If you are wondering how to apply for Italian citizenship or considering the benefits of becoming an Italian citizen for yourself and your family, these frequently asked questions may help you decide whether to move forward.
Please note that recent legal changes have significantly altered the path to Italian citizenship. With the passage of Law 74/2025, new restrictions now apply to eligibility, documentation, and the transmission of citizenship to children.
Why should I seek Italian dual citizenship?
The advantages are many. As an Italian citizen (and EU citizen), you’ll have the right to live in Italy, as well as work and study in any EU country. You can also access affordable EU healthcare and education, buy property in Italy without additional taxes, and travel freely in the Schengen Area with an Italian passport. Dual citizenship can also help you reconnect with your Italian ancestry and provide meaningful opportunities for future generations.
Am I eligible for Italian citizenship?
To qualify for Italian dual citizenship by descent, you must have an Italian-born parent or grandparent who held only Italian citizenship at the time of your birth. Applications through great-grandparents are no longer valid unless submitted by March 27, 2025. Your claim must also show that the line of citizenship was never broken—meaning no ancestor in your direct line naturalized in another country before the birth of the next person in the Italian line.
We recommend filling out our Italian citizenship eligibility quiz to determine whether you qualify under the jure sanguinis (citizenship by blood) route.
How do I apply for Italian dual citizenship?
The application process involves gathering and authenticating vital records such as birth certificates, marriage records, naturalization records, and obtaining apostilles for U.S. documents. You will then submit these to the Italian consulate with jurisdiction over your residence. If your parent or grandparent was born in Italy and never renounced their citizenship, you may be eligible for Italian citizenship by descent.
The process can be complex, but professional help is available if you want to apply for citizenship with expert guidance.
Where do I apply for Italian citizenship?
You must submit your application form to the Italian consulate that serves your primary place of residence. If you reside in more than one place, you’ll need to designate one as your official address. Applications may also be filed at a municipality in Italy, but only if you establish legal residency there.
What documentation is required?
You’ll need to collect and legalize birth records, marriage records, death certificates, and especially naturalization records (or proof of non-naturalization) for the Italian ancestor through whom you’re applying. Under the new law, you must also prove that your Italian parent or grandparent held exclusive Italian citizenship at the time of your birth. Documents must be translated into Italian by a certified translator and authenticated with apostilles.
Applications filed without this evidence may be denied.
Can supporting documentation be submitted in English?
No. All foreign documents—including U.S. birth certificates, naturalization documents, and court records—must be translated into Italian by a certified translator. They must also be authenticated with an apostille for use in Italy. Untranslated or unauthenticated records are not accepted by Italian consulates.
Will I need to learn to speak Italian?
If you’re applying for Italian citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis), you are not required to speak Italian. However, if you’re applying through marriage or residency, you’ll need to demonstrate language proficiency at the B1 level of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
Proficiency in Italian is strongly recommended for those planning to live in Italy.
Can multiple family members apply together?
Only in some cases. If you and your family members live in the same household and are under the jurisdiction of the same Italian consulate, you may apply together. However, each applicant must still prove their own eligibility—and claims beyond Italian grandparents (such as great-grandparents) are no longer accepted for applications filed after March 27, 2025.
Siblings or cousins under different jurisdictions must file separately.
How long does it take to obtain Italian dual citizenship?
Processing times vary, but from the time your application is accepted by the consulate, it may take up to 18 months or more to receive confirmation. Due to recent law changes and appointment delays, timelines may extend significantly.
To avoid setbacks, ensure that all birth records, apostilles, and translations are accurate and complete when you apply.
What responsibilities will I have as an Italian citizen?
As a dual citizen, you can retain your U.S. citizenship and still use your U.S. passport freely. You are not required to serve in the Italian military, and your obligations are minimal if you don’t live in Italy. However, you will need to register with AIRE (Registry of Italians Residing Abroad) to access consular services and maintain your citizenship status.
Failing to register with AIRE may limit your ability to apply for an Italian passport or register future life events.
When can I obtain an Italian passport?
Once your Italian citizenship is officially recognized, you may apply for an Italian passport through your regional Italian consulate or at the passport office in Italy if you plan to live in Italy.
You must first register with AIRE if you reside outside of Italy. Only after this registration can your passport request be processed.
How do my children become Italian citizens?
Under Law 74/2025, automatic transmission of citizenship to minor children is no longer permitted. To pass on Italian dual citizenship to your child born abroad, you must:
- File a formal declaration of will at the Italian consulate within one year of the child’s birth,
- Hold only Italian citizenship at the time of their birth, and
- Pay an administrative fee of €250 per child.
In most cases, both parents (or legal guardians) must submit the declaration. If filed separately, the second declaration must still fall within the legal deadline, and the full fee must be paid before the second declaration is received. If one parent is deceased or not legally involved, a single-parent declaration may be accepted.
Important Exception: If the Italian parent acquired citizenship (e.g., through naturalization or reacquisition) and then resided in Italy for at least two consecutive years before the child’s birth, the child may be automatically recognized as an Italian citizen from birth. In this case, a declaration may not be required, provided all supporting documentation is submitted and verified.
Children born on or before March 27, 2025, are still eligible, but the declaration must be submitted by May 31, 2026.
Can my spouse become an Italian citizen?
Yes. If you’re married to an Italian citizen, you may apply for Italian citizenship by marriage (jure matrimonii) after:
- 2 years of legal residence in Italy, or
- 3 years of marriage if living outside of Italy (shortened to 18 months if you have minor children together).
