The number of new applications for recognition of Italian citizenship at the Court of Rome grew by 44% in 2019 compared to 2018.
According to a balance provided by the court itself, 4.928 families filed the process between January and December. In the same period of 2018, there were 3.419 new processes.
For Reginaldo Maia, executive director of Blessed CitizenshipAccording to the company that operates as an immigration broker and consultancy, the strong growth occurred because of fears of a possible change in citizenship law and distrust in the Brazilian political and economic direction. "The year 2019 was marked by rumors of changes in the laws. Political leaders expressed the need for new rules for Italian citizenship. In addition, many are concerned about the economic crisis, political instability, and fear of violence in Brazil. And since Italian citizenship can be an alternative for a life change, many want to secure this right," he says.
From 2015, when the first case was filed, until the beginning of 2020, the Rome Court already had 11.633 Italian citizenship cases – 3.861 of which had already received positive rulings, meaning the right was judicially recognized.
Each action can have 1 or more applicants from the same family.
The Roman court is responsible for judging the cases of descendants of Italians who are in the queues, classified as illegal, at Italian consulates in Brazil. It is also responsible in cases of maternal citizenship, when children of Italian women who were born before 1948 do not have the right to citizenship.
According to data from the Italian embassy, there are around 30 million descendants living in Brazil. And, according to the Italian body itself, around 260 thousand Brazilians are on the waiting list to obtain recognition as Italian citizens.
How works
To guarantee the right to recognition of Italian citizenship, the applicant can file a lawsuit in the Civil Court of Rome, arguing that Italian consulates in Brazil have failed to comply with Italian law. To do so, it is necessary to be on the consulate's waiting list.
With the public power of attorney, specific to the process, and the documents to file the lawsuit, the lawyer (registered in Italy) will carry out the entire procedure on behalf of the applicant, who can follow the process online.
Who is entitled to apply for Italian citizenship
- Recognition of Italian citizenship is possible through the principle the right of blood (right of blood); in other words, it is not necessary to have been born or lived in Italy.
- Every descendant of Italian has the right to obtain citizenship.
- According to the paternal line, there is no limitation regarding the year of birth of the children.
- In cases where there is a woman in the line of descent, she will only transmit citizenship to children born after 1948 through the administrative-consular route. For those born before this date, recognition is only possible through the courts, but in this case a process called “maternal”.
- Knowledge of the Italian language or Italian history and legislation is not required.
- If an ancestor in the Italian genealogical line has become a naturalized Brazilian, descendants will only be able to apply for citizenship if the child was born before their naturalization.
What documents should be sought
Birth or baptismal certificates, civil or religious marriage certificates, and death certificates for the entire family lineage, starting with the Italian ancestor, both in Brazil and Italy, as well as a certificate of non-naturalization.
Brazilian certificates must be in full and updated – they are valid for one year.
News updated on 12/01/20. We were wrong: In 2018, 3.419 processes were filed and not 4.419 as previously published.
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