Italian Citizenship by Descent: 8 Steps to Apply

Becoming an Italian citizen is a meaningful way to honor your family’s roots while gaining the benefits of European Union citizenship. But after Law 74/2025 took effect, the rules for Italian citizenship by descent changed significantly.

If you have Italian ancestry, it’s still possible to qualify—especially through a parent or grandparent—but automatic recognition no longer applies to most people born abroad.

What Is Citizenship by Descent?

Citizenship by descent (in Italian, jure sanguinis) means your right to citizenship comes from your bloodline rather than place of birth. Italy still recognizes this path, but Law 74/2025 changed how recognition works for people born abroad.

Today, most applicants must qualify through a parent or grandparent who either held only Italian citizenship at your birth or lived legally in Italy for two continuous years before your birth or adoption.

The following eight steps explain how to apply for citizenship in Italy under the current law and what new requirements you’ll need to meet.

1. Find Out as Many Details as Possible

Before you can apply for Italian citizenship by descent, start by mapping out your Italian lineage in detail. List every ancestor in your direct bloodline back to the relative born in Italy—parents, grandparents, and, if applicable, great-grandparents.

Under Law 74/2025, those born abroad who also hold another citizenship are generally considered never to have acquired Italian citizenship, unless they qualify under one of the new exceptions in Article 3-bis of Law 91/1992. You may still qualify if:

• Your parent or grandparent held only Italian citizenship (no dual nationality) at the time of your birth;
• Your parent or adoptive parent lived legally in Italy for at least two continuous years after becoming Italian and before your birth or adoption; or
• You submitted a complete application before March 27, 2025, when the new law took effect.

If your claim depends on a great-grandparent or earlier ancestor and you haven’t yet filed, you’ll likely need legal assistance to pursue recognition through the courts.

Constitutional Court Judgment 142/2025 confirmed that jure sanguinis remains valid, but the new generational and connection limits remain in force. For now, focus on proving that your link falls within the parent-or-grandparent range.

2. Book Your Appointment Early

Consular offices continue to experience long waiting lists, so booking an appointment as soon as you meet the eligibility conditions is key. However, under the new Italian citizenship by descent requirements, only applicants who clearly qualify under the new law—or who filed before March 27, 2025—should proceed.

Appointments confirmed before that date are still valid under the “letter a-bis” rule from the Ministry of the Interior, but all new appointments are processed under Law 74/2025.

When booking, keep a copy of your confirmation email and note the exact date and time, since this documentation may prove essential if questions arise about when your application was submitted.

3. Order Multiple Copies of Documents

Every application for Italian citizenship through descent requires certified, long-form civil records for each generation linking you to your Italian ancestor. That includes birth, marriage, and death certificates, along with any naturalization or non-naturalization records.

After Law 74/2025, you’ll also need to document one of the qualifying exceptions. For instance:

• To prove exclusive Italian citizenship, request negative naturalization certificates or official statements showing that your parent or grandparent never became a citizen of another country.
• To prove residence in Italy for two years, obtain a historical certificate of residence from the Italian comune (municipality) where your ancestor lived.

Order at least two certified copies of each record, since both consular and court proceedings often require originals. Keeping spares avoids delays later in the process.

4. Get the Long-Form Document

Always request the “long-form” or “extended” version of every civil record. These contain full details—parent names, birthplaces, and exact dates—needed to establish an unbroken line of Italian descent.

For Italian records, ask the comune for an estratto per riassunto dell’atto di nascita or copia integrale. For U.S. or other foreign records, make sure they are apostilled and professionally translated into Italian.

Under current administrative guidance, incomplete or summary certificates no longer meet the Italian citizenship by descent requirements, since officials must verify lineage and citizenship status precisely as described in the Interior Ministry’s May 2025 circular.

5. Don’t Throw Away the Envelopes

When you receive certified documents, keep the original envelopes or delivery receipts. They serve as proof that the certificates were issued by official authorities and that you didn’t alter or substitute pages later.

Consulates pay close attention to authenticity and chain of custody, especially when reviewing foreign civil records. If you ever need to demonstrate where your paperwork came from, those postmarks and seals will make the process easier.

6. Make Digital Copies of Important Documents

Scan every document in color and store the files securely online or on a backup drive. Most consulates now require complete digital submissions through their web portals before your in-person appointment. Be sure each file is clearly labeled in both English and Italian—for example, Birth Certificate – Giovanni Rossi / Certificato di Nascita.

