How To Become An Italian Citizen Through Your Ancestral Roots

Jolly

Immigrating to Italy and starting afresh there is a dream for many. Ancestral roots in the country take you a step closer to the fulfillment of this dream. It is because Italy is among the nations that allow people to claim citizenship by descent. But it is not as simple as having Italian parents or grandparents. You have to prove eligibility and validate your bloodline in the country, which can be a long road. Here a great explanation is provided by the team of ItalianCitizenshipbyDescent.com for people who want to explore this option. Further, it makes sense to consult citizenship experts as they can show you the way. Let us explain how you can move forward with the process.

Eligibility and exceptions

Before going forward with the process, you must understand the eligibility criteria. The idea of dual citizenship is exciting, but you shouldn’t get carried away unless you are sure. Here are the criteria that make you eligible for the application.

You can apply if either or both of your parents are Italian. Adopted individuals also qualify, provided adoption took place when you were a minor.
You can also qualify through an Italian ancestor who was a citizen after its formation in 1861.
Your Italian ancestor shouldn’t have given up citizenship by naturalization in a foreign country.
If they naturalized elsewhere, it should have happened after the birth of the next person in line.

An exception may apply for applicants with a maternal bloodline. You will not qualify if your female relative gave birth to her child before 1948. In that case, you can apply through the 1948 court process.

Required documents

After assuring your eligibility for Italian citizenship by descent by Jure Sanguinis, you must get started with document gathering. It is best to get started before applying because obtaining your paperwork may take time. You will have to collect your ancestor’s records from their local commune, which is perhaps the most challenging part. Also, you will need to get translations and ensure legalization for the ones issued outside Italy. Further, you will require your ID proofs. The list sounds long and daunting, so the sooner you start, the better it is.

Application at the consulate

Getting your documents is half the work done. At this stage, you can apply at your local Italian consulate. The best part is that your second passport application gets through even without traveling to Italy. But the wait for the consulate appointment can be frustrating. At times, it may even take a year because the date depends on the number of applications in the queue. Once you get the appointment, you will have to be there for an interview and document verification. If the authorities are convinced with your documents, you get your citizenship by descent.

Everything boils down to understanding your eligibility and completing the document checklist. Errors or omissions can cause delays and even rejection. Having an Italian citizenship expert by your side gives you an advantage because they ensure that everything is in place.