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Italian Citizenship by Descent
Italian Coat of Arms
Would you like to obtain a second passport in Italy? If so, you've come to the right place. With over 20 years of experience in helping people like you with genealogy projects all over the world, our team of specialists can assist you in getting your second passport through the process of jure sanguinis, or citizenship by descent.
There are currently around 80 million people of Italian descent living outside of Italy, many of whom are eligible for citizenship through the process of jure sanguinis. The Italian diaspora is comprised of people of Italian descent who live outside of the country in places like the United States, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, and elsewhere. Historically, there have been three waves of emigration out of Italy, the first of which began around 1880 and ended in the 1940s, during a period of time when many Italians sought more personal freedom and better economic opportunities overseas. The second wave of emigration occurred at the end of World War II and reached its height in the 1970s, while the third wave of emigration is currently underway and involves mostly young Italians who have left the country for greater career opportunities and a better quality of life.
In Italy, the process of acquiring citizenship through one's ancestors is legally referred to as jure sanguinis, as descendants of Italian citizens are automatically entitled to citizenship through their parents or grandparents. This means that you might already be an Italian citizen, as your citizenship rights were inherited through your ancestors. However, it is important to keep in mind that a person's citizenship rights can also be lost, for example, if their ancestors were naturalized in another country. To get your Italian passport therefore requires gathering a checklist of records that prove your entitlement to citizenship, which comes with many rights and privileges, including the right to live, work, study, and travel in any of the 27 member states of the European Union.
To expedite your citizenship claim, documentation can be gathered for you with the help of professional genealogists, lawyers, and related professionals who can represent you with your citizenship goals. You will also need the help of professional translators to translate these documents into the Italian language, which can then be submitted to the Italian government.
There are currently around 80 million people of Italian descent living outside of Italy, many of whom are eligible for citizenship through the process of jure sanguinis. The Italian diaspora is comprised of people of Italian descent who live outside of the country in places like the United States, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, and elsewhere. Historically, there have been three waves of emigration out of Italy, the first of which began around 1880 and ended in the 1940s, during a period of time when many Italians sought more personal freedom and better economic opportunities overseas. The second wave of emigration occurred at the end of World War II and reached its height in the 1970s, while the third wave of emigration is currently underway and involves mostly young Italians who have left the country for greater career opportunities and a better quality of life.
In Italy, the process of acquiring citizenship through one's ancestors is legally referred to as jure sanguinis, as descendants of Italian citizens are automatically entitled to citizenship through their parents or grandparents. This means that you might already be an Italian citizen, as your citizenship rights were inherited through your ancestors. However, it is important to keep in mind that a person's citizenship rights can also be lost, for example, if their ancestors were naturalized in another country. To get your Italian passport therefore requires gathering a checklist of records that prove your entitlement to citizenship, which comes with many rights and privileges, including the right to live, work, study, and travel in any of the 27 member states of the European Union.
To expedite your citizenship claim, documentation can be gathered for you with the help of professional genealogists, lawyers, and related professionals who can represent you with your citizenship goals. You will also need the help of professional translators to translate these documents into the Italian language, which can then be submitted to the Italian government.
Eligibility for Italian Citizenship
Present-day map of Italy
Eligibility for Italian citizenship, as described above, is based on your ancestry, which can be claimed through your either your parents or grandparents, according to Law Decree No. 36, which came into effect on 28 March 2025. Prior to this date, a person could claim citizenship through their great-grandparents and even earlier ancestors. This decree was made in order to stem the flow of citizenship applications through the Italian consulates, town halls, and Italian courts, as the huge number of people applying for citizenship were overwhelming the system. According to this decree, applications will in the future be sent to a newly formed registration office in Rome, so applicants for Italian citizenship can no longer apply to the consulates, courts, or comunes (AKA town halls) for citizenship by descent claims.
Unlike citizenship programs and residency permits in other countries, where a donation or investment in a country's government bonds or native businesses might be required, your citizenship in Italy comes through your genealogy. Moreover, there is no language requirement, citizenship test, or term of residency for you to claim citizenship, and the whole process can even be undertaken overseas in places like the United States, Canada, Argentina, and elsewhere.
