Italian Citizenship: complete guide with up-to-date information

Italian citizenship can be recognized or granted to different groups of people, but the main categories are:

1. By descent (Jure Sanguinis):

• Children of an Italian father or mother, with no generation limit, as long as no ancestor has renounced their citizenship.
• Children born after January 1, 1948, to an Italian mother and a foreign father (previously, maternal transmission was restricted).

2. By marriage:

• Spouse of an Italian citizen after 3 years of marriage (or 1 and a half years if the couple has children).
• It is necessary to prove a minimum income, knowledge of the Italian language (level B1) and integration into Italian society.

3. By residence:

• Foreigners who have legally resided in Italy for at least 10 years (5 years for spouses of Italians and for political refugees).
• It is necessary to demonstrate good behavior, knowledge of the Italian language (level A2) and integration into Italian society.

4. Other ways:

• Adoption by Italian citizens.
• Statelessness (lack of nationality).
• Services relevant to Italy.

Obtaining Italian citizenship completely free of charge is not possible.

The process of applying for Italian citizenship, regardless of the form of acquisition, always involves some costs, such as:

• Consular fees: charged by the Consulate General of Italy for analyzing the application and issuing the Citizenship Certificate.
• Translation and apostille costs: of the original documents into Italian, in accordance with the rules of the Hague Convention.
• Issuance of certificates: birth, marriage and obituary (if applicable) in full and translated into Italian.
• Italian proficiency exam: if necessary for the chosen form of acquisition (for example, citizenship by marriage).
• Professional advice: if you choose to hire a professional specialized in Italian citizenship to assist you in the process.

However, there are some ways to reduce costs:

• Plan and organize the process in advance: This can help you avoid extra costs due to tight deadlines or errors in documentation.
• Search for quotes from different translators and apostille services: to find the most competitive prices.
• Take the Italian proficiency exam yourself: There are several course options and preparatory materials available online and in language schools.
• Apply for Italian citizenship in Italy: If you already reside in the country, you can apply for citizenship directly at your city's Comune (city hall), which can reduce some consular costs.

The most common question when we think about having the Italian passport is: how much does the process cost? Italian citizenship?

Basically, the value varies according to the number of documents during the process.

The method chosen for the request will also affect the value. In other words, if the process is carried out through the Italian consulates, by the comune (municipality) in Italy, or through Italian court. 

Cost of applying for Italian citizenship in Brazil

Applying for Italian citizenship in Brazil is the most important. However, the waiting time can be 10 to 15 years. Because there are a large number of requests.

Taking into account documentation costs, as well as the 300 euro fee charged by consulates, the final value is approximately R$5.

Complete the Italian citizenship process in the comune

It is also possible to apply for citizenship while residing in Italy. Certainly, this option is much faster than waiting in line at consulates.

However, to know as The Italian citizenship process costs via comune consider that:

• You will have to pay for air tickets to Italy;
• All costs for issuing documentation and, if necessary, rectifying documents;

In addition, you will have expenses for housing, food and transportation. Since you will need to reside in the country for a certain period of time.

Therefore, the total cost of the process can reach R$30. It is worth remembering that your costs in Italy will be in euros.

Take away citizenship through justice

If you wish to request the citizenship through justice, against consulate queues, the value is different. On average the applicant will spend R $ 23 thousand.

But this value can be significantly reduced if the process is carried out with several family members and relatives in the same process, says Reginaldo Maia, from Blessed Citizenship, a company specialized in legal actions in the Italian court.

“If the action is carried out in a group, with applicants from the same family, the cost can drop to less than R$4 for each person. And the amount is paid in up to 10 installments. In addition to being a safe process, it is advantageous”, he says.

Having an Italian passport does not automatically guarantee the right to live in the United States.

Although Italian citizenship offers some advantages for those who want to live in the USA, such as ease of obtaining certain types of visa, It is still necessary to obtain legal authorization to reside in the country.

Visa Options for Italian Citizens:

• Visa Waiver Program (Stay of up to 90 days): Italian citizens can enter the US without the need for a tourist visa for stays of up to 90 days.
• E-2 Visa (Investor Visa): Allows Italian citizens to invest in a U.S. business and obtain residency while managing the venture.
• EB-5 Visa (Green Card): Grants permanent residency to investors who contribute significant amounts to the American economy.
• H1-B Visa (Skilled Work Visa): Aimed at professionals with specific skills and high qualifications, hired by American companies.
• EB-1, EB-2, EB-3 and EB-4 visa (Employment Green Cards): Aimed at workers with exceptional skills, teachers and researchers, among others.
• Other Visas: Student visas, fiance visas, exchange visas, etc.

Important:

• Each type of visa has specific requirements and processes.
• It is essential to research and prepare in advance to apply for the appropriate visa for your situation.
• It is recommended to consult a professional specialized in immigration to obtain personalized guidance and increase the chances of success in your visa application.

