Italian citizenship through ancestors (iure sanguinis)
For descendants of Italian citizens who wish to have their Italian citizenship recognized:
1. Who may apply
2. Information for non-residents
3. Information for residents
4. General requirements
- Incorrect certificates
- Documents issued in the U.S.A.
- Documents issued in countries other than the U.S.A.
- Appointments
5. Download the forms 1 - 2 - 3 - 4
The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), in collaboration with the Embassy of Italy, has prepared a questionnaire on Italian Citizenship for Americans of Italian descent.
The questionnaire aims at easing the search and verifying whether a US citizen of Italian descent is entitled to have Italian citizenship.
Dual Citizenship
Italians who acquired US citizenship have to declare it at the Consulate, presenting the following documents: certificate of naturalization, Italian passport or Italian certificate of birth and American passport or any other valid I.D. You can also register it by mail, providing copies of the above mentioned documents.
1. WHO MAY APPLY
If you are resident within the jurisdiction of the Italian Consulate in New York: the Municipality of New York City, the State of New York, the State of Connecticut and the British Territories of Bermuda Islands, you may apply for Italian citizenship at the Consulate General of Italy in New York.
If you were born in the United States you may also be considered an Italian citizen if any one of the situations listed below pertains to you:
Category 1) your father was an Italian citizen at the time of your birth and you never renounced your right to Italian citizenship;
Category 2) your mother was an Italian citizen at the time of your birth, you were born after January 1, 1948, and you never renounced your right to Italian citizenship;
Category 3) your father was born in the United States or a Country other than Italy, your paternal grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of your father’s birth, neither you nor your father ever renounced your right to the Italian citizenship;
Category 4) your mother was born in the United States or a Country other than Italy, your maternal grandfather was an Italian citizen at the time of your mother’s birth, you were born after January 1, 1948 and neither you nor your mother ever renounced your right to Italian citizenship;
Category 5) your paternal or maternal grandparents were born in the United States from Italian parents and they never renounced their right to Italian citizenship. (Please note: the Italian mother can transfer her Italian citizenship only to children born after 01/01/1948).
NOTE:
To determine if you are eligible for Italian citizenship, the Italian Consulate must look at the law that was in effect at the time of your birth. Individuals can become citizens under several very different sections of law or can automatically lose the citizenship through the naturalization of either of the parents.
If you are claiming citizenship through an Italian citizen mother or grandmother, you must provide information about your father or grandfather, because Italian citizenship may be affected by the naturalization of their respective spouses.
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2. INFORMATION FOR NON-RESIDENTS
If you are not a legal resident in the jurisdiction of the Italian Consulate in New York (New York City, State of New York, State of Connecticut and British Territories of Bermuda Islands) your application for citizenship must be filed with the appropriate Consular Office or the Town Hall in Italy of where you reside.
However, if your documents are issued in New York City, in the State of New York, in the State of Connecticut and in the British Territories of Bermuda Islands, you must obtain from U.S. Vital Records Offices the appropriate certificates that are in accordance with the Law. All documents must bear an Apostille of the Secretary of State of the State where the document was issued. They must be submitted directly to the Consular Office with jurisdiction over your place of residence with a certified notarized translation, legalized with the Apostille.
Download the List of translators
For more information please see the Section Vital Records
For more information please see the Section Apostille
Please, be aware that Italian Consulates are not authorized to obtain certificates from U.S. Vital Records Offices.
If you are unable to obtain vital records certificates, you can either request them online at www.health.state.ny.us/vital_records/ (for New York State) or www.ct.gov/dph (for Connecticut). You can also refer to Patronati (aid societies).
Applicants residing in Italy must submit the application for citizenship at the Town Hall of where they reside and must follow the instructions specified above.
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3. INFORMATION FOR RESIDENTS
Forms and documents required
If category 1 applies to you, the following documents are required, all in original:
- FORM 1
A) YOUR FATHER'S BIRTH CERTIFICATE
Write to the "Comune" where your father was born, request a birth certificate in the form of "estratto dell’atto di nascita" (showing his father's and mother's names). You can find the address at www.comuni-italiani.it.