To claim your Italian citizenship, at least one of your Italian ancestors (i.e. your parents and grandparents) must be or has been a citizen of the Republic of Italy. In addition, for these citizenship rights to pass on to you, your ancestors must not have lost their citizenship by naturalizing in another country.
Unlike citizenship programs and residency permits in other countries, where a donation or investment in a country's government bonds or native businesses might be required, your citizenship in Italy comes through your genealogy. Moreover, there is no language requirement, citizenship test, or term of residency for you to claim citizenship, and the whole process can even be undertaken overseas in places like the United States, Canada, Argentina, and elsewhere.
To claim your Italian citizenship, at least one of your Italian ancestors (i.e. your parents and grandparents) must be or has been a citizen of the Republic of Italy. In addition, for these citizenship rights to pass on to you, your ancestors must not have lost their citizenship by naturalizing in another country.
Benefits of Italian Citizenship
Flag of Italy
There are many benefits relating to Italian citizenship, especially since Italy is one of the 27 member countries of the European Union. As an Italian passport holder, some of the rights, benefits, and privileges you will enjoy include the following:
- Right to visa-free travel within the EU and Schengen Area
- Right to live in any EU member state or Schengen Area
- Right to work or start a business in Italy and other EU countries
- Right to vote in Italian national elections and European Parliament elections
- Ability to purchase property anywhere in the EU
- Access to universal health care
- Reduced or free tuition at the university level in any EU member state
- Constitutional protections of your civil rights
Required Documents
It is not enough to simply supply the Italian government with a few records like birth, marriage, or death certificates to prove your eligibility for Italian citizenship. A large collection of records, along with their associated certifications, apostilles, and translations must be submitted to the Italian government to correctly document your heritage. These records would be found at many different locations, including civil registry offices, regional archives, public libraries, national archives, church parishes, and elsewhere. Records that would help substantiate your claim would include many different types of records relating to yourself, spouse, children, parents, grandparents, and other relatives, and might include the following:
Royal Standard of Italy
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Where to Apply
Diplomatic missions of Italy
Prior to 28 March 2025, you would have submitted your Italian citizenship claim to an Italian consulate with jurisdiction in your area, or if residing in Italy to a comune (AKA town hall) or local Italian court. However, because of the recent flood of citizenship by descent claims, the Italian government has curtailed applications to these agencies, and is implementing a new system and centralized office in Rome where all future applications will be processed.
When you are ready to submit your application and dossier of documents to the Italian government for processing your claim, any records found outside of Italy would need to include apostilles for international records, which would also would have to be translated into the Italian language by an official translator. The current charge for processing applications is €600. Processing time sometimes takes more than a year, although the research and records collection part of the process usually happens much more quickly.
When you are ready to submit your application and dossier of documents to the Italian government for processing your claim, any records found outside of Italy would need to include apostilles for international records, which would also would have to be translated into the Italian language by an official translator. The current charge for processing applications is €600. Processing time sometimes takes more than a year, although the research and records collection part of the process usually happens much more quickly.
Application with Family Members
View of Rome, Italy in 1688
Another great benefit of Italian citizenship is that you can pass it on to your descendants. If you're applying for citizenship with other members of your family, any children under 18 can be included in your application. If you have any adult children who would also like to apply, their applications would need to be submitted individually, and they would need to obtain any relevant documents, certifications, apostilles, and translations separately from your research package.
Spouses of those acquiring citizenship through the process of jure sanguinis are ineligible for Italian citizenship, but through their spouse they would have many of the same rights and privileges to live and work in the European Union. However, after a period of residency, they can apply for citizenship through the standard naturalization process.
Spouses of those acquiring citizenship through the process of jure sanguinis are ineligible for Italian citizenship, but through their spouse they would have many of the same rights and privileges to live and work in the European Union. However, after a period of residency, they can apply for citizenship through the standard naturalization process.
Getting Your Italian Passport
The Italian passport is one of the strongest in the world and currently ranks third globally, along with Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, and Spain. It allows visa-free access to 189 countries, making it a highly sought after travel document for those seeking second citizenship. Italy also allows dual citizenship, so citizens of countries like the United States, Canada, Argentina, and elsewhere would still be able to retain their native citizenship after getting their Italian passport.
