Italian Dual Citizenship via Parents
How to qualify for Italian dual citizenship via parents
You may qualify for Italian dual citizenship via parents if the following are true:
- Your father or mother was born in Italy.
- Your Italian-born parent (father or mother) was still an Italian citizen at the time of your birth.
- You never renounced your right to Italian dual citizenship.
- You were born on or after January 1, 1948 if qualifying through your Italian-born mom.*
*If you were born before this date, you still qualify for Italian dual citizenship if you meet all other conditions. However, you cannot apply directly in Italy or at an Italian consulate. You are a 1948 case.
How to tell if your Italian-born parent was still an Italian citizen at the time of your birth
Today, Italy allows dual citizenship. However, this was not always the case. Therefore you must pay close attention to the date (if any) in which your Italian-born parent became an American citizen. If your Italian-born parent became American before August 15, 1992, he or she would have automatically lost Italian citizenship.
Therefore, as long as your Italian-born parent became an American citizen either after your birth or after August 15, 1992, then s/he was still an Italian citizen when you were born.
The same is true if your Italian-born parent never became American at all. S/he would have never lost Italian citizenship and you qualify.
Required documents
- Dad’s birth certificate
- Mom’s birth certificate
- Your parents’ marriage certificate
- Proof of naturalization for your applicable parent or proof that s/he never naturalized
- Your birth certificate
- Your marriage certificate
- Birth certificates for any minor children you have
- Divorce decrees for you and your parents, if applicable
- Any applicable death certificates
- Additionally, all marriage records for previous or subsequent marriages for you and your parents, if applicable
Translations and legalizations
Translate all non-Italian records into Italian. If you speak Italian, you may do this yourself but we recommend hiring a professional. Additionally, apostille all U.S. records.
Exception: naturalization records do not need an apostille.
Consular forms
Form 1 – Application for Italian dual citizenship
Form 2 – Statement attesting that you have never renounced Italian citizenship
Form 3 – Statement attesting that your living ascendants have never renounced Italian citizenship
Form 4 – Application for Italian dual citizenship (for all deceased ascendants)
Note that form 3 must be notarized.
Proof of residency
When you go to your consular appointment you must provide proof of identification and residence. Therefore, bring a copy of your passport, your driver’s license, and a utility bill to prove you live within their consular jurisdiction.
Additionally, the consular officers may ask you to fill out up to four application forms (see above). Be sure you have them with you already filled out, signed, and notarized. These forms serve the following purposes
- First form: formal application for citizenship
- Second form: declares that you never renounced Italian citizenship
- Third form: declares that none of your living ascendants renounced Italian citizenship (and to provide where they lived)
- Fourth form: lists all the places you have lived throughout your life
Notes
All of your U.S. records must be in long form, book copy, or certified copy (the naming convention varies from state to state). Documents must list parents’ names and cities (not counties) of birth.
Do you qualify for Italian dual citizenship via parents and want to get started? We can help you from start to finish, whether you are seeking a full document package or one-off records and translations. Contact us today!