If you’re working with a professional citizenship service, share these digital copies so they can check for errors before the appointment. Having every document organized and accessible prevents costly rejections and helps you apply for Italian citizenship by descent more efficiently.

7. Stay Organized

Gathering your family documents can feel like a full-time project, but consistent organization will save you months later.

Use a binder or spreadsheet to track each generation, certificate, and translation, noting which documents still need apostilles. Double-check that all names and dates match exactly across records.

Under Law 74/2025, missing or incorrect documentation can cause an application to be deemed incomplete, forcing you to restart the process—and pay the €600 processing fee again. For minor children’s declarations, the €250 fee applies separately. Planning ahead helps ensure that all payments, translations, and certifications are valid when you attend your appointment.

8. Other Things to Know About Italian Citizenship for Foreigners

If you’re pursuing Italian heritage citizenship today, here are the most important updates to remember:

• Cut-off date: Only applications fully submitted before 11:59 p.m. (Rome time) on March 27, 2025 are reviewed under the old rules.
• Children born after March 27, 2025: Parents must make a formal declaration within one year of birth to transmit citizenship.
• Minors who were under 18 on May 24, 2025: Parents whose parent/grandparent qualifies under Article 3-bis may file a transitional declaration by 11:59 PM Rome time on May 31, 2026.
• Residency requirement for missed declarations: If a parent doesn’t file in time, the child can later acquire citizenship by living legally in Italy for two years.
• Judgment 142/2025: Italy’s Constitutional Court confirmed that jure sanguinis is constitutionally valid but allowed Parliament to set generational limits to ensure a “genuine link” with Italy.

These reforms make the process more structured but still achievable. With careful preparation, accurate documentation, and timely filings, you can still apply for Italian citizenship by descent and reconnect with your ancestral homeland.

The Bottom Line

While Italian citizenship through descent is no longer automatic for every descendant, Italy continues to recognize the rights of families with close generational ties and authentic connections to the country. If your Italian ancestor was a parent or grandparent who maintained exclusive citizenship—or if you filed your application before the 2025 deadline—you still have a strong claim.

For others, the new path may involve establishing residence in Italy or pursuing judicial recognition, but the goal remains the same: restoring your link to Italy and your European identity.

If you’re ready to explore your eligibility, ITAMCAP’s citizenship experts can guide you through each document, deadline, and declaration needed to make your Italian heritage citizenship a reality. Contact us today and ask for your free phone consultation.

FAQs

How do I get Italian citizenship through descent?

Italy still recognizes jure sanguinis (citizenship by bloodline), but the process changed significantly with Law 74/2025.

You can apply for Italian citizenship through descent if your parent or grandparent was an Italian citizen and held only Italian citizenship at your birth, or if your completed application was filed before March 27, 2025.

If your ancestor became a citizen of a foreign country before their child was born, the transmission stops. If they naturalized later, you may still qualify.

Applications based on a great-grandparent or earlier ancestor are now generally excluded.

How long does it take to apply for Italian citizenship by descent?

Timelines vary, but applicants should expect the process to take a year or more, depending on consular workloads and how quickly documents are prepared.

Appointments booked and confirmed before March 27, 2025, remain valid under transitional rules, while newer applicants are processed under the current law.

Judicial cases can take several months, but they sometimes move faster than consular recognition. Submitting complete and properly translated documents from the start helps reduce delays.

What documents are needed for Italian citizenship by descent?

To apply for Italian citizenship by descent, you must prove your direct line of Italian ancestry and compliance with the new eligibility requirements. You’ll need long-form, apostilled, and translated records, including:

• Birth, marriage, and death certificates for each generation
• Proof your Italian ancestor never naturalized (or did so after the next descendant’s birth)
• Evidence your qualifying parent or grandparent held exclusive Italian citizenship or lived legally in Italy for two continuous years before your birth

Consulates now reject incomplete or uncertified documentation, so accuracy and consistency across all records are essential.

Do you need to speak Italian to get citizenship by descent?

No language test is required for adults applying by descent. For minors who miss the one-year declaration, the later path is acquisition by benefit of law after two years of legal residence in Italy. The Ministry does not add a B1 exam to this route.

Do I qualify for Italian dual citizenship?

If your Italian parent or grandparent retained Italian citizenship—and you can prove it with proper documentation—you may qualify. Those whose applications were fully filed before March 27, 2025, still fall under the old rules.

Because the 2025 reform added new limits and fees (€600 for adults, €250 for minors), working with Italian citizenship experts can make navigating today’s Italian heritage citizenship process much smoother.