When writing to the Comune address your request to:
COMUNE di …………………
Ufficio Anagrafe-Stato Civile
(Zip code) City – Italy-
B) YOUR MOTHER'S BIRTH CERTIFICATE
Same as above. If instead she was born in the U.S.A., the "long form" birth certificate legalized with the "Apostille" is required.
C) YOUR PARENTS' MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE
Same as above. If instead the marriage took place in the U.S.A., you must obtain a “long/extended form” marriage certificate legalized with the Apostille.
If applicable, you are required to provide the final judgement of divorce or, in case of death of spouse, the certificate of death.
D) CERTIFICATES OF NATURALIZATION
can be requested from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
1800–375 5283 www.uscis.gov
1. if your father/mother became a U.S. citizen, you must provide a certified copy of the U.S. certificate of naturalization showing full name, place of birth and date of birth, date of naturalization, certificate number. You may also be required to present a certified copy of “petition for naturalization” and “oath of allegiance”;
2. if he/she never became a US citizen, you must provide a), b) and c):
a) an Official statement issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, specifying that he/she never became a U.S. citizen. Such document must show, as confirmation, the full name with all aliases, the date and place of birth.
b) you are also required to do an extensive search with the National Archives (www.nara.gov). The National Archives will have to provide a letter of confirmation which contains full name with all aliases, the date and place of birth.
c) census record may provide additional information relevant to your case: Immigration Records, Naturalization Records, Ship Passenger Lists, Military records, U.S. Passport applications, Voter Lists Record and other (www.census.org);
If available, please provide Italian passport and Alien Registration Card;
E) YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE must be submitted in "long form", legalized with the Apostille from the Secretary of State of the State in which it was issued.
F) YOUR DECLARATION THAT YOU NEVER RENOUNCED ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP BEFORE ANY ITALIAN AUTHORITY, listing all your places of residence and relative years. Your signature must be notarized. Copy of your passport and proof of residence (driver licence and utility bills ect.) are requested. Use FORM 2
G) YOUR FATHER'S/MOTHER’S DEATH CERTIFICATE, if applicable, is to be submitted in the long form format and legalized with Apostille.
If your father/mother became a naturalized U.S. citizen before your birth, you are not eligible for Italian citizenship
If category 2 applies to you, you must follow the same instructions as indicated in category 1), but in this case the documents will be regarding your mother;
If category 3 applies to you, the following documents are required:
- FORM 1
- YOUR PATERNAL GRANDPARENTS’ BIRTH CERTIFICATE
- YOUR PATERNAL GRANDPARENTS' MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE
- YOUR PATERNAL GRANDFATHER’S CERTIFICATE OF NATURALIZATION AND PETITION FOR NATURALIZATION
- YOUR PARENTS’ BIRTH CERTIFICATE
- YOUR PARENTS’ MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE
- YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE
- YOUR DECLARATION THAT YOU NEVER RENOUNCED ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP BEFORE ANY ITALIAN AUTHORITY, listing all your places of residence and relative years. Your signature must be notarized. Copy of your passport and proof of residence (driver licence and utility bills) are requested.
- DECLARATION THAT YOUR FATHER NEVER RENOUNCED ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP BEFORE ANY ITALIAN AUTHORITY, listing all places of residence and relative years.
If living use FORM 3, if deceased use FORM 4.
- ANY PERTINENT DEATH CERTIFICATE/S RELATED TO ITALIAN ASCENDENTS.
If your paternal grandfather became a naturalized U.S. citizen before your father’s birth, you are not eligible for Italian citizenship
If category 4 applies to you, the following documents are required:
- FORM 1
- YOUR MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS’ BIRTH CERTIFICATE
- YOUR MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS' MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE
- YOUR MATERNAL GRANDFATHER’S CERTIFICATE OF NATURALIZATION AND
PETITION FOR NATURALIZATION
- YOUR PARENTS’ BIRTH CERTIFICATE
- YOUR PARENTS’ MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE
- YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE
- YOUR DECLARATION THAT YOU NEVER RENOUNCED ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP BEFORE
ANY ITALIAN AUTHORITY, listing all your places of residence and relative years. Your signature must be notarized. Copy of your passport and proof of residence (driver licence and utility bills ect.) are requested.
