Dual Italian American Citizenship Checklist and Step-by-Step Guide

The process of becoming a dual citizen isn’t easy. It takes time and commitment, but it has many rewards, including connecting with your heritage in an authentic way. Here is a brief overview of the steps you’ll need to take to get dual citizenship. We’ve also included a dual Italian American citizenship checklist that covers the basics. Since each regional Italian consulate has its own requirements, you’ll need to check with your own consulate to make sure you’re on track.

If your goal is to live in Italy, obtaining your Italian citizenship by descent or marriage will make the process much easier.

With dual Italian American citizenship, you’ll be able to live and work in Italy and other EU countries without a visa. You’ll also have access to healthcare and public education throughout the EU. However, due to recent changes in Italian law (Law 74/2025), minor children will no longer automatically become Italian citizens when you do. Formal action is now required—see below.

Step 1: Determine if you qualify.

Before you apply for dual U.S./Italian citizenship, you must find out if you qualify. There are three ways: through ancestry, marriage, or naturalization.

To qualify for Italian citizenship jure sanguinis, or by descent, you must meet very specific requirements. If your maternal grandfather (your mom’s dad) was born in Italy, for example, you would qualify for Italian dual citizenship only if all the following are true:

• You were born after January 1, 1948.
• Your maternal grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time your mom was born.
• Your maternal grandfather never naturalized as a citizen of any other country.
• Neither you nor your mom ever renounced your right to Italian citizenship.

Under the new legislation (Law 74/2025), applicants born abroad who also hold another citizenship (such as U.S. citizenship) may now be considered to have never acquired Italian citizenship—unless specific exceptions apply (such as having filed an application before March 27, 2025, or having a parent or grandparent born in or recently resided in Italy).

It is important to verify whether your ancestral line remains valid under current law. Our experts can help you find out if you qualify under Italy’s dual citizenship requirements.

Step 2: Make appointments immediately.

Once you’ve determined you qualify for dual citizenship, make an Italian citizenship appointment at your regional Italian consulate office as soon as possible; it can take one to six years to get an appointment. While you’re waiting, you should have plenty of time to gather the documents you’ll need to present to the consulate.

Step 3: Gather all needed documents.

Once you’ve scheduled your appointment, you should immediately start gathering the documents needed to prove eligibility. Before applying for Italian dual citizenship, consult the checklist below to make sure you have everything you need and your application packet is complete. You might find it very helpful to work with an Italian American dual citizenship assistance program to track down documents in Italy or through federal and state offices in the United States.

Step 4: Bring documents to the consulate office.

Organize all your documents and bring them to your consulate appointment. You can download the application forms online from the Italian consulate that has jurisdiction in your area. Some consulates allow family members to apply together, but usually each applicant for Italian citizenship will need their own appointment. Assuming you qualify and your application is complete with all appropriate documents translated into Italian and certified with an apostille, you should be approved.

Step 5: Wait for the approval letter and an Italian citizenship certificate.

It usually takes around two to four years to receive an approval letter and citizenship certificate. The letter will let you know you now have dual Italian American citizenship and have been registered in AIRE (Registry of Italians Living Abroad). The letter may also discuss requesting your Italian dual passport and usually encourages new citizens to learn the language and learn about Italian culture.

Important: As of 2025, AIRE registration no longer grants automatic recognition of citizenship to children. You must take additional action if you have minor children—see Step 7 below.

Step 6: Apply for an Italian passport.

If you do not have minor children, your last step is getting your Italian passport. You’ll need to get two passport pictures taken (which you can get at many shipping centers or post offices) and purchase a money order for the passport fee, made out to your consulate. You’ll also need to make a clear photocopy of your current U.S. passport. You can mail or bring these things in person with your passport application to your consulate office. You may also need to provide your fingerprints and visit the consulate office to pick up your passport.

Step 7: If you have minor children, file a formal declaration.

Due to Law 74/2025, Italian citizenship is no longer automatically passed to children under 18—even if you’re recognized as a citizen.

To secure citizenship for your child, all the following conditions must be met:

• You must file a formal declaration of will to transmit citizenship at your Italian consulate.
• This must be done within one year of your child’s birth.
• You (or the grandparent through whom you are claiming) must have had only Italian citizenship at the time of your child’s birth.
• You must pay a €250 administrative fee per child.
• This declaration must be made in person.

In most cases, both parents must submit the declaration.

• If both parents are living, share legal custody, and are citizens, Italian law requires a declaration from each parent.
• However, only one declaration is required if the other parent is deceased, is not an Italian citizen, has no parental authority, or if the child is recognized/adopted by just one Italian parent.
• If the declarations are made separately, the child’s citizenship is acquired only after the second declaration is submitted. The €250 fee is due no later than this second submission.

If your child was born before March 27, 2025, you have until May 31, 2026, to file this declaration—only if your own application was submitted or recognized before the March 27 deadline.

Missing the deadline may mean your child will need to live in Italy for two years and pass a B1 Italian language test to apply for citizenship through residency.

Basic Checklist of Documents You May Need to Apply for Italian Citizenship

• Your birth certificate
• Your current marriage certificate (if applicable)
• If your spouse is applying: their birth, marriage, and/or divorce certificate(s)
• Birth certificates for all children under age 18 (if applicable)
• Your divorce certificate and/or divorce decree (if you have been divorced)
• Your mother’s birth, marriage, divorce, and/or death certificate(s)
• Your father’s birth, marriage, divorce, and/or death certificate(s)
• Your grandparent’s birth, marriage, divorce, and/or death certificate(s), and naturalization papers (if applicable)

You will need certified copies of official paperwork, and all documents must be translated into Italian. You may need to work with local communes in Italy to track down your ancestors’ Italian vital records or work with the Secretary of State to find the pertinent documents that prove you are directly descended from an Italian citizen who has not surrendered their right to citizenship.

You will also need an apostille for most documents. An apostille is a specialized certificate that is attached to the original document. It indicates that a document is legitimate and authentic for member countries of the Hague Apostille Convention (which includes Italy).

FAQs

How do I qualify for Italian citizenship by descent?

Under Law 74/2025, you must have an Italian parent or grandparent who held exclusively Italian citizenship at the time of your birth and maintained an uninterrupted line of citizenship transmission. You’ll need official documents proving this lineage and that no one in the direct line renounced or lost their Italian citizenship.

What is the new rule for Italian citizenship by descent?

As of May 24, 2025, individuals born abroad who hold another citizenship are presumed to have never acquired Italian citizenship unless they meet specific exceptions under Law 74/2025. The law introduces strict generational limits, requiring a genuine link to Italy and restricting eligibility to those with Italian parents or grandparents only.

How many generations back can you claim Italian citizenship?

Law 74/2025 establishes a firm generational limit for the first time, restricting claims to parents and grandparents only. Great-grandparent claims and beyond are eliminated for applications filed after March 27, 2025, thereby ending the previous system of unlimited generational transmission.

Get Help Becoming a Dual Italian American Citizen

The fastest way to find out if you qualify for Italian citizenship is to work with expert consultants like the Italian American Citizenship Assistance Program. We are here to help you navigate and understand the often-complex U.S./Italian dual citizenship requirements, gather the necessary documents, and successfully overcome any obstacles.

Our Italian citizenship assistance program has helped hundreds of people discover whether they are eligible to become an Italian citizen! Contact us today to learn more.

NOTE: Law 74/2025 is still subject to legal challenges and possible clarifications by Italian courts or Parliament. We strongly recommend checking back regularly to stay updated on the latest developments.