How to Regain Your Italian Citizenship After Renunciation

Many people gave up Italian citizenship years ago for practical reasons—employment rules, military obligations, or the mistaken belief that Italy did not allow dual nationality. Today, interest in the reacquisition of Italian citizenship has grown sharply.

The process for reclaiming Italian citizenship depends heavily on how and when citizenship was lost. As of 2025, Italian law recognizes two very different paths for former citizens. One requires establishing residence in Italy; the other is a narrow, time-limited reopening aimed at people who lost citizenship under older rules.

Having a firm grasp of which route applies to your situation is essential before taking any steps. While this guide is especially helpful for people who completed Italian citizenship renunciation, it also covers the separate 2025–2027 reopening that applies to certain former citizens who lost citizenship under pre-1992 rules.

Why Italian Citizenship Was Lost

Italian law distinguishes sharply between citizenship lost before August 16, 1992, and citizenship lost on or after that date.

Loss connected to foreign naturalization before August 16, 1992

Before Law No. 91/1992 entered into force, Italians who voluntarily acquired another nationality often lost Italian citizenship automatically under the old 1912 law. Many people affected by this rule were never fully aware of the loss at the time.

This historical distinction matters because certain former citizens in this group may now qualify for a special reacquisition option created by the 2025 reform.

Loss through formal renunciation (especially after August 16, 1992)

Since August 16, 1992, Italy has generally allowed dual citizenship. As a result, acquiring another nationality does not, by itself, cause the automatic loss of Italian citizenship, except where international agreements provide otherwise. From that point forward, citizenship may be lost through a formal act of renunciation under Law 91/1992 (Art. 11), and in a limited set of automatic-loss cases set out by law (including certain foreign military/public office scenarios and wartime cases under Art. 12).

If you chose to renounce Italian citizenship after this date—or lost it for another reason on or after August 16, 1992—the newer reopening provisions do not apply. In most of these cases, reacquisition requires residence in Italy.

Because terminology is often used loosely, one of the most common early mistakes is confusing pre-1992 loss with post-1992 renouncing Italian citizenship. Your document trail—not assumptions—controls which rules apply.

Choosing the Correct Reacquisition Path

Route 1: Reacquisition by Establishing Residence in Italy (Article 13)

For many people who previously completed Italian citizenship renunciation, this is the only available pathway.

Italian law provides two closely related residence-based options.

Option A: Declaration first, then move to Italy within one year

A former citizen may file a declaration of intent to reacquire Italian citizenship through the competent Italian consulate. Once filed, that declaration remains valid for twelve months.

Within that one-year window, the applicant must:

• Move to Italy
• Establish long-term legal residence with a municipality (anagrafe registration)

If residence is not established in time, the declaration becomes ineffective and the process must start again.

Option B: Move to Italy first, then reacquire after one year

Alternatively, a former citizen may move to Italy and establish legal residence without making a prior declaration at the consulate.

After one continuous year of registered residence, reacquisition takes effect the day after the one-year requirement is completed, unless the person formally renounces reacquisition during that year.

In both scenarios, reacquisition takes effect going forward. It does not restore citizenship retroactively from birth.

Route 2: The 2025–2027 Reopening Declaration (Article 17 as amended)

Law 74/2025 introduced a temporary reacquisition option that applies only to a limited group of former citizens.

What this reopening allows

From July 1, 2025, through December 31, 2027, eligible former citizens may submit a declaration to reacquire Italian citizenship without relocating to Italy.

Core eligibility requirements

To qualify, a person must meet all of the following conditions:

• Loss of Italian citizenship no later than August 15, 1992, under specific pre-1992 scenarios (Art. 8 n.1, Art. 8 n.2, or Art. 12 of Law 555/1912)
• Either:
  • Born in Italy, or
  • Born abroad but previously resided legally in Italy for at least two consecutive years

If your loss occurred because you were a minor when a parent lost Italian citizenship under the pre-1992 rules, the competent office will usually require documentation about the parent’s citizenship status and the parent’s naturalization/loss event.

Who is excluded

This reopening does not apply to:

• Anyone who lost citizenship on or after August 16, 1992, for any reason
• Individuals who completed a modern Italian citizenship renunciation
• Those born abroad who never met the two-year residence requirement in Italy
• Individuals who were required to make an “option” choice under Art. 5(2) of Law 123/1983 within one year of reaching the age of majority in specific dual-citizenship situations, and who did not do so.
• Those who lost Italian citizenship in the cases provided for by Art. 8, n. 3 of Law 555/1912.

This distinction is critical. Many articles oversimplify the reopening and imply it applies broadly to former citizens. It does not.

Children and Family Considerations After Reacquisition

Reacquiring Italian citizenship does not automatically resolve citizenship status for family members.

Adult children

Reacquisition is personal. Adult children do not gain or regain Italian citizenship simply because a parent does.

Minor children

Law 74/2025 significantly tightened the rules for minors connected to a parent’s acquisition or reacquisition.

For a minor child to acquire Italian citizenship together with a parent:

• The child must be living with the parent, and
• The child must have legally resided in Italy for at least two continuous years at the time the parent acquires or reacquires citizenship
• If the child is under two years old, residence must exist since birth

As a result, a parent who reclaims citizenship while living abroad should not assume that minor children will automatically benefit.

Important note: A minor child does not lose Italian citizenship simply because one or both parents lose it or reacquire a foreign citizenship. The rules that changed in 2025 relate to when a minor can acquire citizenship with a parent who is acquiring or reacquiring—not to automatic loss for the child. However, before August 16, 1992, some minors did lose citizenship in connection with a parent’s loss under the old rules, and that historical scenario is one reason the 2025–2027 Art. 17 reopening asks for parent documents.

Documents and Fees

Regaining Italian citizenship can be paperwork-heavy, and the exact requirements vary depending on the route you qualify for and the office handling your case. This section outlines the documents you’ll likely need, common fee considerations, and the mistakes that most often cause delays.

Typical documentation

Requirements vary by authority, but most cases involve:

• Proof of prior Italian citizenship
• Proof of loss/renunciation + foreign naturalization (if relevant)
• ID, address, and civil status records (as needed)

Fees

Consular declarations for reacquisition are generally subject to a €250 contribution/fee, paid through the consulate using its required method and local-currency amount. Requirements can differ if the reacquisition is completed entirely in Italy.

Most delays come from using the wrong pathway (Art. 13 vs. the 2025–2027 Art. 17 reopening) or assuming children benefit without meeting Italy residence requirements.

How ITAMCAP Helps

With reacquisition cases, even small factual errors can send an application down the wrong path.

ITAMCAP assists former citizens by:

• Confirming how and when citizenship was lost
• Identifying the correct legal route for reacquisition
• Preparing document strategies aligned with consular expectations
• Coordinating translations and formal submissions
• Advising on family implications and long-term planning

Ready to Move Forward?

If you are exploring reclaiming Italian citizenship or are unsure how past renunciation affects your options today, professional guidance can save time and prevent costly missteps.

Contact ITAMCAP to discuss your situation and learn how our team supports reacquisition as well as jure sanguinis assistance when appropriate, so you can move forward with clarity and confidence. Reach out to us today for a free telephone consultation.