Italian Citizenship by Descent: Complete Guide 2025

If you have Italian parents or grandparents, you might be entitled to Italian citizenship through jure sanguinis (right of blood). Due to significant rule changes in 2025, Italy has further tightened its citizenship eligibility requirements. The new Decree-Law no. 36 (March 28, 2025) now requires that your Italian parent was born in Italy, or resided in Italy for at least two years before your birth, or that your Italian grandparent was born in Italy. This guide is updated for 2025 to reflect these important changes.

Do You Actually Qualify?

Before diving into the process, let's establish if you're eligible. You qualify for Italian citizenship by descent if:

✅ You Qualify If:

You have an Italian parent born in Italy OR
You have an Italian parent born abroad who resided in Italy for at least two consecutive years before your birth OR
You have an Italian grandparent born in Italy
Your Italian ancestor never renounced their Italian citizenship before their children were born.
You were not a minor child living with your parent when they naturalized as a foreign citizen before August 16, 1992.
There's an unbroken line of citizenship from your parent or grandparent to you.
You can prove the family lineage with official documents.

❌ You Don't Qualify If:

Your Italian parent or grandparent naturalized as a foreign citizen before their children were born.
You were a minor child living with your parent when they naturalized as a foreign citizen before August 16, 1992.
Your Italian parent was born outside Italy AND did not reside in Italy for at least two consecutive years before your birth.
Your Italian grandparent was born outside Italy.
You cannot locate the required official documents.
The citizenship line was broken by renunciation before the birth of the next in line.
Your Italian ancestor is a great-grandparent or more distant.

🚨 Special Case: Female Ancestors Born Before January 1, 1948

If your lineage passes through a woman born before January 1, 1948, and her child was born before this date, you'll likely need to apply through Italian courts (the "1948 case") rather than consulates. This is more complex but has a high success rate with proper legal representation.

🔴 Important: 2025 Rule Changes

In March 2025, Italy introduced Decree-Law no. 36, which significantly changes citizenship eligibility for individuals born abroad. Under these new rules, individuals born abroad and holding another citizenship are not considered Italian citizens unless one of the following conditions is met:

The Italian parent was born in Italy (with an Italian birth certificate from an Italian municipality)
The Italian parent resided in Italy for at least two consecutive years before the child's birth (proven by a historical certificate of residence)
The Italian grandparent was born in Italy (with an Italian birth certificate from an Italian municipality)

Additionally, the Supreme Court of Appeal has clarified that when an Italian citizen lost citizenship by naturalizing in another country before August 16, 1992, their minor children living with them also lost Italian citizenship. This applies even if the child was born in a country that applies jus soli (like the United States) and was a dual national at birth.

These changes have significantly impacted eligibility for many applicants, particularly in the U.S. where an estimated 20 million people have Italian heritage.

What Documents Do You Actually Need?

The document collection is usually the most time-consuming part. Here's exactly what you need:

For Your Italian Ancestor (the one who emigrated):

Italian birth certificate (Estratto per Riassunto dell'Atto di Nascita) from the Italian comune (town) where they were born.
Italian marriage certificate (Estratto per Riassunto dell'Atto di Matrimonio) if they married in Italy.
Death certificate (if deceased).
Certificate of No Record of Italian Citizenship Renunciation (or naturalization records from their new country).

For Each Generation After (in your direct line):

Birth certificates for each person in the lineage.
Marriage certificates for each married person.
Death certificates for deceased family members.
Divorce records (if applicable).

For You:

Your birth certificate.
Marriage certificate (if married).
Criminal background check from your country of residence and any country you've lived in for an extended period since age 14.

All Documents Must Be:

Original or certified copies (long-form, containing parental information).
Apostilled (authenticated for international use, if issued outside Italy).
Translated into Italian by certified translators (for all non-Italian documents).

Step-by-Step Process for 2025

Step 1: Research Your Italian Ancestor (2-8 weeks, can be longer)

Start by gathering family information:

Full name of your Italian ancestor.
Approximate birth date and place in Italy.
When they emigrated from Italy.
Did they ever become a citizen of another country? (Check naturalization records meticulously).

💡 Free Resources:

FamilySearch.org (free genealogy records)
Portale Antenati (Italian State Archives' digital records)
Ellis Island database / other immigration records for your country.

Step 2: Obtain Italian Documents (4-12 weeks, can be longer)

Contact the Ufficio Anagrafe or Ufficio Stato Civile in your ancestor's Italian town:

Most Italian comuni have online contact forms or PEC email addresses.
Request "Estratto per Riassunto dell'Atto di Nascita."
Cost: Usually €15-30 per document, plus postage.
Many comuni now accept international credit cards or PayPal.

💡 Tip: If you don't speak Italian, use Google Translate or hire a genealogy service specializing in Italian records. Be patient; responses can be slow.

Step 3: Collect Non-Italian Family Documents (4-12 weeks, varies greatly)

Gather all birth, marriage, and death certificates for each generation:

US vital records: Contact state/county vital records offices.
Other countries: Contact relevant government offices.
Cost: Typically $15-60 per document.

Step 4: Get Apostilles (2-6 weeks per document set)

All non-Italian documents need apostilles:

US documents: Through your state's Secretary of State office (for state/local docs) or US State Department (for federal docs).
Cost: $10-50 per document.