Useful Resources:

• Website of the Consulate General of Italy in São Paulo: https://conssanpaolo.esteri.it/pt/
• US Embassy in Italy website: https://it.usembassy.gov/

For Italian citizenship by descent (Jure Sanguinis) there is no obligation to speak Italian.

However, for citizenship through marriage (naturalization), knowledge of the Italian language is a requirement.

There is no generation limit to apply for Italian citizenship by ancestry!

If your great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, or any other direct Italian ancestor was born in Italy (or died in the Kingdom of Italy after 1861), Italian citizenship can be passed on indefinitely, regardless of date of birth.

Obtaining Italian citizenship does not necessarily imply additional tax obligations. You don't need to worry if you don't have a bank account, job, company or investments in Italy.

Both Brazilian law and Italian law allow citizens to have more than one nationality, so it is entirely possible to be an Italian and Brazilian citizen at the same time.

According to Italian Law, Consulates have a maximum period of 730 days to analyze requests for recognition of citizenship. This two-year period covers from the first contact with the Consulate to obtaining Italian documentation.

Italy has approximately 350 surnames. The best way to confirm whether your surname is Italian is to consult your family tree. In this case, it is necessary to attach the certificates to confirm the origin.

It is not mandatory to have an Italian surname to be entitled to Italian citizenship, but it may be interesting to investigate your ancestors and discover your origins through this starting point.

Here are some tips to help you:

Start by talking to older family members, such as grandparents, uncles and cousins, to obtain information about your Italian ancestors.

Search for old documents from your family, such as birth, marriage and death certificates, passports, letters, photos and family albums.

If you need help with your research, Bendita Cidadania has a competent genealogy team and I can help you.

If a family member, who has the same blood, is recognized directly in Italy, and recently, the paste can be used. In this case, the official must allow reuse and the owner of the folder authorizes it.

It is worth noting that certificates issued in Brazil are valid for 6 months to be used in the Italian citizenship process.

If your relative managed to obtain Italian citizenship, it shows that you may also be eligible following the same family lineage.

However, it does not mean that your process will be faster.

One advantage is that you can use the documentation and information gathered during your relative's process as a reference for your own process.

The administrative process in Italy has a limit of 180 days, according to the law. In practical terms, this time may vary.

Through the courts, the process takes (on average) 8 to 12 months. In some courts, this period may be shorter or longer.

The waiting list can be up to 12 years at consulates.

Fortunately, no! Since January 1, 2005, military service in Italy has become volunteer. This means that even if you obtain Italian citizenship, your child will not be required to serve in the Italian Army.

The law that suspended mandatory military service and established professional military service was Law 226 of 2004.

Italian citizenship is not barred if the child was not conceived within marriage. If the name of the parent does not appear as a declarant on the birth certificate, it is possible to do this through a public deed or even through a court ruling.

Italian citizenship for Trentinos is a complex issue. Before 1920, they were Austrian citizens, but with the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, some became Italian citizens.

However, not all Trentinos automatically received Italian citizenship. In 2000, a deadline was opened to apply for Italian citizenship, but it ended in 2010. Unfortunately, there is no plan for a review of this situation by the Italian government.

ITALIAN CITIES THAT WERE PART OF THE AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN EMPIRE

https://benditacidadania.com.br/cidades-italianas-que-fizeram-parte-do-imperio-austro-hungaro/

It is possible to apply for Italian citizenship if your Italian ancestor was adopted. If it was adopted legally, according to the laws of the country in which it occurred, there will be no problems.

Italian citizenship is issued in the same way to divorced people as it is to married or single people. However, a greater number of documents are requested.

If the divorce was made through the courts, it is necessary to present a certified copy of the following documents (translated and apostilled):

1. Inicial petition;
2. Minutes of the trial hearing;
3. Judge's sentence;
4. Object and foot certificate.

Yes, it is possible to pass on Italian citizenship to an adopted child. For adopted children under the age of 18, it is necessary to obtain recognition of the adoption in Italy through a judicial process.

Italian legislation guarantees citizenship to children adopted before the age of 18, as long as the process is completed.

For adopted children over 18, it is necessary to go through the naturalization process, legally residing in Italy for at least five years. It is important that the adoptive parents already have Italian citizenship.

Citizenship by election is recognized when a child of an Italian citizen is recognized or adopted by that parent after reaching the age of majority. Unlike jure sanguinis citizenship, which is acquired automatically, citizenship by election requires a voluntary choice

The rule is:

1- Your parents were not married at the time of your birth and did not get married while you were a minor.

2 - The person who transmits citizenship was not the same person who declared his birth at the registry office.

If the divorce or death occurred after April 27, 1983, Italian citizenship is not lost. Furthermore, there is no gender distinction: both men and women can apply for naturalization through marriage, including in same-sex relationships, and will not lose citizenship after separation or divorce. These are protections guaranteed by Italian law.

If the death occurred after April 27, 1983, it is possible to apply for citizenship.

The use of a birth certificate based on self-registration, or self-declaration, is safer in the judicial process. This is due to the broad prerogatives and functions attributed to the judge, which are more comprehensive than those of the comune officer or the consulate.

