Reacquisition of Italian citizenship refers to the process by which an individual who previously held Italian citizenship but lost it can regain it. 

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Who is Eligible for the Reacquisition of Italian Citizenship?

 

​If you lost your Italian citizenship due to acquiring another citizenship voluntarily, you might be able to reacquire it by fulfilling a certain period of continuous residence in Italy. Generally, you will need to demonstrate:

• A certain number of years of uninterrupted legal residence in Italy (usually 2 years if you were born in Italy).

• Proficiency in the Italian language and knowledge of Italian society and culture.

 

Note: Currently, Italian citizenship is regulated by Law of February 5th 1991, No. 91, Presidential Decree of 12 October 1993, No. 572 and the DPR of 18 April 1994, No. 362.

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Pathways to Apply for The Reacquisition of Italian Citizenship

 

There are several pathways to reacquire Italian citizenship, depending on the specific circumstances of the individual. 

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1. Italian law provides a simpler path for reacquiring citizenship if an individual has lost it involuntarily (for example, if it was revoked or lost due to administrative error). In this case, if the applicant expresses his/her intention to regain Italian citizenship and subsequently establishes residence in the territory of the Italian Republic within one year of declaration;​

2. The applicant shall retain Italian citizenship for one year following the establishment of residence in the territory of the Italian Republic unless he or she explicitly expresses a desire to renounce it;

3. ​If the applicant has completed effective military service for the Italian Republic and has previously expressed the intention to regain Italian citizenship;

4. ​If the applicant accepts a public position with the Italian Republic, whether domestically or abroad, and has declared in advance the desire to reacquire Italian citizenship;

5. ​If the applicant has previously lost Italian citizenship due to not resigning from employment with another State or an international organization (even when requested) and has declared the intention to regain citizenship, while also demonstrating that they have resided in Italy for the past two years and have terminated their employment with the other State.

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In cases 1), 2), and 5), the reacquisition of Italian citizenship will be rendered ineffective if the application is obstructed by a decree from the Minister of the Interior, based on serious and substantiated reasons, and in alignment with the assessment of the Council of State.

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It is important to note that the reacquisition of Italian citizenship is prohibited under the following circumstances:

• In cases where the adoption has been revoked at the request of the adopted individual.

• If an Italian citizen has accepted or failed to renounce a public position (including military service) with a foreign State during a state of war with that State, without being compelled to do so, or has voluntarily obtained citizenship of that State.

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​Our Services and Assistance

 

We offer guidance and legal assistance to foreign nationals seeking to reclaim their Italian citizenship.

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Our process begins with a preliminary evaluation to determine your eligibility for Italian citizenship. Upon confirming your eligibility, we will help you in gathering, translating, and legalizing the required documents for your citizenship application. Once all necessary documentation is secured, we will handle the processing and finalization of the citizenship application. Additionally, we provide assistance in preparing applications to be submitted to the local municipality in Italy.

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For more information on the Reacquisition of Italian Citizenship, request a consultation with our expert legal consultant below.