Step 5: Translate Documents (2-6 weeks)

All non-Italian documents (including apostilles themselves in some jurisdictions) need certified Italian translations:

Must be done by translators recognized by the Italian Consulate/Court.
Cost: $30-70 per page/document.
Find translators through Italian consulates or professional translation associations.

Step 6: Choose Your Application Route

You have two main options:

Option A: Italian Consulate in Your Country of Residence

Pros: No need to relocate to Italy initially.
Cons: Extremely long wait times for appointments (1 to 5+ years in many locations). Processing times after submission also vary.
Cost: Consulate fees around €300 (non-refundable application fee).

Option B: Apply Directly in Italy (Comune Application)

Pros: Potentially much faster processing (6-18 months after establishing residency).
Cons: Must establish legal residency in Italy and remain there during processing. More complex logistically and higher upfront living costs.
Cost: Travel, accommodation, local registration fees, plus the application fee.

Option C: Judicial Route (e.g., "1948 Case" or challenging consulate delays)

Pros: Can overcome certain legal hurdles or bypass excessive consulate wait times.
Cons: Requires hiring an Italian lawyer, court proceedings can take 1-3 years.
Cost: Legal fees can be significant (€4,000 - €10,000+).

Step 7: Submit Application & Wait

Bring all original documents plus copies.
Pay required fees.
Attend any required interviews.
Wait for processing. Consulates must legally process within 2 years from a complete application, but this deadline is often not met. Applying in Italy has a 180-day statutory limit for comunes, but this can also be exceeded.

Real Timeline Expectations for 2025

Total Timeline: 18 months - 5+ years (highly variable)

Document collection & preparation: 6-18 months (often underestimated).
Consulate appointment wait: 1 - 5+ years (major bottleneck).
Processing after submission (Consulate): 6 months - 2+ years.
Processing after submission (Italy - Comune): 6 - 18 months (after residency established).
Processing after submission (Court): 1 - 3 years.

💡 Reality Check: Start document collection ASAP. Consulate wait times are the biggest hurdle for many.

Actual Costs Breakdown for 2025 (Estimates)

DIY Approach (Consulate - Minimum):

Italian documents: €60-120 ($65-130)
US/other documents: $200-500
Apostilles: $150-400
Translations: $300-800
Consulate application fee: ~€300 ($325)
Total: $1,040 - $2,155

With Professional Help (Genealogy, Document Retrieval, Legal):

Add genealogy research: $300-1,500
Add full document service: $2,000 - $7,000+
Add legal consultation/court case: $4,000 - €10,000+
Total: Can range from $2,000 to $15,000+

Italy Route (Additional Costs):

Flights to Italy: $500-1,500
Accommodation (6-18 months): $5,000-20,000+
Living expenses, local fees.

Common Mistakes That Cause Delays in 2025

1. Not Verifying Naturalization Status Thoroughly

Mistake: Assuming your ancestor never naturalized, or naturalized after the birth of the next in line without exact proof. Solution: Obtain official "Certificate of Non-Existence of Records" from USCIS, NARA, and county courts if US-based. Similar searches for other countries.

2. Incorrect or Incomplete Document Versions

Mistake: Requesting short-form certificates, or missing parental information. Solution: Always request "long-form" or "full" birth/marriage certificates with all available data.

3. Using Non-Certified/Unqualified Translators

Mistake: Using any translator. Solution: Only use translators on the consulate's approved list or those with recognized certifications in Italy.

4. Missing Apostilles or Incorrect Apostilles

Mistake: Forgetting apostilles, or getting them from the wrong authority. Solution: Every non-Italian public document needs an apostille from the correct issuing authority in its country of origin.

5. Discrepancies in Names/Dates

Mistake: Ignoring minor variations in names or dates across documents. Solution: Address discrepancies with affidavits or amendments if possible, or seek legal advice. Consulates are increasingly strict.

What Happens After Approval?

Once approved:

Your birth will be registered in Italy. You'll receive an Italian citizenship confirmation.
You can apply for an Italian ID card (Carta d'Identità Elettronica) and an Italian passport (current fee ~€116).
You'll have full EU citizenship rights: live, work, study anywhere in the EU/EEA.
Your minor children automatically become Italian citizens (their births need to be registered).

Should You Hire Help?

DIY If:

You have clear, easily accessible family records.
Your Italian ancestor's town and details are confirmed.
You're comfortable with extensive bureaucracy and long waits.
You have significant time for research and follow-up.

Get Help If:

Family records are unclear, incomplete, or hard to find.
You don't know your ancestor's exact origin in Italy.
You encounter discrepancies or legal complexities (e.g., "1948 case").
You want to minimize errors, save time, and navigate complex consular/Italian procedures.

Getting Started Today in 2025

Immediate Next Steps:

Talk to family members: gather all names, dates, locations.
Locate key documents: start with your own and your parents'/grandparents'.
Research naturalization status: this is critical. Search USCIS, NARA, etc.
Identify the Italian comune: and prepare to contact them for your ancestor's birth certificate.

Free Resources:

Check your eligibility with our assessment tool.
Compare costs with other citizenship options.
Learn more about the process.

Remember: Italian citizenship by descent is a marathon, not a sprint. The process requires immense patience, meticulous attention to detail, and perseverance. Start early, be methodical, and understand that wait times are a significant factor in 2025.