So, you’re an American wondering about the path on how to apply for Italian citizenship. Both Italy and the United States allow for dual citizenship. There are a couple paths you can take—all of them long, not necessarily difficult, but very specific.The first you’ve probably seen in movies or on TV: marriage. Marrying an Italian citizen opens up the path to Italian citizenship for you and American citizenship for your spouse. This, thanks to EU law, also extends to civil unions.
Descent is the other, if you are related to an Italian citizen. Every country has different citizenship laws that determine who and how someone is a citizen. That is, you are a US citizen if you are born on the territory (jus soli) and you are an Italian citizen if you are related by blood (jus sanguinis). Of course, this is not as strict in many countries: a person born to American citizens abroad can still claim citizenship, but in Italy it is a little more complicated.
How to get italian citizenship by descent?
If you’re interested in applying for Italian citizenship by descent you’ll need to do so through the Italian consulate in your jurisdiction. To start this you’ll most likely have to dig around in vital records offices, namely through Census Records and the National Archives. First of all, the birth certificates, marriage and death certificates of the Italian relatives as well as your parents and yourself.
If your Italian ancestor was naturalized in the US, you’ll need the naturalization records too and here is where you can run into problems obtaining Italian citizenship. There are a number of caveats:
- You’re descended from someone who was alive in Italy after 17 March 1861;
- He/She didn’t naturalize in another country before 14 June 1912;
- He/She didn’t naturalize before the birth of descendant interested in Italian citizenship;
- If the Italian ancestor is a woman born before 1 January 1948, citizenship can only be claimed from her father’s line;
- If someone in the family renounced their Italian citizenship, you won’t be eligible.
What is the process?
By way of example, let’s say you discover that your great-grandfather meets all of these requirements. You’ll just have to collect the documents, with a couple more steps, to apply. There are even special agencies that will collect everything for you
Each of these documents will need to be translated into Italian and then taken to the Department of State to receive an Apostille which is the official seal of your particular state that verifies the document’s validity.
All of this will need to be done before the process of applying can begin, but it is also the bulk of the citizenship application. If you have all of the paperwork in order, most of the time will be spent waiting to hear about its status.
It’s a lengthy process that can take anywhere from 1 to 3 years. At the end, with a lot of preparation and a bit of luck you can end up with Italian dual citizenship, an Italian passport, and the ability to reside in Italy.
How much does it cost?
The big question. Everything mentioned above has a cost of course. And, be prepared to do a bit of running around. Costs tend to vary, mostly depending on whether or not you complete the process yourself. Using a lawyer can run upwards of $8,000 and there are no guarantees.
The application fee alone runs about $340 and is non-refundable even if the application is declined, so it’s best to be absolutely sure that you have everything in order before you submit.
Birth, marriage and death certificates run between $25-50 each, depending on your state. An Apostille is $25 per document. The most expensive part of the process of applying is having everything translated into Italian, which can be in the neighborhood of $60-100 for each document, sometimes even more. It is possible to translate them yourself if you happen to be fluent, but the consulate generally asks them to be professionally completed.
The application fee alone runs about $340 and is non-refundable even if the application is declined, so it’s best to be absolutely sure that you have everything in order before you submit.
Birth, marriage and death certificates run between $25-50 each, depending on your state. An Apostille is $25 per document. The most expensive part of the process of applying is having everything translated into Italian, which can be in the neighborhood of $60-100 for each document, sometimes even more. It is possible to translate them yourself if you happen to be fluent, but the consulate generally asks them to be professionally completed.
Are there any benefits to having dual citizenship?
Definitely. Once you’re a dual citizen, you’ll be afforded a number of benefits. You’ll be able to live and work in Italy or any other European Union country.
Education and healthcare are also huge benefits. Italy’s universities are much more affordable than American ones (think $1,000 per year maximum for a public university) and its universal healthcare system covers all residents with little or no cost for services.
If you meet the requirements and are willing to put in the time you can have access to the best of both worlds.Do you want to learn more? Check out our video about double tax treaty.
Education and healthcare are also huge benefits. Italy’s universities are much more affordable than American ones (think $1,000 per year maximum for a public university) and its universal healthcare system covers all residents with little or no cost for services.
If you meet the requirements and are willing to put in the time you can have access to the best of both worlds.Do you want to learn more? Check out our video about double tax treaty.
Planning to move in Italy? Check out if you are eligible for a tax credit for new residents, and our guide for immigration in Italy.
My grandfather on my mother’s side was born in Italy. I have all the documentation and it qualifies in all the time periods mentioned. Would I be eligible to start the dual citizenship process? I am retired and would meet any financial requirements imposed by the Italian government, if required.
Yes you can start the process, does any of your ancestor renounced Italian citizenship? We are happy to help in the process
Hi, my father immigrated to the US in the late 1960’s, and renounced his Italian citizenship in the early 70’s. I was born in the US. All my extended relatives are still Italian citizens. Do I qualify for dual citizenship, if I were to provide death/birth certificates for my father, and distant relatives who never renounced? Thanks
If you are born before your father renounced citizenship, you can definitely qualify. Please get in touch with us using the form below and we can help you
Hello
I am confused about the naturalization caveat. Both my paternal grandparents immigrated to the US from Italy but only my grandmother naturalized. Can I still qualify for dual citizenship? Thanks in advance.
Yes you can! if you need help, please get in touch using the form below
Hello,
Trying to get clarification if I qualify for dual citizenship. So my grandfather Italian born came in the US in 10/1897 and he became a Naturalized Citizen in 3/1899. Then my grandfather moved back to Italy in 6/1921 and married my grandmother born Italian. My father was born 5/1933 in Italy and lived there till my grandfather passed away in early 1960. My father and my grandmother moved to the US in 1962. My grandmother never became a citizen. Now , this is where it’s gets interesting. My father had a US passport but not sure if he got it from my grandfather as a U.S. citizen or my father became naturalized citizen in the early 1960s. I was born in the mid 70s my grandmother passed away in 1987. And my father passed away in 2020. Thanks for your help.
can you please get in touch with us using the form below?
I cannot receive Italian citizenship through decent because my Italian immigrant grandfather was naturalized as a US citizen a month before my father was born. However, now, I am a legal resident of Italy and have been since 2006. Does the US allow me to hold dual citizenship with Italy and the US?
Thank you.
Italy and the US recognize dual citizenship