Understanding Discrepancies and the Requirements to Apply for Italian Citizenship

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of people applying for Italian dual citizenship status. Obtaining this status has many perks—like being able to travel freely to other European Union countries without requiring visas.

Considering this, the application process for becoming an Italian citizen can be time-consuming and tedious. Some consulates have appointments booked out as far as 18 to 24 months from now! This means that even after you get your application completed, all supporting documentation together, and everything else needed to apply, you still must wait for an appointment.

While you wait, this is a good time to go over everything to ensure you avoid some of the more common discrepancies encountered during the application review process at the Italian consulate.

Incomplete Application

It is not unusual to miss parts of the application and leave them blank. Take the time to review the application and make sure all sections are completed.

Misspellings

Make sure all names on the application are spelled correctly. They should match the names on birth certificates and be spelled the same. For example, your grandfather is named Alessandro on his birth certificate, but growing up he went by Alex. You would want to make sure your application used Alessandro.

Additionally, check middle names and last names. There can be some variances between how they are spelled in Italy and how they are spelled in the U.S.

Incorrect Dates

Another common discrepancy is entering incorrect dates. Make sure to enter the dates in the proper format. Keep in mind, most European countries use the day, the month, and then the year, unlike the U.S., where we use the month, the day, and then the year.

Not All Documents Have Been Translated into Italian

All supporting documents, when not issued in Italy and written in Italian, must be translated into Italian to be considered legal and acceptable by the Italian government. If you are in doubt about whether to have something translated, it is better to err on the side of caution and have it translated.

Documents Do Not Have Apostille Certification

Translating the documents is just one step to ensuring they are valid. You must also obtain Apostille certification. Otherwise, without this certification, the documents may be considered invalid.

Why You Want to Avoid Discrepancies

If there are errors and other discrepancies during your application review, you will need to correct these before your application for Italian citizenship can be submitted for consideration. You will need to reschedule your application review appointment and wait for another 18 to 24 months or longer!

The Reviewer Also Has Discretion Regarding Discrepancies

There are no set rules that must be followed other than ensuring you meet the requirements for citizenship through a qualifying ancestor. The reviewer does have some discretion if a few minor discrepancies are discovered.

However, even with their discretion, some reviewers may not be as flexible. So, it is better to not risk it and hope the reviewer you are assigned is a little more lenient with minor discrepancies.

The best way to avoid any discrepancies and ensure your application and all supporting documentation have been translated into Italian and certified is to get help from a qualified service that understands the processes and requirements to apply for Italian citizenship.

If you are interested in finding out if you qualify for Italian dual citizenship and to obtain help with the application process, please feel free to contact the Italian American Citizenship Assistance Program at (305) 812-5512 today!