Documents Needed for an Italian Citizenship Application

What documents are needed for an Italian citizenship application? The process of applying for Italian citizenship by descent or marriage will require specific documents that meet the requirements of the Italian Consulate of Embassy that has jurisdiction in your area.

Which route you take to seek Italian dual citizenship will determine which documents are required, but this overview will guide you in gathering the information about your Italian ancestors that you may be asked for in your application process.

Documents You May Need to Become an Italian Citizen

While exact requirements may vary slightly, depending on which Consulate handles the citizenship application, you should be prepared to provide this documentation when you apply.

Birth Certificates

You will need to gather the birth certificates that show your direct lineage from an ancestor born in Italy to support citizenship by descent. These will need to be obtained from the Italian Comune where they were born, and for each subsequent generation born in the United States, from the applicable town, city, county, or state.

Death Certificates

Assuming that some of your Italian ancestors have passed away, you will need to present a certified copy of their death certificate. These documents will have been issued in whatever area the deceased person resided. To be recognized as legal documents in Italy, they must be translated into Italian and validated by an Apostille.

Marriage Certificates

If your Italian ancestor was married, or your ancestor married an Italian citizen (citizenship by marriage) you will need a certified copy of the marriage certificate. If they were married inside the U.S., the relevant secretary of state will need to provide the document, which must be approved by Apostille.

Naturalization Certificates and Documents

You will need to locate the naturalization certificates, Italian passports or resident cards, and any other information related to your ancestor’s immigration to the United States. If no such records exist, you will need to provide a statement from the Naturalization Service and the Census Bureau to support your application.

Your Own Civil Records

You will also need your own birth and marriage certificates, divorce documents, and birth certificates for your children. Expect to provide proof of residence in the jurisdiction where your consulate or embassy is located. These documents may need to be certified and translated and have an Apostille validation.

Creating a Complete and Accurate Application for Italian Citizenship

If it seems like a daunting task to locate all of these documents, the Italian American Citizenship Assistance Program can help you track down the vital records you need. They provide certified translation and Apostille services as well, which can help your application move through the process smoothly.

The process may take 18 months or more and, if your application is incomplete or improperly submitted, it can take even longer or be denied. All corrections to names, dates, ages, locations, and other discrepancies between the documents need to be identified and approved. You may also be requested to supply supporting documentation, letters, and additional vital records as part of the process.

Getting Started on Your Application for Italian Citizenship

If you are considering or are in the process of gathering the documents needed for an Italian citizenship application, you can schedule a 30-minute phone consultation to find out more. Our experts can help guide you in whether you are likely to qualify, and which scenarios and documents apply to your situation. Give us a call today at (877) 456-1660.

If possible, gather this basic information to get started with our team:

• Your Italian ancestor’s full name, year and place of birth, and place of residence in the U.S.
• Any information you have about whether your ancestor was naturalized or retained their Italian citizenship.
• The names of your direct ancestors through the generations; for example, parent, grandparent, great grandparent if necessary.
• Where a marriage took place in Italy, in cases of citizenship by marriage, and the city or town where that marriage was registered.