After your application for Italian citizenship has been approved, you can apply for a passport. However, you will first need to register your new citizenship status with AIRE, or the Registry of Italian Citizens Residing Abroad. After this happens, you can apply for your passport through the Italian consulate that has jurisdiction in your current place of residence. To do this, you'll need to make an appointment with the Italian consulate through their online reservation system to schedule an in-office visit for completion of your application, as Italian passports now require fingerprinting and other biometrics before being issued.
After your application for Italian citizenship has been approved, you can apply for a passport. However, you will first need to register your new citizenship status with AIRE, or the Registry of Italian Citizens Residing Abroad. After this happens, you can apply for your passport through the Italian consulate that has jurisdiction in your current place of residence. To do this, you'll need to make an appointment with the Italian consulate through their online reservation system to schedule an in-office visit for completion of your application, as Italian passports now require fingerprinting and other biometrics before being issued.
Italian Citizenship FAQS
What is citizenship by descent?
Citizenship by descent is the process by which an individual attains citizenship in a country through one's ancestry or family tree. The process, known in legal terminology as jus sanguinis or jure sanguinis, would be translated from Latin as the "right of the blood," meaning that one's right to citizenship is based upon their ancestry, regardless of where they were born. This differs from jus soli, or birthright citizenship, where one's citizenship rights are determined by their place of birth.
Does Italy offer citizenship through the process of jure sanguinis, also known as citizenship by descent?
Yes.
How many generations of ancestry does Italy allow for a citizenship by descent application?
Italy allows citizenship by descent up through your grandparents.
Why would I want a second citizenship?
Having a second passport and additional citizenship rights opens a world of possibilities for you and your family in terms of travel, economic opportunities, political freedom, access to high-quality healthcare, and world class education. In an ever-changing political landscape and globalizing world, possibilities also exist for a backup plan if needed for you and your family to begin a new life elsewhere.
How strong is the Italian passport?
The Italian passport is one of the strongest in the world and currently ranks at #3 globally. It is tied with Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, and Spain, and allows visa-free access to 189 countries.
Which records are needed for my Italian citizenship application?
You will need to document an unbroken chain of evidence between yourself and your Italian ancestors. To do this, you will need to acquire copies of vital records for each generation of your tree (i.e. birth, marriage, and death certificates). You will also need to locate ships’ passenger lists, naturalization records, and many other types of records.
Is there a language requirement for acquiring my Italian citizenship?
No. Your citizenship rights are derived from your heritage and don't require proficiency in the Italian language. However, it is recommended that you learn the language if your goal is to live in Italy and better integrate into the society there.
Is there a residency requirement for acquiring my Italian citizenship?
No. Acquisition of Italian citizenship is an automatic process, and your citizenship will be recognized even if your are living or applying from overseas.
How many hours does it take to do an Italian citizenship case?
Every project is unique, but most citizenship cases take on average between 40 to 80 hours of work from start to finish.
Can I apply for Italian citizenship along with my spouse, children, and other members of my family?
Yes. When submitting your citizenship application, you will be required to submit primary source records for yourself and other members of your family. However, only children under 18 can be naturalized with you, and your spouse would not be granted citizenship under your application. Adult children 18 and over would need to gather their own records and submit applications separately. Although spouses are not automatically granted citizenship during the citizenship process, as a spouse of an Italian citizen they would still have many of the same rights and privileges of an Italian passport holder, including the right to live and work in Italy and the European Union.
Will the Italian government accept digital or printed copies of my genealogy records?
No. All records submitted with your application must be paper documents with the appropriate certifications and apostilles for international records originating outside of Italy.
Do I have to renounce my current citizenship?
No. Italy allows dual citizenship.
How long have you been doing citizenship cases?
Our current research team, which includes many genealogists, attorneys, and other experts in the field, have been doing citizenship cases for more than 20 years. We have helped many clients get second passports in places like Italy, Portugal, Ireland, and elsewhere.
Where are you located?
