How Does it Work?
To obtain Italian citizenship by decent, the main goal is proving that you are technically already an Italian citizen. As long as any of your ancestors didn't renounce Italian citizenship, or naturalize, prior to the birth of their next in line (or prior to July 1st, 1912), you may be eligible. If you are eligible, then it becomes a matter of obtaining the necessary documentation: Birth, Marriage, Divorce, Death, Naturalization, and possibly more. These documents have to be collected, and American ones must then be translated and apostilled. Then an appointment needs to be made with an Italian Consulate that oversees the state you reside in.
In the case of an ancestor's birth from a female citizen's lineage prior to 1948, this becomes what's called a '1948 case', which can get a bit more difficult.
It is a difficult task to obtain citizenship, but it is well doable, and if you'd like, we can even plan with you a guideline to complete the work on your own.
Simple Terms*
FAQ
Is there a deadline my ancestors needed to immigrate by?
Nope, your Italian ancestor could have come to America yesterday, or a 100 years ago, only the possible loss of citizenship is what's applicable. It also doesn't matter how many ancestors back you go. Although, the farther back you go, the more difficult it can be.
What does 'Jure Sanguinis' Mean?
Translates from Latin to mean 'Right of Blood', it means you are automatically an Italian citizen by decent if your ancestors were born in Italy.
If both my parents are from Italy, is there a shorter way?
It's still the same process if both your parents were born in Italy, or only one ancestor was born in Italy 100+ years ago. The difference is only a matter of the amount of papers required. Even with both parents being from Italy, sometimes they naturalize before the child reaches 18, this makes things quite complicated.
What's the difference between Italy citizenship and others?
A lot, besides the country itself, Italy grants you equal access to all other EU countries. Plus, with Italy, you can hold many other passports as you're eligible for. However, if you're only interested in one EU country while Italy is the easiest to qualify for (with Ireland), other countries may be easier to actually obtain citizenship. Reach out and we can let you know if you're better off going through another country.
Do I really get full EU access through Italy?
100%! You can live, study, work, and retire in any EU state! This isn't just limited to Italy.
I hear the wait times are long
One thing that no other vendors like to mention, is the wait times. Different states/cities have different wait times for appointments, but it is very common to wait years for your interview date. However, cancelations do occur, and we're always checking for earlier appointments. One customer in the Boston area recently was upgraded from a 2029 appointment date, to 2027, eventually all the way down to 2024.
Collecting all the necessary documentation is a timely process, so don't expect this to be quick. Fortunately, we can make this an easy process for you.
Do I have to know Italian?
Nope! Don't need to know to speak or write any italian
What is A.I.R.E.?
A.I.R.E. (Anagrafe Italiani Residenti all'Estero) is the registry of Italians residing abroad. It provides access to consular services abroad and allows the exercise of important rights. Registration is free.