We cannot guarantee, as in any case, that it depends on the decision of a judge, but there are several positive sentences in the Court of Rome.

Self-registration or self-declaration of birth is only valid for the judge, as the judge has more freedom in evaluating the evidence than a commune or consulate official.

Registration carried out in accordance with Brazilian legislation can be considered as proof, as long as there are other documents that prove the alleged affiliation.

Yes, you can apply for recognition of Italian citizenship through your Italian grandmother, as long as your husband's birth certificate states that he is Brazilian. In this case, you would be seeking recognition of Italian citizenship through the maternal line of descent.

When you present a document (original or certified copy) issued by a European Union country to authorities in another EU country, they have to accept it without needing the apostille to prove it is authentic.

Unfortunately, you cannot live in Italy while waiting for a decision on the citizenship process. The residence permit pending citizenship, called "permesso di soggiorno in attesa della cittadinanza", is only valid for citizenship processes via administrative means.

Yes, after obtaining your Italian citizenship and moving to Italy, your family can apply for the "permesso di soggiorno per motivi familiari" (residence permit for family reasons). With this document, they can join you in the country for longer than allowed by the tourist visa (Schengen Agreement).

The soggiorno permit is valid for 2 years and can be renewed.

According to Italian law, everyone has the right to Italian public service within 30 days, which can be extended for a further 60 days with prior notice. During this period, the Consulate does not begin the citizenship recognition process or issue a protocol. Thus, 90 days in line are enough to prove the Consulate's illegality.

Fees vary from company to company and lawyer to lawyer. In our case, we offer a more affordable price for the adult applicant, but we charge an additional fee if the parent wants to include their minor child in the action. It is important to highlight that this inclusion is not mandatory. The father has the option of including his son directly in the transcription of the certificates, after the process is completed, or doing so at the consulate itself.

Yes, as long as he was a recognized Italian citizen. It is important to highlight that the husband must already have Italian citizenship so that the wife can acquire it automatically.

(Article 10, paragraph 2, of Law number 555, of 13/06/1912)

No. Italian citizenship is transmitted through the principle of jus sanguinis, which means "right of blood".

Italian citizenship is not barred if the child was not conceived within marriage. If the name of the parent does not appear as a declarant on the birth certificate, it is possible to do this through a public deed or even through a court ruling.

In the past, children born to unmarried parents were called illegitimate children. Today, this word is no longer used. The main difference in relation to legitimate children is that the father's name is recorded on the birth certificate. Having the expression “illegitimate child” is not a problem for the Italian citizenship process.

No, to update the AIRE (Anagrafe dos Italianos Residing Abroad), it is not enough to just have the sentence and the final judgment. To update the AIRE, you will need an Italian document, and the first step will be to transcribe your certificates, duly registered in the Italian civil registry.

Expenses for legal professionals in Italy are not considered deductible expenses in the Income Tax declaration. In other words, excluding these expenses will not have an impact on the amount of tax to be refunded. But there is still a risk of taxation if the payments were not correctly taxed at the time.

The deadline for the Ministry to respond is 30 days from the communication, if it was present at the Hearing. However, if the Ministry was not present at the Hearing, the deadline starts from notification. In other words, another 30 days.

The judge's decision-making acts in the Italian legal system are, respectively, the "sentenza" and the "ordinanza". What differs between the two is the content of the decision, and not necessarily its name.

Once the decision/sentence has been finalized, it means that there is no longer any possibility of appeal, making it definitive. The final judgment is formalized by the court and forwarded to the Commune, which has the administrative competence to transcribe the acts, in this case the certificates.

Ultimately, the “ordinanza” is what has the most weight in the process.

It most often appears as "Non-codified deposit", but the Court employee does not always update the application in real time.

For those who have already recognized Italian citizenship and do not live in Italy, updated registration with AIRE is an obligation.

The acronym stands for Registration of Italians Resident Abroad (in free translation) and is a registration that must be made at Italian consulates.

The Negative Certificate of Naturalization, also known as CNN, is an important document that certifies that the Italian has not become a naturalized Brazilian.

It is issued by the Brazilian Ministry of Justice: issue here

A health insurance card, or health card, is a fundamental document in Italy, equivalent to the SUS card in Brazil. It allows citizens legally residing in the country to access the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN), the Italian healthcare system.

Yes, when requesting the codice fiscale it is generally necessary to indicate the reason why you need it, as it is only valid in Italy.

Read more here: What is fiscal code?

The NR - Non Rinuncia document, also known as "Attestazione di non rinuncia" in Italian, plays an important role in proving that none of your ancestors renounced their Italian citizenship.

Now the question arises: How is it possible to renounce Italian citizenship if you don't already have it?

It is important to note that if your ancestors were not Italian, you would not have the right to Italian citizenship! Therefore, it is certain that all those who came before you were, in fact, Italian citizens. Recognition of citizenship is simply a formalization of the status that is inherent to the person. Furthermore, it is possible to renounce your Italian citizenship, even if you have not yet formally recognized it.