We are currently in the process of opening a new office in Dublin, Ireland, which gives us direct access to the European Union, United Kingdom, and Schengen Area. Our company headquarters, which falls under the umbrella of MyGenealogist.com, is located in Salt Lake City, USA, where we have access to the world's largest collection of genealogical records at the Family History Library. We also have on-the-ground contacts in many major international cities, including New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., London, Rome, Madrid, and elsewhere.
I can only budget a small amount of money for this. What are the cheapest options available for people with limited resources?
Citizenship cases are generally much more challenging than standard genealogy projects, as on-the-ground research is usually required at multiple archives and in multiple geographic jurisdictions and countries. Unlike standard family history projects, you are also required to get translations and special certifications of records during this type of project, which requires much more labor and time-management in terms of editing, records ordering, report-writing, letter-writing, and overall administration. This is the reason we generally recommend working in either a 40-hour or 80-hour block of research time, as most projects like this take around 80 hours total from start to finish. However, if you'd like assistance doing research on your own, we offer hourly consultations at €150 an hour, as well as research plans that take about 5 hours to put together, since we have to review all of your past research, records, and eligibility for citizenship based upon your current documentation. The price for this service would be €700. However, even if you are saving money on a smaller block of research time, you will still need to order certified copies and translations of the records needed for your case, which oftentimes ends up costing several hundred euros even when doing your own research.
If I only need a few records for my citizenship application, why would it take so many hours to complete my project?
Although you might only need a few records to help solve your case, gathering those individual records will be a labor-intensive and time-consuming process as these records will no doubt be found at multiple archives, libraries, public health departments, courthouses, registry offices, churches, cemeteries, and elsewhere. In addition, and especially for clients in the U.S., Canada, and Australia, records will need to gathered in more than one country, and records in Europe will need to found during onsite visits to a variety of government agencies and archives overseas. In addition to this, there is a huge amount of records review, analysis of evidence, editing, report-writing, and other tasks that must be completed during a citizenship case, which means that these projects are much more challenging than standard family history projects where research can be completed online at websites like Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, and MyHeritage from the comfort of home.
How much does a standard standard Italian citizenship case cost?
As noted above, we recommend starting with at least a 40-hour block of research time for citizenship cases, although some cases take 80 hours or more to complete. It's possible that your case could be completed in 40 hours, but it might take up to 80 hours or more if we're encountering a lot of brick walls during the search for your ancestors, or if we're doing research in a lot of different jurisdictions. Our hourly rate for a standard 40-hour project would be €135/hour, so a project of this size and scope would cost €5,400. If the 80-hour project fits into your budget, there would be a €1,200 discount on the larger project, which would come out to €9,600. Although these projects might be out of the range of affordability for some people, it's important to keep in mind that the process of acquiring a second citizenship is a huge investment in you and your family's future, with all of the associated rights, responsibilities, privileges, and benefits that would accrue not only to yourself, but also to your descendants. Genealogy research can be a substantial investment, but it is also a great value in terms of what you'd ultimately be getting with affordable health care, educational opportunities, property ownership, freedom of movement, and citizenship rights in Italy and the 27-member block of the European Union.
What is the current turnaround time on citizenship projects?
Depending on your situation, most projects take an average of 10-12 weeks to complete. However, if brick walls are encountered in finding your documentation, the project could take considerably longer. In addition, some government agencies are notoriously slow in responding to record requests, which is the primary reason we recommend larger projects where we have enough time to do on-the-ground research in the places of interest, where we can often get records on the same day, thus saving time and labor, as opposed to waiting for records requests to come in from overseas, where you could sometimes end up waiting for several months or longer. The other thing to take into consideration in terms of timing and completion of your overall citizenship case, is that we will attempt to complete your project in 2-3 months, but you would still most likely need to make an appointment with your new country's consulate near your current place of residence. For example, if doing an Italian citizenship case, where you're currently residing in New York City, you will need to take your package of documentation to them during your appointment, and with the various consulates getting booked up many months in advance, the Italian government may take several months or more than a year to process your application, even after all of the research work and document gathering has been completed.
How long does it take to acquire citizenship through the process of jure sanguinis (AKA citizenship by descent)?
