How to Apply for Italian Citizenship by Descent: Requirements, Process, and Benefits

Updated July 2025. Join the class action lawsuit seeking recognition of Italian citizenship by iure sanguinis

If you have Italian ancestors, you may be eligible to claim Italian citizenship by descent. Known as “jure sanguinis“, this process allows descendants of Italian citizens to reconnect with their heritage, access European Union benefits, and enjoy the privileges of dual citizenship. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about how to apply for Italian Citizenship by Descent: Requirements, Process, Benefits and amendments and changes in Italian legislation

If you have Italian ancestors, you may be eligible to claim Italian citizenship by descent. How does Italian citizenship by descent work

Italian citizenship by descent is a legal right that allows individuals to obtain Italian citizenship through their ancestry. Unlike citizenship by naturalization, “jure sanguinis” relies on proving an unbroken lineage to an Italian citizen. Italy’s laws prioritize maintaining connections with its diaspora, from the 1860, making this pathway available to millions of descendants worldwide.

Requirements for Italian Citizenship through descent. Eligibility criteria for dual citizenship

To qualify for Italian citizenship by descent, you must meet the following criteria:

1. Ancestral Connection: You must have an Italian ancestor who was a citizen of Italy and never renounced their citizenship before the next generation was born.
2. Uninterrupted Lineage: The lineage can be traced through both paternal and maternal lines, but cases involving maternal lineage before 1948 require judicial proceedings.
3. No Citizenship Renunciation: If your ancestor became a citizen of another country, they must not have renounced their Italian citizenship before the birth of the next generation.
4. Knowledge of the Italian language is not a requirement for obtaining Italian citizenship by descent by blood. Knowledge of the Italian language is a requirement for obtaining citizenship by marriage or naturalization.

Italian Citizenship through ancestry by Maternal Line.1948 Rule for Maternal Descent

If your lineage is through a female ancestor and the next generation was born before 1948, you’ll need to file a judicial appeal to the Italian courts due to historical and italian cosituzional legal limitations.

Documents needed for claim italian citizenship by descent

The applicant has a parent or grandparent or great grandfather o great granmother they held Italian citizenship at the time of their death (art.3-bis paragraph 1 letter c Law 91/1992). Or, the applicant has a parent (biological or adoptive) who lived in Italy for at least two consecutive years after becoming an Italian citizen and before the applicant was born or adopted.

Those who wish to submit an application must submit the following documents:

• Your Italian parent’s or grandparent’s birth certificate (extract of the birth certificate) issued within the last six months, by the Italian comune where the birth was registered;
• Birth certificates (in long form, duly legalized and translated into Italian), of every descendant in line, including the applicant;
• Marriage certificate of the Italian ancestor. If the marriage occurred in Italy, please submit the extract of the marriage certificate issued within the last six months, by the Italian municipality where the marriage was registered. If the marriage occurred abroad, please submit the original certificate (in long form), duly legalized and translated into Italian;
• Marriage certificates (in long form, duly legalized and translated into Italian if issued abroad), of every descendant in line, including the applicant;
• Death certificates (in long form, duly legalized and translated into Italian if issued abroad), of every descendant in line (if applicable);
• Appropriate documentation issued by the foreign local authority which must certify that the Italian born ancestor who emigrated never naturalized or acquired any other citizenship abroad (in any Country where they lived). You must also include a copy of the ancestor’s permanent resident card;
• If the ancestor did naturalize abroad, the applicant must also submit a notarized copy of the ancestor’s naturalization certificate. The US naturalization certificate must show the person’s correct date of birth. Should the person’s date of birth not appear on the certificate, you must request a certified copy of their declaration of intention/petition for naturalization/oath of allegiance issued by NARA;

The following FORMS to be downloaded from website. Must be included. The forms need to be notarized by a notary public who has jurisdiction in the State of residence of the undersigned.

Application for Italian citizenship recognition” with applicant’s notarized signature, DULY LEGALIZED BY APOSTILLE

• Form 1 with applicant’s notarized signature, and DULY LEGALIZED BY APOSTILLE
• Form 2 with applicant’s notarized signature, and DULY LEGALIZED BY APOSTILLE
• Form 3 (if your parent or grandparent is still living) with their notarized signature, and DULY LEGALIZED BY APOSTILLE
• Form 4 (if your parent or grandparent is deceased) with applicant’s notarized signature, and DULY LEGALIZED BY APOSTILLE
• Copy of your valid passport;
• Proof of residence: copy of your valid driver’s license / recent utility bill / latest tax statement (please only provide the page with your name and address);
• Payment by money order or cashier check made out to the “Consulate General of Italy in New York”. Please include full (maiden if applicable) name on the memo portion of money order. The current amount can be found here;
• Printout of the appointment confirmation from the online booking system

These documents must be translated into Italian and apostilled to meet Italy’s legal requirements.

How to Apply for Italian Citizenship by Descent. Italian consulate waiting times for citizenship applications and the process the civil court

Claiming italian citizenship by descent process: the civil court and the rule 1948

You can file a judicial appeal with an Italian court if the consulate fails to respond to your jure sanguinis citizenship application within 24 months. Most applicants submit their requests through the Italian consulate in their country of residence. However, the process for obtaining Italian citizenship through an ancestor is very long and can take more than 10 years. For this reason, Italian citizenship lawyers recommend filing a request for recognition of the Italian lineage from an ancestor who emigrated directly with the Italian court. The court process for recognition of a descendant’s right to an Italian passport takes approximately 2 years.

Filing a citizenship petition with the court in Italy is also applicable for matrilineal recognition claims, i.e., for applications based on descent from a female ancestor who emigrated before 1948. Even in these cases, the timeframe for obtaining Italian citizenship does not exceed 2 years.

Changes to Rules for Italian Citizenship by Descent

Benefits of Italian Citizenship by Descent

Obtaining Italian citizenship offers numerous advantages:

1. EU Freedom of Movement: Live, work, and study in any of the 27 EU countries without restrictions.
2. Access to Italian Healthcare and Education: Enjoy Italy’s high-quality public healthcare and world-renowned education system.
3. Cultural Reconnection: Reconnect with your Italian roots and preserve your family’s heritage.
4. Economic Opportunities: Open doors to investment, real estate ownership, and career opportunities in Europe.

Obtaining Italian passport through ancestry How We Can Help. Proof of Italian ancestry for citizenship

Navigating the process of obtaining Italian citizenship can be complex, especially when dealing with legal requirements, translations, and documentation. Our team specializes in:

1. Document Retrieval: Helping you locate and prepare vital records.
2. Translation and Apostille Services: Ensuring all documents meet Italian legal standards.
3. Judicial Representation: Managing court cases for complex applications, such as the 1948 rule.
4. Reconstruction of genealogy and lineage

Contact Us Today Legal assistance for Italian citizenship

Let us guide you through every step of the process. Schedule a consultation to find out if you qualify for Italian citizenship by descent.