Determining whether you qualify for Italian citizenship will teach you a lot about your family history and offers several paths to achieve this goal.

You can qualify by birth or citizenship by marriage, or obtain citizenship by descent if you have dual nationality.

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Are you wondering how an American can become an Italian citizen?

Many people simply do not know how to obtain dual citizenship. After all, the application process, historical records, vital records searches, required documents and translations, can seem daunting.

But assistance is available through our program, to help you obtain your dual citizenship.

Italy allows dual citizenship for those who qualify.

You and your family members will need to apply to the Italian Consulate that has jurisdiction over the state or USCIS district where you reside. If you have more than one residence, you must declare one as your primary residence and submit your application to the correct Consulate in your area.

You can only apply in Italy if you reside there and are seeking citizenship by residence.

A dual citizenship application will require, at a minimum:

– Birth and marriage certificates for you and bloodline.

– Divorce certificates.

– Certificate of denial of naturalization.

– A search of naturalization records for your Italian ancestor or spouse, which will establish your right to citizenship.

If your ancestor or spouse renounced citizenship when they naturalized, you may not qualify.

Many of the documents required for your dual citizenship application, including birth, marriage, death, divorce, and naturalization records must be translated by a sworn translator. They have to be notarized or legalized and must be authenticated by Apostille, which is an internationally recognized form of legal authentication. Apostille services are another part of the cost of dual Italian citizenship. If you need help with experienced Italian citizenship, we offer all the services needed to complete these necessary steps.

If you are eligible for Italian citizenship by marriage or residence, you will need to obtain adequate knowledge of the language – level B1 of the CEFR. If you are applying for citizenship by descent or lineage, it is not necessary to speak the language – although, of course, it is highly recommended for new Italian citizens and those traveling to Italy.

It can take many years to complete the process once your application has been accepted by the Consulate with jurisdiction in your area.

The best way to complete the process in the shortest possible time is the judicial route with the submission of the application to the Italian court of jurisdiction.

You can complete your application for an Italian passport after your citizenship has been granted.

Becoming a dual citizen will not affect your US citizenship, nor will it prevent you from using a US passport. You will have your rights either way.

Serving in the Italian armed forces is voluntary and not compulsory for you or your children.

If you choose not to live in Italy, you must register with AIRE, which is the official register of Italian citizens living abroad. This status allows access to the services of the Italian Consulate.

You will need to wait to apply for a passport until you receive notification that your Italian citizenship has been confirmed. Your passport will allow you to travel and work not only in Italy but in all EU countries. If you are thinking of traveling or living in Italy, you will want to have this important travel document.

If you have minor children, they can be included in your application. Your children over the age of 18 will need to apply separately, either simultaneously or after approval of your application. To pass Italian citizenship to children born after obtaining your citizenship, you will need to register the birth in Italy, and citizenship is automatic. Adopted children are also eligible, after judicial review by the Juvenile Court.

After you acquire your Italian citizenship, your spouse becomes eligible to apply for citizenship by marriage. They will have to wait until you have been married for 2 years if you live in Italy or 3 years if you live outside the country. If you have minor children, the time is reduced to 18 months, no matter where you live. Italy recognizes same-sex marriages and those living in a conjugal union, with the same requirements for registering the marriage at the Italian Consulate or the Italian Civil Registry.

The law in Italy offers citizenship in a very specific set of scenarios – by blood, by marriage, and “jus soli” (land right). This includes children born in Italy of unknown parents, born to “stateless persons”, or those who were born in Italy and have resided there uninterruptedly until they reach the age of majority and declare their intention to acquire citizenship.

Although women who were Italian citizens before 1948 cannot technically be the basis for citizenship by descent, their descendants who appeal their citizenship case to the Italian courts usually receive their request due to the unpopularity of this official rule. You cannot obtain Italian citizenship by buying real estate or moving to Italy, although you can apply for resident status if you intend to stay there for more than 90 days.

You can become an Italian citizen with dual citizenship as an American by blood (with a qualifying Italian ancestor) or by marriage to an Italian citizen spouse. The requirements to become an Italian citizen vary depending on the route you choose.

You can stay in Italy for up to 90 days as a tourist or longer on a work or student visa. You can retire in Italy if you can prove that you are financially self-sufficient with an elective residence visa. To become a resident, you must register with a local police station and be considered of good standing.

If you have self-sustainable income, assets, and investments and do not intend to work in Italy, you can apply for an elective residency or “golden visa”. If approved, you can live in Italy as a resident.

If you are an Italian citizen residing abroad, you must register with AIRE. All resident citizens of Italy are required to pay taxes, obey the laws of both nations where they are citizens, report for military service if called up, and have the right to vote in Italian and EU elections.

Once you obtain Italian citizenship and register with AIRE, you can receive an EU passport. If you lose your paperwork or identity card, you can request duplicates of your regional appointment and may be charged a small fee for replacements.

Once you obtain Italian citizenship by marriage, you will not lose it if you divorce. There are only a few ways to lose your citizenship once it is acquired.

If you renounce your Italian citizenship to become a citizen of a country that does not allow dual citizenship.

If you join the armed forces of another country (or take an official post there) when that country is at war with Italy.