Dual Citizenship in Italy

One of the quickest and simplest ways to become an Italian citizen is through jure sanguinis, often known as citizenship by descent (by blood). The number of descendants who can claim Italian ancestry through their paternal or maternal line is unrestricted. Additionally, there is no generational restriction while applying in Italy. In other words, your parents, grandparents, great grandparents, and great great grandparents can petition for Italian citizenship on your behalf.

You must first decide if you are eligible based on your ancestry in order to comprehend how to become an Italian citizen through ancestry (jus sanguinis), as there are specific legal requirements you must meet in order to qualify. If a person’s mother or father, grandfather, or great-grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of their birth, or if their paternal or maternal great-grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of their birth, they may be eligible to apply for recognition of their Italian ancestry.

You must locate and obtain certified copies of the necessary official documents in the hometown or city of your family member in order to claim Italian citizenship jure sanguinis. You must also follow the correct application procedures through your neighborhood Italian consulate or embassy. This is the route to take if you want to become an Italian citizen by blood. Depending on the complexity of your case and the wait period at the Italian consulate near you, this process can take anywhere from three months to three years to complete.

Benefits: Applying for Italian citizenship by descent is a one-time process that will be automatically passed down from one generation to the next.

Cons: Children born after January 1, 1948 can only inherit citizenship if your Italian ancestor was a woman. Additionally, your relative cannot have acquired citizenship in any other nation prior to the birth of the kid who would be your direct descendant.

For more information on this type of citizenship, click here.

Got in love with an Italian? You’re in luck then! Italian citizenship can also be obtained through matrimony.

If this applies to you, you can obtain citizenship after two years of marriage if you reside in Italy or after three years if you do not. Either way, you’ll need to submit a citizenship application.

Pros: You can establish a place among the Italians with a little effort and an application. Moreover, speaking Italian is not a requirement for acceptance.

Cons: You must meet and fall in love with a native Italian in order for this to work.

For more information on this type of citizenship, click here.

The residency/naturalization process is arguably the most difficult way to become an Italian citizen. You must establish a permanent residency in Italy and spend at least six months there each year with a visa in order to proceed.

Depending on your unique situation, you must additionally fulfill the statutory time limit. In some circumstances, you must have resided in Italy for at least ten years before you can apply. It can be a difficult journey with many criteria, but if it’s what you desire, it’s worth it. Click here for more details about applying through residence.

You might just need to wait four years if you have some Italian heritage rather than the full ten years required for non-descendant residents.

Pros: Obtaining citizenship status just requires patience and knowledge of visa regulations.

Cons: Getting Italian citizenship requires at least ten years of residing and working there legally on a visa. If the Italian government determines that you pose any form of security concern, they may potentially deny your application.

For more information on this type of citizenship in Italy, click here.

Your current US citizenship will not be affected by your Italian Citizenship. Both dual citizenship and holding both passports are simultaneously possible. Having dual citizenship may or may not be a possibility for you, depending on where you are relocating from. In some nations, you can only have one citizenship.

Although it is not required by Italian law, your former nation of origin may forbid you from holding dual citizenship with Italy. Find out if your nation demands this by doing some research.

For information on how to apply for Italian citizenship by descent, whether you qualify, and how to gain dual citizenship in the US and Italy with a passport, get in touch with our Italian immigration specialists.

Benefits of dual citizenship include the ability to obtain an Italian passport and the exemption from paying taxes on money earned abroad.

Cons: If your parents acquired US citizenship prior to 1992, they lost their dual citizenship privileges, and you would have lost them as well. Documentation is required to support your claim to be recognized as a dual citizen.

For more information about Dual citizenship in Italy, click here.