Dual Citizenship

Italian Citizenship by Descent (Jure Sanguinis)

Under Italian law, you may be entitled to citizenship if your Italian ancestors maintained an uninterrupted line of citizenship leading to your generation. If you were born in the United States or in another country that granted you its citizenship at birth “jure soli” (by law of the soil), you may also claim Italian citizenship “jure sanguinis” (by right of blood). Of course, you will need to provide supporting documents and meet the other Italian citizenship requirements, a process with which we can assist you.

Italian citizenship by descent has undergone significant legal changes under Law 74/2025.

You can now only claim citizenship through an Italian parent or grandparent. Citizenship claims through great-grandparents or earlier generations are no longer allowed for applications filed after March 27, 2025.

To qualify under the new law, you must demonstrate that your Italian parent or grandparent was exclusively an Italian citizen at the time of your birth, or at the time of their death if they passed away before you were born.

If you were born abroad and hold another citizenship (e.g., U.S. citizenship), the Italian government now assumes you never acquired Italian citizenship unless you meet specific exceptions. These exceptions include:

• Filing your Italian citizenship application before March 28, 2025.
• Having an Italian parent or grandparent who lived in Italy for at least two consecutive years before your birth.
• If your Italian ancestor was a woman who gave birth before January 1, 1948, you may still qualify for Italian citizenship by filing a judicial case. These 1948 cases fall outside the administrative process and remain a viable legal pathway.

If your Italian citizenship application was submitted by March 27, 2025, your case will be evaluated under the older, more flexible rules.

To support your application, you’ll need to submit:

• Vital records such as birth and marriage certificates
• Death certificates (if applicable)
• Naturalization records
• An application form with complete documentation

Italian Citizenship by Marriage (Jure Matrimonii)

You can also apply for Italian citizenship by marriage. Since April 27, 1983, the foreign spouse of an Italian citizen may request to acquire Italian citizenship after two years of marriage if residing in Italy, and after three years if residing abroad. Necessary documentation will include a marriage certificate, criminal background clearance, and standard proof of residency documents.

Law 74/2025 does not affect citizenship through marriage. If you are married to an Italian citizen, you may still qualify under existing rules, which include a B1 language requirement and specific residency requirements depending on where you live.

Reclaiming Italian Citizenship Lost Through Naturalization or Immigration

Individuals born in Italy who became U.S. citizens (or citizens of another country) before August 16, 1992, may have automatically lost their Italian citizenship due to naturalization. These individuals can reacquire citizenship if they make a declaration at an Italian consulate between July 1, 2025, and December 31, 2027.

If your Italian ancestor lost citizenship through naturalization, you may still be able to reclaim it—provided that the ancestor held only Italian citizenship at the time of your birth (or their death).

This exclusivity rule is now critical under Law 74/2025. ITAMCAP can help determine whether your reclaim case meets the new legal threshold and whether you are eligible to proceed.

Renouncing Italian Citizenship

For personal or business reasons, you may wish to formally renounce your rights to Italian citizenship. Dual citizens registered in the AIRE (Registry of Italian Nationals living abroad) can renounce their Italian citizenship voluntarily by making a formal declaration and submitting the required documents at the consulate on the day of their appointment, with our help if needed.

Advantages of Applying for Italian Citizenship

If you meet the current eligibility criteria, you have access to various benefits that come with obtaining Italian citizenship:

• The right to purchase property in Italy and/or reside there indefinitely
• The right to work and to some preference in hiring for jobs within the European Union
• The ability to study, reside, or work not only in Italy but across the 27 EU countries without the need for a work or travel visa
• Access to high-quality medical care and public education which is a right of EU citizens
• The right to vote in Italian elections and travel under an Italian passport
• Tax-free import of vehicles and other high-value items from the U.S. to Italy as personal property
• Reconnecting or establishing family and cultural ties associated with your Italian heritage
• The ability to submit an Italian citizenship application for your children

NOTE: Due to Law 74/2025, Italian citizenship is no longer automatically passed to minor children. A formal declaration must now be made in person at the consulate within one year of the child’s birth. Both parents (or the legal guardian) must typically participate, and the declaring parent must hold only Italian citizenship at the time of the child’s birth.

Once your citizenship is recognized, you’ll be eligible for AIRE registration, giving you access to consular services, voting rights from abroad, and streamlined processing of official documents while living outside Italy.