As earlier discussed, the genealogical research required for citizenship cases usually takes a couple of months. However, the entire process of confirming your citizenship can sometimes take a year or two because there are additional steps that must be completed in terms of your new country processing your application, and interviews with various consulates and government agencies might be required before your final papers are processed. Many countries, Italy being a good example of this, are literally swamped with requests for citizenship from people overseas in places like the United States, Canada, Argentina, and Australia, so processing time on the government side of things can often take a bit of time and patience for the person applying.
Will I have the contact information of the genealogists assigned to my case?
Yes. You will be in contact with a project manager from start to finish of your case. All projects are worked on collectively as a team, with researchers working in many different geographic areas and with different specialties. The project manager is responsible for handling all aspects of your case and would be collaborating with researchers, libraries, lawyers, archives, and government agencies as needed for completion of your case.
Why do records need to be certified?
Official copies of records would be needed for your citizenship case, which means that these records must be paper copies (not photocopies or digital copies) with the proper certifications or embossed seals as proof of official certification. For example, you can't print out copies of vital records, passenger lists, or census records from websites like FamilySearch or Ancestry.com and present them to the Italian government as evidence for your case. For these types of records, you would need to obtain official copies from many different repositories including libraries, archives, health departments, courthouses, and civil registry offices. In addition, you would need to get a separate certification, or apostille, for all international records.
What is an apostille?
An apostille is an internationally recognized certification as defined by the Hague Treaty of 1961. Countries like Italy require that records found outside the country have this certification in addition to that provided by local health departments, government archives, and other agencies.
I now have all of the records required for my citizenship application. Which consulate or government agency do I need to contact for submission of my application?
In the past, you would have visited the Italian consulate closest to your place of residence to process your application, or, if living in Italy, you would have applied to a comune (town hall) or local court. However, as of 28 March 2025, future applications will now be processed through a centralized office for this purpose in Rome.
Do my documents need to be translated into the Italian language for my citizenship application?
Yes. Any records found outside of Italy will need to be translated into the Italian language by a certified translator.
Do I need an attorney to help with my case?
You may need the help of an attorney with your case if you are going before a court to apply for citizenship in Italy. However, if you are submitting your documentation to a consulate and were able to gather all of your required records by yourself or through the help of a genealogist, this might be unnecessary. For example, the consulate through which you're applying will be reviewing a checklist of documents needed for your case. If you have everything needed as required by the Italian nationality law, your citizenship will be confirmed based upon this checklist of records.
Can I live anywhere in Europe after acquiring my Italian passport?
Yes. after confirming your citizenship, you can not only live in Italy, but also in countries like Germany, Spain, France, or elsewhere. As an Italian and EU citizen, you have the right to live, work, study, and travel in all 27 EU member states.
How many countries are there in the European Union?
There are 27 member countries in the European Union.
What is the Schengen-Area?
The Schengen Area is associated with the European Union but not under its jurisdiction. The Schengen Treaty allows visa-free travel and residency in EU member states, as well as the Schengen Area countries of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
Can I also live, work, or study in other countries in the Schengen Area but outside of the EU?
Yes, as a European citizen you would have all the rights and privileges to live, work, travel, and study in Schengen countries outside of the European Union. These countries include Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, so you will have access to 31 countries total with your Italian passport.
Can I live, work, or study in the UK after getting Italy citizenship?
No, after the United Kingdom left the European Union in 2018, European citizens no longer have any rights or privileges to reside, work, or study in the United Kingdom without a residency permit. The exception to this would be Ireland, which has a reciprocal agreement with the UK.
Will I be subject Italian income taxes after acquiring my citizenship?
No. You will only become a tax resident of Italy if you live there for more than 183 days a year.
Can my children or grandchildren attend university in the European Union after getting Italian citizenship?
Yes, unlike the United States where premier universities like NYU, Harvard, or Princeton charge upwards of $50,000-$60,000 per year in tuition, European institutions of a similar pedigree often charge much less or are even free for EU citizens. However, your children or grandchildren would first need to confirm their Italian citizenship through your application, if under 18 years of age, or on their own if they have reached adulthood.
