italian citizenship before an Italian authority. This will be done by checking the registries held by the Italian consulates that cover the jurisdiction of all the addresses where you have resided.
- FORM 3 (Declaration of living Italian ascendant): this form must list all the residency addresses where your living Italian ascendant has resided since the age of 18. As with the previous form, the consulate needs this form to verify that your living Italian ascendant never renounced his/her right to Italian citizenship before an Italian authority. Your intermediate living Italian ascendant’ signature will need to be notarized. Finally, the form will need to be attached to a photocopy of the individual’s ID. Please note that you will need to provide this form for each living Italian ascendant in your Italian lineage. It is also worth clarifying that your living Italian ascendant will not receive citizenship by signing this form unless he or she wishes to apply for citizenship too.
- FORM 4 (Declaration of deceased Italian ascendant): this form must list all the residency addresses where your deceased Italian ancestor lived since the age of 18. As with the previous form, you will need to submit this form for each deceased Italian ascendant in your Italian lineage.
Finally, in some cases, consulates also require the applicant to submit a duly completed and signed AIRE form, which lists the applicant’s contact details and his or her spouse and children’s date and place of birth (if applicable). This form is needed once the consulate has granted the applicant citizenship and needs to register him or her with the A.I.R.E. (Registry of Italian Citizens Residing Abroad). The consulate will then send the applicant’s vital records (birth, marriage, divorce, and minor children’s birth records, if applicable) to the municipality in Italy where the applicant’s Italian ancestor was born in order for the municipality to register them. Only when these records have been registered, will the applicant be able to apply for an Italian passport.
Final remarks
At ICA we take care of preparing your citizenship kit and we guide you through all the steps of the process for you to have a clear understanding of your specific case and be prepared to submit your application to the consulate, be it via mail or in person.
If you are thinking of applying for Italian citizenship by descent and you would like to learn more about all the steps involved in preparing an application, please contact us at [email protected].
