Procedures and documents for the purchase of Italian citizenship by Iure Sanguinis

Where to Submit Your Application:

Italian Consulate or Embassy in the Country of Origin:

• Applications can be submitted to the Italian consular authorities in the applicant’s home country. In Italy (Recommended):
• Applications can be submitted after establishing residency in an Italian municipality.

Processing Times:

• In Italy (Recommended): Approximately 2 years.
• Italian Consulate Abroad (Not Recommended): Estimated at around 10 years due to lengthy administrative procedures.

Requirements:

• Administrative Procedure at the Italian Consulate (Not Recommended):
• Applicable for descendants of emigrants who have never renounced their Italian citizenship, as per Article 7 of Law No. 555/1912, even if dual citizenship is present.

Recognition Procedure in Italy (Recommended):

• Establish residency in an Italian municipality and begin the recognition process administratively.

Judicial Procedure (Faster Option):

Judicial recognition via the Civil Court of Rome is available for descendants of emigrants who never renounced their Italian citizenship, as per Article 7 of Law No. 555/1912, even in the presence of dual citizenship.

Documents Required for Residency Registration in Italy:

For Individuals from Schengen Countries:

• A copy of the declaration of presence submitted to the police commissioner within eight days of entering Italy, to be presented to the Civil Status Officer of the chosen municipality.

For Individuals from Non-Schengen Countries:

• A request must be submitted to the Italian consular authorities in the foreign country of habitual residence.

Documents Needed:

• Certificate issued by the Civil Status Officer.
• Original and copy of a passport with a border police stamp (for non-Schengen countries) or a declaration of presence issued by the police commissioner within eight days of entry (for Schengen countries).
• Declaration of residency form.
• Declaration of property occupation or statement from the property owner.
• Copy of the tax code (codice fiscale).

Procedure to Request Recognition of Italian Citizenship:

• Submit the request to the mayor of the municipality of residence.

Documents Required for Submission to the Civil Status Officer:

• Foreign passport.
• Tax stamp of €16.

Documents specified under Circular K28.1 from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

• Extract of the birth certificate of the Italian ancestor issued by the Italian municipality where they were born.
• Birth certificates, with official Italian translations on stamped paper, of all direct descendants, including the applicant.
• Marriage certificate of the Italian ancestor, with an official Italian translation on stamped paper if issued abroad.
• Marriage certificates of direct descendants, including the parents of the applicant.
• Certificate from the competent authorities of the foreign country of emigration, with an official Italian translation on stamped paper, confirming that the Italian ancestor did not acquire foreign citizenship before the birth of their descendant.
• Certificate from the competent Italian consular authorities confirming that neither direct descendants nor the applicant have renounced Italian citizenship, as per Article 7 of Law No. 555/1912.
• Certificate of residence.

Additional Considerations:

Verifying the Legitimacy of the Request:

• The application must be based on accurate and authentic historical documents. To establish legitimacy, investigations may be conducted at:
• Italian municipalities where the ancestor was born or last resided.

• The municipality of Rome.
• Relevant Italian consular authorities abroad.
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Directorate General for Emigration and Social Affairs – Office VIII.

Maternal Lineage Cases:

• For individuals born after January 1, 1948, the procedure and documents required are identical to those for paternal lineage recognition.
• For individuals born before January 1, 1948, recognition requires a judicial process via the Civil Court of Rome.