Am I eligible for healthcare in the European Union after getting citizenship in a member country?
Yes. Health care in Europe is considered a human right, unlike countries like the United States, where people often go into bankruptcy because of high medical expenses.
Can I buy property in the EU after getting second citizenship there?
Yes, as a European citizen you can acquire property in any of the 27 member states, but there generally aren't many restrictions on foreigners buying property in most EU countries. However, having rights to ownership differ from rights to residency, so if you plan on living in your new property, you will need to get a residency visa or second citizenship in your country of choice.
Citizenship by descent is the process by which an individual attains citizenship in a country through one's ancestry or family tree. The process, known in legal terminology as jus sanguinis or jure sanguinis, would be translated from Latin as the "right of the blood," meaning that one's right to citizenship is based upon their ancestry, regardless of where they were born. This differs from jus soli, or birthright citizenship, where one's citizenship rights are determined by their place of birth.
Does Italy offer citizenship through the process of jure sanguinis, also known as citizenship by descent?
Yes.
How many generations of ancestry does Italy allow for a citizenship by descent application?
Italy allows citizenship by descent up through your grandparents.
Why would I want a second citizenship?
Having a second passport and additional citizenship rights opens a world of possibilities for you and your family in terms of travel, economic opportunities, political freedom, access to high-quality healthcare, and world class education. In an ever-changing political landscape and globalizing world, possibilities also exist for a backup plan if needed for you and your family to begin a new life elsewhere.
How strong is the Italian passport?
The Italian passport is one of the strongest in the world and currently ranks at #3 globally. It is tied with Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, and Spain, and allows visa-free access to 189 countries.
Which records are needed for my Italian citizenship application?
You will need to document an unbroken chain of evidence between yourself and your Italian ancestors. To do this, you will need to acquire copies of vital records for each generation of your tree (i.e. birth, marriage, and death certificates). You will also need to locate ships’ passenger lists, naturalization records, and many other types of records.
Is there a language requirement for acquiring my Italian citizenship?
No. Your citizenship rights are derived from your heritage and don't require proficiency in the Italian language. However, it is recommended that you learn the language if your goal is to live in Italy and better integrate into the society there.
Is there a residency requirement for acquiring my Italian citizenship?
No. Acquisition of Italian citizenship is an automatic process, and your citizenship will be recognized even if your are living or applying from overseas.
How many hours does it take to do an Italian citizenship case?
Every project is unique, but most citizenship cases take on average between 40 to 80 hours of work from start to finish.
Can I apply for Italian citizenship along with my spouse, children, and other members of my family?
Yes. When submitting your citizenship application, you will be required to submit primary source records for yourself and other members of your family. However, only children under 18 can be naturalized with you, and your spouse would not be granted citizenship under your application. Adult children 18 and over would need to gather their own records and submit applications separately. Although spouses are not automatically granted citizenship during the citizenship process, as a spouse of an Italian citizen they would still have many of the same rights and privileges of an Italian passport holder, including the right to live and work in Italy and the European Union.
Will the Italian government accept digital or printed copies of my genealogy records?
No. All records submitted with your application must be paper documents with the appropriate certifications and apostilles for international records originating outside of Italy.
Do I have to renounce my current citizenship?
No. Italy allows dual citizenship.
How long have you been doing citizenship cases?
Our current research team, which includes many genealogists, attorneys, and other experts in the field, have been doing citizenship cases for more than 20 years. We have helped many clients get second passports in places like Italy, Portugal, Ireland, and elsewhere.
Where are you located?
We are currently in the process of opening a new office in Dublin, Ireland, which gives us direct access to the European Union, United Kingdom, and Schengen Area. Our company headquarters, which falls under the umbrella of MyGenealogist.com, is located in Salt Lake City, USA, where we have access to the world's largest collection of genealogical records at the Family History Library. We also have on-the-ground contacts in many major international cities, including New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., London, Rome, Madrid, and elsewhere.
I can only budget a small amount of money for this. What are the cheapest options available for people with limited resources?