Applicants must provide vital records, pass an Italian language exam (B1 level), and submit documentation to the Italian consulate.
Same-sex marriages and civil unions are recognized. The marriage must remain valid during the application process.
Are there other ways to become an Italian citizen?
Yes. You may acquire Italian citizenship by:
- Birth in Italy (in limited cases),
- Residency (naturalization) after meeting long-term residence and language requirements,
- Marriage to an Italian citizen, or
- Special legal provisions such as reacquisition for former citizens.
How can an American become an Italian citizen?
If you’re a citizen of the United States, you may become an Italian citizen in one of two main ways:
- Italian citizenship by descent from a parent or grandparent who was an Italian citizen at your birth and held no other nationality, or
- Marriage to an Italian citizen.
You must submit official birth records, naturalization documents, and apostilled certificates to prove eligibility.
If you’re applying by descent, applications through great-grandparents are no longer accepted unless filed by March 27, 2025.
Do U.S. citizens need a visa in Italy?
You can stay in Italy for up to 90 days as a tourist without a visa. To live in Italy longer, you must apply for a visa—such as:
- Elective residence visa (for retirees with stable income),
- Work or student visa, or
- Citizenship-based residence, if you are an Italian dual citizen.
An Italian passport allows visa-free entry and residency rights throughout the EU. You may also apply for an elective residence visa if you plan to retire in Italy and can prove financial independence.
Can I live in Italy as an American citizen?
Yes. If you’re a U.S. citizen with sufficient income or assets, you can apply for an elective residence visa and live in Italy without working.
Once you obtain permanent residency through a visa—or Italian dual citizenship—you’ll have access to services such as public healthcare and the ability to live in Italy long-term.
What are the obligations of Italian citizens?
As an Italian citizen:
- You must register with AIRE if you reside abroad,
- Obey both U.S. and Italian laws if you’re a dual citizen,
- Vote in Italian and EU elections, and
- Pay taxes (only if you reside or earn income in Italy).
Military service is voluntary and generally not required.
What happens if I lose my citizenship certificate?
If you misplace your citizenship recognition certificate, AIRE registration, or Italian passport, contact your Italian consulate. They can:
- Issue a replacement certificate (a fee may apply),
- Verify your citizenship status, and
- Help you request new official records.
Maintaining up-to-date records with AIRE is essential for access to consular services.
Can I lose Italian citizenship?
Italian citizenship is not easily lost, especially if acquired by descent or marriage. However, you may lose it if:
- You formally renounce it, or
- You serve in the armed forces or government of a nation at war with Italy.
Children who acquired citizenship through a parent’s declaration (not by birth) may choose to renounce it at age 18, provided they hold another citizenship.
Can I reacquire Italian citizenship if I lost it decades ago?
Yes—under Law 74/2025, reacquisition is available for individuals who lost their Italian citizenship on or before August 15, 1992. You must submit your declaration in person between July 1, 2025, and December 31, 2027.
Can I still apply for Italian citizenship through my great-grandparents?
No. Under Law 74/2025, you may only apply through your Italian-born parent or grandparent. Claims based on great-grandparents or more distant ancestors are no longer accepted unless your full application was submitted by March 27, 2025.
What if my ancestor had dual citizenship?
You may only qualify for Italian citizenship by descent if the parent or grandparent through whom you’re applying held only Italian citizenship at the time of your birth. If they were naturalized as a U.S. citizen (or another nationality) before your birth, you are no longer eligible under jure sanguinis.
Can I include my children in my application?
Not automatically. Law 74/2025 eliminated automatic transmission to minor children. You must formally declare your will to transmit citizenship at the Italian consulate within one year of your child’s birth and pay a €250 fee per child. This applies even if you’re already an Italian citizen.
Can adopted children qualify for Italian citizenship by descent?
Yes—if the adoption occurred while the child was a minor and at least one adoptive parent was an Italian citizen at the time of adoption. The applicant must submit the adoption decree and all required vital records, each with an apostille and certified translation.
Can I still file a court case based on a female ancestor born before 1948?
Only if the court petition was filed by March 27, 2025. Law 74/2025 generally prohibits new judicial claims based on the 1948 rule. If you haven’t already filed, that route may not be available.
1948 cases filed after March 27, 2025, may still be possible through judicial petition, but they will be subject to Law 74/2025’s new restrictions, including generational limits and exclusive citizenship requirements. The outcome is uncertain, and legal consultation is recommended.
Can I still pass on citizenship to children I haven’t had yet?
Yes, but only if you follow the new rules: you must file a declaration of will within one year of your child’s birth and hold only Italian citizenship at the time. Failure to file on time means your child will not automatically qualify as an Italian citizen.
What happens if I miss the deadline to declare citizenship for my child?
If the one-year deadline passes, your child may only acquire Italian citizenship by legal residence in Italy for two consecutive years and must demonstrate B1-level Italian language proficiency.
What documents are required to prove exclusive Italian citizenship?
You’ll need to provide naturalization records (if applicable), official proof that your Italian-born ancestor was never naturalized as a U.S. citizen, proof of non-enrollment in U.S. voter rolls, and other vital records. Apostilles and certified translations are required for foreign documents. Personal declarations are not sufficient.
What if I submitted my application by March 27, 2025?
If your complete application was submitted with all required documents before the deadline, it will be processed under the previous law. The new generational and exclusivity rules do not apply to you.