- DECLARATION THAT YOUR MOTHER NEVER RENOUNCED ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP BEFORE ANY ITALIAN AUTHORITY, listing all places of residence and relative years . If living use FORM 3, if deceased use FORM 4;
- ANY PERTINENT DEATH CERTIFICATE/S RELATED TO THE ITALIAN ASCENDANTS
If your maternal grandfather became a naturalized U.S. citizen before your mother’s birth, you are not eligible for Italian citizenship
If category 5 applies to you, the following documents are required:
- FORM 1
- YOUR PATERNAL OR MATERNAL GREAT GRANDPARENTS’ BIRTH CERTIFICATE (from Italy)
- YOUR PATERNAL OR MATERNAL GREAT GRANDPARENTS' MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE
- YOUR PATERNAL OR MATERNAL GREAT GRANDFATHERS’ CERTIFICATE OF
NATURALIZATION AND PETITION FOR NATURALIZATION
- YOUR PATERNAL/MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS’ BIRTH CERTIFICATE
- YOUR PATERNAL/MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS' MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE
- YOUR PATERNAL/MATERNAL PARENTS’ BIRTH CERTIFICATE
- YOUR PATERNAL/MATERNAL PARENTS' MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE
- YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE
- YOUR DECLARATION THAT YOU NEVER RENOUNCED ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP BEFORE
ANY ITALIAN AUTHORITY, listing all your places of residence and relative years. Your signature must be notarized. Copy of your passport and proof of residence (driver licence and utility bills ect.) are requested. Use FORM 2
- DECLARATION THAT YOUR PATERNAL/MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS NEVER RENOUNCED ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP BEFORE ANY ITALIAN AUTHORITY, listing all places of residence and relative years. If living use FORM 3, if deceased use FORM 4
- DECLARATION THAT YOUR FATHER/MOTHER NEVER RENOUNCED ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP BEFORE ANY ITALIAN AUTHORITY, listing all places of residence and relative years.
If living use FORM 3, if deceased use FORM 4
- ANY PERTINENT DEATH CERTIFICATE/S RELATED TO THE ITALIAN ASCENDANTS.
If your great grandfather became a naturalized U.S. citizen before your grandfather or grandmother’s birth, you are not eligible for Italian citizenship.
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4. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
You are required to fill out all forms that pertain to your category.
You must present original documents and one set of photocopies.
All certificates must be in "long form" or “extended form” which can be obtained at your local Vital Statistics Office of the State in which the birth/marriage/death took place. Certificates reporting only the "County" of birth cannot be accepted.
U.S. birth/marriage/death records must bear an Apostille of the Secretary of State of the State where the document was issued. Petition for naturalization and/or “no record” certificates must be in certified copy.
All certificates must be submitted with the official translation in Italian language except the Apostille.
Documents that do not need to be translated are the U.S. Certificates of Naturalization and the letter of no naturalization records issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Some US vital record offices may require applicants to provide a letter of the Consulate stating a reason for the request of certificates relevant to the applicants’ ancestors. We regret to inform you that we cannot authorize any American Government Office to issue such records. We can only suggest that you present a copy of this information kit to motivate your request.
Incorrect certificates
It is your responsibility to make sure that all documents contain the correct information with regard to names, last names, dates and places of birth, and that such information matches in all submitted papers. Incorrect certificates may delay processing of your application or affect your eligibility for Italian citizenship. If there are too significant differences in the certificates, please provide an official statement from a Court Judge or a Vital Statistic Officer asserting the true and correct information.
Documents issued in the U.S.A.
Documents bearing the Apostille are accepted for legal use in several countries, including Italy and the United States where the Hague Convention of December 5th, 1961, has entered into force. The Apostille is the legalization provided by the Office of the Secretary of State where the document/certificate is issued. It is an official seal affixed on the certificate which makes the document valid abroad.
Documents issued in countries other than the U.S.A.
For documents issued in countries where the Hague Convention is not in force, you should refer to the Italian Consulate in the area of the issuing Country. For further Information, you may visit the web site www.esteri.it.
Appointments
To schedule an appointment, please contact the call center at:
Premium rate: 1900-446-2244
Credit Card: 1800-686-4446
at the cost of $2.49 per minute.
Calls are answered from 8.30 a.m to 8.30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
This service is handled by Abtran (www.abtran.com)
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5. Downloand the forms
Form 1
Form 2
Form 3
Form 4
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