Citizenship cases are generally much more challenging than standard genealogy projects, as on-the-ground research is usually required at multiple archives and in multiple geographic jurisdictions and countries. Unlike standard family history projects, you are also required to get translations and special certifications of records during this type of project, which requires much more labor and time-management in terms of editing, records ordering, report-writing, letter-writing, and overall administration. This is the reason we generally recommend working in either a 40-hour or 80-hour block of research time, as most projects like this take around 80 hours total from start to finish. However, if you'd like assistance doing research on your own, we offer hourly consultations at €150 an hour, as well as research plans that take about 5 hours to put together, since we have to review all of your past research, records, and eligibility for citizenship based upon your current documentation. The price for this service would be €700. However, even if you are saving money on a smaller block of research time, you will still need to order certified copies and translations of the records needed for your case, which oftentimes ends up costing several hundred euros even when doing your own research.
If I only need a few records for my citizenship application, why would it take so many hours to complete my project?
Although you might only need a few records to help solve your case, gathering those individual records will be a labor-intensive and time-consuming process as these records will no doubt be found at multiple archives, libraries, public health departments, courthouses, registry offices, churches, cemeteries, and elsewhere. In addition, and especially for clients in the U.S., Canada, and Australia, records will need to gathered in more than one country, and records in Europe will need to found during onsite visits to a variety of government agencies and archives overseas. In addition to this, there is a huge amount of records review, analysis of evidence, editing, report-writing, and other tasks that must be completed during a citizenship case, which means that these projects are much more challenging than standard family history projects where research can be completed online at websites like Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, and MyHeritage from the comfort of home.
How much does a standard standard Italian citizenship case cost?
As noted above, we recommend starting with at least a 40-hour block of research time for citizenship cases, although some cases take 80 hours or more to complete. It's possible that your case could be completed in 40 hours, but it might take up to 80 hours or more if we're encountering a lot of brick walls during the search for your ancestors, or if we're doing research in a lot of different jurisdictions. Our hourly rate for a standard 40-hour project would be €135/hour, so a project of this size and scope would cost €5,400. If the 80-hour project fits into your budget, there would be a €1,200 discount on the larger project, which would come out to €9,600. Although these projects might be out of the range of affordability for some people, it's important to keep in mind that the process of acquiring a second citizenship is a huge investment in you and your family's future, with all of the associated rights, responsibilities, privileges, and benefits that would accrue not only to yourself, but also to your descendants. Genealogy research can be a substantial investment, but it is also a great value in terms of what you'd ultimately be getting with affordable health care, educational opportunities, property ownership, freedom of movement, and citizenship rights in Italy and the 27-member block of the European Union.
What is the current turnaround time on citizenship projects?
Depending on your situation, most projects take an average of 10-12 weeks to complete. However, if brick walls are encountered in finding your documentation, the project could take considerably longer. In addition, some government agencies are notoriously slow in responding to record requests, which is the primary reason we recommend larger projects where we have enough time to do on-the-ground research in the places of interest, where we can often get records on the same day, thus saving time and labor, as opposed to waiting for records requests to come in from overseas, where you could sometimes end up waiting for several months or longer. The other thing to take into consideration in terms of timing and completion of your overall citizenship case, is that we will attempt to complete your project in 2-3 months, but you would still most likely need to make an appointment with your new country's consulate near your current place of residence. For example, if doing an Italian citizenship case, where you're currently residing in New York City, you will need to take your package of documentation to them during your appointment, and with the various consulates getting booked up many months in advance, the Italian government may take several months or more than a year to process your application, even after all of the research work and document gathering has been completed.
How long does it take to acquire citizenship through the process of jure sanguinis (AKA citizenship by descent)?
As earlier discussed, the genealogical research required for citizenship cases usually takes a couple of months. However, the entire process of confirming your citizenship can sometimes take a year or two because there are additional steps that must be completed in terms of your new country processing your application, and interviews with various consulates and government agencies might be required before your final papers are processed. Many countries, Italy being a good example of this, are literally swamped with requests for citizenship from people overseas in places like the United States, Canada, Argentina, and Australia, so processing time on the government side of things can often take a bit of time and patience for the person applying.
Will I have the contact information of the genealogists assigned to my case?
