Articles | Expat Money®

A Guide To Obtaining Italian Citizenship Through Your Family

Written by Mikkel Thorup | February 6, 2023

Italy is a lovely nation with a fascinating culture. Italy is a popular destination for temporary visitors and those looking for a new home. It is known for its magnificent architecture, relaxed pace of life, and, of course, incredible cuisine.

Many of Italian descent are eligible for Italian citizenship under the "jure sanguinis" concept, which means "by right of blood." All claims for citizenship by descent are based on a traceable Italian ancestor who held "jus soli" or "by the soil" citizenship, which means they were born in Italy.

If you are of Italian origin, you may be able to get Italian dual citizenship based on this concept and enjoy the numerous advantages that come with it, such as an EU passport, access to school or high-level jobs abroad, and the right to own property in Italy.


Many of Italian descent are eligible for Italian citizenship by right of blood

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR JURE SANGUINIS ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP?

You may qualify for full Italian citizenship by demonstrating an unbroken line from yourself to Italian ancestors who had the right to claim Italian citizenship and showing that the right was conveyed to you under Italian law. Many nations respect the principle of bloodline citizenship and allow dual citizenship with Italy.

Some of the qualifying requirements are as follows:

  • The legal principle is that a male Italian ancestor who was alive on or after March 17, 1861, had the right to claim Italian citizenship. That right is passed down to the following generation unless they naturalized to another nation before the birth of their descendant.;
  • Children born after January 1, 1948, to an Italian mother are also eligible;
  • There is no limit to the number of interceding generations that may preclude someone from applying for Italian citizenship by ancestry as long as each of their predecessors retained the ability to become an Italian citizen until the following generation was born.


Related content: The Basics Of How To Get A Second Passport Or A Second Residency

 

There are five categories of personal eligibility for Italian Citizenship by ancestry

CATEGORIES OF ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS

The following categories may assist you in determining which one applies to your condition:

 

CATEGORY 1 (DIRECT DESCENT)

Your father was an Italian citizen when you were born and was not a citizen of any other nation.

 

CATEGORY 2 (DIRECT DESCENT)

Your mother was an Italian citizen when you were born; she had no other citizenship, and you were born after January 1, 1948.

 

CATEGORY 3

Before your father's birth, your paternal grandfather was born in Italy and was either a citizen or had the right to become one. This also applies if your mother passes these requirements and you were born after January 1, 1948.

 

CATEGORY 4 

Before your mother's birth, your maternal grandfather was born in Italy and was either a citizen or had the right to become one. This also applies if your mother passes these requirements and you were born after January 1, 1948

 

CATEGORY 5

Your great-grandparents or great-great-grandparents fit these similar qualifications. They may have passed on their right to Italian citizenship when their child was born, and this right has been carried down to your generation in an unbroken line.


Positano, Italy

JURE SANGUINIS: HOW TO APPLY FOR ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP

You must assemble a package of time-sensitive materials, which may need retrieval from vital record institutions in your home country. This information must be given in an acceptable format to the appropriate Italian Consulate.

Documents that will be required include 

  1. Application forms:
  • Form 1 - (to be completed ONLY on a computer) - click here;
  • Form 2 click here;
  • Form 3- click here; - each living person in your Italian line of ancestry must complete and sign the individual form.
  • Form 4- click here; - an individual form must be completed and signed by you for each deceased person in your Italian line of ancestry.
  1. Application fee (cash only in SEK) (Click here to see the most recent consular fees.)
  2. A copy of your passport;
  3. Birth certificate of an Italian ancestor born in Italy (issued by the Comune in Italy);
  4. Proof of residence (electronic utility bill or Personbevis);
  5. Original Vital Records certificates for both you and your Italian ancestors.

The documentation must be translated into Italian. If the country is a signatory to the Hague Convention signed on October 5, 1961, a professional translation into Italian must be authorized by the Italian Embassy or Consulate responsible for the region where the document was formed or legalized with Apostille.

  1. Naturalization certificate from the State Authorities where the naturalization occurred;
  2. If your Italian-born ancestor never naturalized as a foreign citizen, please provide proof from the State of Residence that naturalization never occurred (it may consist of different documents in different Countries)

Please remember that if you need more than the documents you provide to evaluate your eligibility for citizenship, the citizenship office will seek more documents from you. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.


Venice is one of the most famous places where you can live with your Italian Citizenship by ancestry

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP?

One of the key advantages that people of Italian descent and their spouses frequently wish for is the ability to visit Italy as often as they like and experience their ancestors' culture, natural beauty, and rich history.

Consider the following advantages of dual citizenship if you are qualified to become an Italian citizen:

  • The option to rapidly and easily acquire property in Italy or another EU member, with a tax break for your first house in Italy. As an Italian citizen, you have the right to retire and live in Italy or another European Union country. Acquiring Italian real estate is one of the main benefits of Italian residence;
  • The right to work inside the EU, with certain hiring privileges. Dual citizenship substantially simplifies the procedure of establishing a new business in Italy or the EU for entrepreneurs. Working in Italy is much more challenging if you are not a native Italian;
  • Travel without restrictions within Italy and the European Union, including access to rapid train lines and legal safeguards. You may travel and work in other EU nations without requiring a visa or being limited in how long you can remain. One of the most significant citizenship privileges is getting an Italian passport and travelling freely as an EU citizen;
  • Additional consular and legal safeguards. As a dual citizen of two nations, you always have two embassies or consulates to turn to if you run into problems overseas. You are also protected by the EU's human rights and privacy legislation, which may provide additional protections you may not already have;
  • There is no mandatory military service. While some nations still need military service even if you are not a resident, Italy has no such restrictions. Due to earning Italian citizenship, you and your children have been exempt from military duty since 2005;
  • One of the Italian dual citizenship perks you may enjoy tremendously is access to high-quality education cheaply. The EU provides higher education to all deemed competent and worthy citizens. Tuition at prestigious institutions may be as little as a few thousand euros per year;
  • Get high-quality, low-cost medical treatment, as well as the social, disability, and economic benefits that are accessible to all Italian citizens. When you become an Italian citizen, you may apply for your European Health Insurance Card, which gives you simple access to medical treatment in Italy and other EU countries at a low cost;
  • You may be eligible for further cash advantages. As an Italian citizen, you may import any vehicles and personal property from your home country into Italy tax-free. It also enables you to invest in Italian investment funds and buy Eurobonds, unit trusts, and international securities;
  • You will be able to vote in Italian and certain EU elections and run for public office, allowing you to participate directly in the development of your ancestral country and region;
  • With your Italian passport, you and your family may travel to 127 countries without requiring extra work or travel visas;
  • Gain automatic citizenship and access to Italian citizenship privileges for your children under 18 and future generations. When you gain Italian dual citizenship, it is kept and accessible to your children and their children. By finishing the procedure, you remove the risk that your descendants may be unable to claim their position as part of Italy in the future.


The Leaning Tower of Pisa

CONCLUSION

Seeking Italian citizenship for yourself and your minor children is a unique opportunity to honour your ancestors while also moving toward a better and more secure future. Connecting with your Italian history and exploring new possibilities may be one of the most valuable experiences you can give your children or enjoy for yourself. There is no better moment than the present to take advantage of the privileges of Italian citizenship. Contact us now to assist you in navigating the procedure and realizing your goal of full Italian citizenship sooner than you imagined.