5 Obligations of Italian Citizens Living Abroad with Italian Dual Citizenship

Obtaining American Italian dual citizenship offers several benefits. Once you obtain your dual status, there are, however, some specific obligations you must fulfill to maintain your dual status. It is important to understand what these obligations are and how they could affect you.

1. Register and File Your AIRE

AIRE (Anagrafe degli Italiani Residenti all’Estero) is part of the Italian registry system. It requires citizens who are living abroad to register their residency and living abroad status. This helps the Italian government maintain Italian citizenship records.

You can complete your AIRE registration at an Italian consulate office in the United States. This registration also ensures you can obtain the benefits available through the Italian consulate office for Italian citizens, such as getting a replacement Italian passport, renewing an existing passport, and so on.

2. Vote in Italian Elections

Italian citizens living abroad and those with dual status are granted the privilege to vote in various Italian elections. Depending on whether your residence is in Italy or the United States will determine which municipal and national elections you can vote in, either through the Italian consulate or in-person in Italy.

3. Pay Taxes in Italy

Italian citizens still have to pay taxes when living abroad. There are specific requirements based on where the income is earned and your residence status. For example, if your residence is in the United States, but your earned income is in Italy, but you did not reside in Italy for more than 183 days in the year, then you only pay tax in Italy on the income earned in Italy.

On the other hand, if you reside in Italy for more than 183 days every year, then you are required to pay taxes on your entire income, regardless of where it was earned. It is highly recommended to consult with an Italian tax expert to find out what tax obligations you may have.

4. Obey the Laws of Both Countries

If you have American Italian dual citizenship status, you must obey the laws of both the United States and Italy. For example, if the United States has travel restrictions to certain countries, you must adhere to those, even if Italy does not have the same travel restrictions and vice versa.

5. Report for Military Duty if Called

Young men must register for the U.S. Selective Service, even when they hold dual citizenship status. In addition, if the Italian government has a national emergency and orders Italian citizens to report for duty, they must do so even when living abroad. Yet, it worth mentioning, Italy has never recalled citizens living abroad to report for military duty.

Please keep in mind, these are just five of the obligations Italian citizens have when living abroad. In addition to these and other obligations that arise, Italian dual citizenship boasts a myriad of unique benefits. The obligations of Italian citizens could vary when living abroad in different foreign countries.

To learn more about the requirements for dual citizenship and how to obtain Italian dual citizenship or for help with your Italian dual citizenship application form and documentation, please contact the Italian American Citizenship Assistance Program at (305) 812-5512 for a FREE 30-minute initial consultation today!