Yes. You will be in contact with a project manager from start to finish of your case. All projects are worked on collectively as a team, with researchers working in many different geographic areas and with different specialties. The project manager is responsible for handling all aspects of your case and would be collaborating with researchers, libraries, lawyers, archives, and government agencies as needed for completion of your case.
Why do records need to be certified?
Official copies of records would be needed for your citizenship case, which means that these records must be paper copies (not photocopies or digital copies) with the proper certifications or embossed seals as proof of official certification. For example, you can't print out copies of vital records, passenger lists, or census records from websites like FamilySearch or Ancestry.com and present them to the Italian government as evidence for your case. For these types of records, you would need to obtain official copies from many different repositories including libraries, archives, health departments, courthouses, and civil registry offices. In addition, you would need to get a separate certification, or apostille, for all international records.
What is an apostille?
An apostille is an internationally recognized certification as defined by the Hague Treaty of 1961. Countries like Italy require that records found outside the country have this certification in addition to that provided by local health departments, government archives, and other agencies.
I now have all of the records required for my citizenship application. Which consulate or government agency do I need to contact for submission of my application?
In the past, you would have visited the Italian consulate closest to your place of residence to process your application, or, if living in Italy, you would have applied to a comune (town hall) or local court. However, as of 28 March 2025, future applications will now be processed through a centralized office for this purpose in Rome.
Do my documents need to be translated into the Italian language for my citizenship application?
Yes. Any records found outside of Italy will need to be translated into the Italian language by a certified translator.
Do I need an attorney to help with my case?
You may need the help of an attorney with your case if you are going before a court to apply for citizenship in Italy. However, if you are submitting your documentation to a consulate and were able to gather all of your required records by yourself or through the help of a genealogist, this might be unnecessary. For example, the consulate through which you're applying will be reviewing a checklist of documents needed for your case. If you have everything needed as required by the Italian nationality law, your citizenship will be confirmed based upon this checklist of records.
Can I live anywhere in Europe after acquiring my Italian passport?
Yes. after confirming your citizenship, you can not only live in Italy, but also in countries like Germany, Spain, France, or elsewhere. As an Italian and EU citizen, you have the right to live, work, study, and travel in all 27 EU member states.
How many countries are there in the European Union?
There are 27 member countries in the European Union.
What is the Schengen-Area?
The Schengen Area is associated with the European Union but not under its jurisdiction. The Schengen Treaty allows visa-free travel and residency in EU member states, as well as the Schengen Area countries of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
Can I also live, work, or study in other countries in the Schengen Area but outside of the EU?
Yes, as a European citizen you would have all the rights and privileges to live, work, travel, and study in Schengen countries outside of the European Union. These countries include Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, so you will have access to 31 countries total with your Italian passport.
Can I live, work, or study in the UK after getting Italy citizenship?
No, after the United Kingdom left the European Union in 2018, European citizens no longer have any rights or privileges to reside, work, or study in the United Kingdom without a residency permit. The exception to this would be Ireland, which has a reciprocal agreement with the UK.
Will I be subject Italian income taxes after acquiring my citizenship?
No. You will only become a tax resident of Italy if you live there for more than 183 days a year.
Can my children or grandchildren attend university in the European Union after getting Italian citizenship?
Yes, unlike the United States where premier universities like NYU, Harvard, or Princeton charge upwards of $50,000-$60,000 per year in tuition, European institutions of a similar pedigree often charge much less or are even free for EU citizens. However, your children or grandchildren would first need to confirm their Italian citizenship through your application, if under 18 years of age, or on their own if they have reached adulthood.
Am I eligible for healthcare in the European Union after getting citizenship in a member country?
Yes. Health care in Europe is considered a human right, unlike countries like the United States, where people often go into bankruptcy because of high medical expenses.
Can I buy property in the EU after getting second citizenship there?
Yes, as a European citizen you can acquire property in any of the 27 member states, but there generally aren't many restrictions on foreigners buying property in most EU countries. However, having rights to ownership differ from rights to residency, so if you plan on living in your new property, you will need to get a residency visa or second citizenship in your country of choice.