Italian Citizenship by Descent Jure Sanguinis (blood right) allows individuals of Italian ancestry to claim citizenship if they can prove their Italian heritage.

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Eligibility to Apply for Italian Citizenship by Descent

 

Individuals who have Italian ancestry may be eligible to get citizenship based on a variety of characteristics, including the birth date and place of their parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents.

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Citizenship is passed down from parent to child without any restriction of generation, provided that no ancestor has ever abandoned their citizenship. When a person claims to be of Italian parentage or ancestry but cannot find proof of the fact in Italian registers (i.e. citizenship claimed by great-grandparents), it is required to offer proof that all ancestors have retained and thus passed on their Italian citizenship. The obtaining of Italian citizenship has no tax duties, which are instead tied to migrating to Italy.

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Documents Required for The Application of Italian Citizenship by Descent

 

• ​Italian citizenship applications must be accompanied by important record certificates (birth, marriage, and death certificates) demonstrating the applicant's relationship with Italian ancestors.

• Naturalization records (if applicable), showing that the ancestor did or did not become a naturalized citizen of another country.

The eligibility assessment is also based on the consistency of the information contained in those certificates, as errors in names, dates, and places of birth may cause problems for Italian authorities. Ancestry petitions can be filed at your jurisdiction's Italian Consulate or directly in Italy using a fast-track approach, as long as the applicant has legal status in Italy.

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​Additional Notes

 

• Dual Citizenship: Italy allows dual citizenship, so you will not be required to renounce your current nationality when obtaining Italian citizenship.

• Taxes and Obligations: Becoming an Italian citizen may entail certain rights and obligations. However, tax rules and obligations are subject to apply only if you reside in Italy.

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Our Services and Assistance for Italian Citizenship by Descent

 

Whether you're just beginning your journey or already collecting documents, we're here to streamline the process and support you every step of the way. Our services include:

• Eligibility Assessment

• Fact-finding

• Document Procurement

• Translation and Legalisation

• Application Preparation

• Commune Applications (Italy)

• Consulate Assistance

• 1948 Cases- Specialised support for court cases involving maternal line citizenship claims.

Working with us ensures that your Italian Citizenship by Descent application package has all the necessary documentation, increasing your chances of approval. Our team can also ensure that all documents are correctly translated and formatted to meet the guidelines of the Italian consulates. 

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Important note to readers:

 

On March 28th 2025, the Italian government implemented stricter regulations for obtaining citizenship through jure sanguinis. The law is set to be reviewed and ratified by parliament within 60 days, during which some changes may be made. In the meantime, all new citizenship applications must comply with the new requirements. 

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EMIT Law is currently reviewing the pending citizenship cases. If you want to learn more about the new changes, contact us today!