Dual Citizenship

Dual Citizenship

WHEN YOU CAN APPLY:

  1. Your father was born in Italy and was an Italian citizen at the time of your birth.
  2. Your mother was born in Italy and was an Italian citizen at the time of your birth, you were born after January 1st, 1948
  3. Your father was born outside of Italy, your paternal grandfather was born in Italy and was an Italian citizen at the time of your father’s birth.
  4. Your mother was born outside of Italy, your maternal grandfather was born in Italy and was an Italian citizen at the time of your mother’s birth, you were born after January 1, 1948.
  5. Your paternal or maternal grandfather was born outside of Italy, your paternal or maternal great grandfather was born in Italy and was an Italian citizen at the time of your paternal or maternal grandfather’s birth.

WHEN YOU CAN’T APPLY

  1. Prior to March 17, 1861, Italy was not a unified country. This means that before this date, there was no Italy and, therefore, there were no Italian citizens. In order to qualify, the Italian ancestor in your line must have been born after this date.
  2. The 1912 Rule. Italian citizens naturalized before July 1, 1912 could not transmit citizenship to their children even if they were born before their naturalization.
  3. The 1948 Rule. A person born before January 1, 1948 can claim Italian citizenship only from his/her father (who was not a naturalized citizen of another country before his/her child’s birth), and a woman can transfer citizenship only to her children born after January 1, 1948 if she was not a naturalized citizen of another country before her child’s birth.
  4. One of your ascendants formally renounced their Italian citizenship in front of an Italian Consular, diplomat or government official. Some people have legally challenged these Rules. If you choose to challenge, you will likely need a lawyer. How to apply for citizenship? See here