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The European Union
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What is the European Union? |
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The European Union (EU) - previously known as the European Community (EC)-
was founded after the Second World War to unite the nations of Europe
economically and to help ensure peace in the region. Today, the EU boasts a
fully integrated internal market in which citizens, as well as goods and
services, can move freely across national borders. Belgium, Germany, France,
Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands were the six original member states. After
four rounds of enlargement (Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom in 1973;
Greece in 1981; Spain and Portugal in 1986; and Austria, Finland and Sweden in
1995), the EU has fifteen member states. On October 9, 2002 in Brussels, the
European Commission recommended that ten front-runner candidates be invited to
join the EU in 2004: the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania,
Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus, and Malta. Second-wave candidates Bulgaria
and Romania are expected to join in 2007. For more information, visit the EU
website at http://europa.eu.int/index_en.htm. |
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What is the euro? |
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The Single European Act (1986) and the Treaty on European Union (1992)
introduced the idea of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) and laid the
foundations for a single currency. On January 1, 1999, the euro was introduced
when member states irrevocably fixed their exchange rates. EU citizens continued
to use their national currency until euro bank notes and coins were put into
circulation on January 1, 2002. The twelve states in the euro zone are Austria,
Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal,
Spain and the Netherlands. For more information, visit the euro website at http://www.euro.ecb.int/en.html. |
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If I'm an Italian citizen, can I live and work in other countries of the
EU? |
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Yes, this is one of the greatest benefits of being an Italian citizen.
Having an Italian passport is like having a passport to any EU country,
allowing you to live and work anywhere. Under the terms of Article 17 (ex
Article 8) of the Treaty on European Union, any person holding the nationality
of a member state is a citizen of the Union. EU citizenship, which supplements
national citizenship without replacing it, grants citizens the right to
move freely and to reside on the territory of the member states (Article
18). |
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Benefits of Italian Citizenship
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How will Italian citizenship improve my job prospects? |
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If you apply to work for an international company, you have a huge advantage
over your peers. You can be transferred to Europe without any hassle on the part
of the company. Between two equally-qualified candidates, a company with offices
in Europe is more likely to hire the one with Italian citizenship. Similarly, a
company looking to promote a manager for an office abroad is more likely to
choose the Italian citizen from among equally-qualified employees. |
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How will Italian citizenship make me feel safer when I travel
abroad? |
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Citizens of certain western countries?and Americans in particular?are the
main targets of terrorist attacks abroad. You may feel safer using an Italian
passport when you travel to places where citizens of your native country are
unpopular. Also, if your government restricts travel to certain countries that
you may want (or need) to visit, you can use your Italian passport to enter and
move around more freely. |
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How will Italian citizenship allow me to qualify for free health care
and tuition? |
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Italian citizens enjoy access to free public health care and public
education at all academic levels. Additional taxes may apply for those enrolled
at universities. |
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How can Italian citizenship allow me to earn retirement
benefits? |
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Italian and other EU governments provide generous pensions for citizens who
have spent the requisite number of years in the workforce. If you have worked in
your native country for most of your adult life and are considering spending
your retirement abroad, being an Italian citizen makes living in Europe much
easier, from buying a home to gaining access to public health care. |
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Are there any other benefits? |
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You can go into business with much greater ease. As a single economic zone
with a common currency and a population greater than that of the United States,
the European Union presents a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs. But the
restrictions on non-EU citizens are formidable. Being an Italian citizen will
allow you to avoid a lot of bureaucratic hassles. If you are an American,
Italian citizenship will let you invest in offshore mutual funds and securities
without restriction or hindrance. Very few foreign companies are registered to
sell their securities in the United States. Foreign brokers will not sell
unregistered securities for fear of running afoul of the SEC. If you want these
securities, it is sometimes essential to have a foreign identity.
Another benefit of Italian citizenship is that you can pass it on to your
children, giving them the possibility to migrate to any country in the European
Union, as needed or desired.
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Can you recommend any other resources to learn more about the advantages
of dual citizenship? |
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How to Legally Obtain A Second Citizenship And Passport ? And Why You
Want To by Adam Starchild (© 1999, Breakout Productions, Inc.) is an
excellent resource for learning more about dual citizenship. |
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Italian Citizenship jure sanguinis - General
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I do not have Italian ancestors, but I am interested in immigrating to
and/or finding a job in Italy. Can you advise me on immigration procedures
and/or help me to get a visa? |
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No! This website offers services to people of Italian ancestry who are
interested in obtaining Italian citizenship jure sanguinis (through
ancestry). These services include obtaining birth, marriage and death
certificates from Italy; and translating foreign certificates from English into
Italian. Services for people who seek visa or immigration information are
undertaken by a particular country's Italian embassy and consulates. Visit the
website of the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs at http://www.esteri.it/ita/2_11_6.asp
to contact the Italian embassy and consulates in your country for more
information. |
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What does jure sanguinis mean? |
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Sometimes referred to as jus sanguinis, it is Latin for "by the right
of blood." In this case, it means the right to citizenship through one's
bloodline or ancestry. |
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Will Italian citizenship jure sanguinis affect my current
citizenship? |
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According to the principle of jure sanguinis, you have actually been
an Italian citizen since birth (if you qualify). Obtaining dual citizenship
through ancestry is much different than obtaining it through naturalization,
which in many cases can result in the loss of your native citizenship. In
Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the United States and the
United Kingdom, being recognized as an Italian citizen jure sanguinis
will not affect your current citizenship. If you are a citizen of any other country, we strongly recommend you verify
this with the nearest Italian authority. |
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How long does this process take? |
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Assuming you start the process today, it generally takes four to six weeks for us to obtain your ancestor's birth, marriage or death certificate. The time it takes to procure birth, marriage and death certificates in your state or province varies, but in one case it took the state of California five months to respond to ten certificate requests. Some vital statistics offices do allow you to expedite your requests. You can request your certificates from Italy through Italiamerica. For birth go here; for marriage go here; for death go here; and from your state or province (through the appropriate authority) simultaneously,
allowing the waiting periods to overlap. As soon as all the certificates
from your state or province have arrived, you may have to wait another
few weeks for the apostilles or legalizations, though you can usually save
time if you go in person. Italiamerica can translate your certificates
into Italian in two weeks or less, though this may also be done while you
are waiting for the apostilles or legalizations. You can complete the actual
application for citizenship jure sanguinis and get it notarized in a day. The biggest
question is how long it will take the Italian embassy or consulate to process
your application. Experience has shown that it may take anywhere from two
weeks to a year. We recommends planning at least six months to a year in advance
from the day you start requesting certificates until the day you get confirmation
of your citizenship. |
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Can I acquire citizenship with other members of my family at the same
time? |
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Certainly! In fact, all living ancestors, your Italian parent, your Italian
grandparent,in the direct line between you and your ancestor from Italy
are going to be recognized as Italian citizens anyway. (This is not optional!)
Applying with siblings and/or first cousins requires very little additional
work and is a great way to divide up costs. Another benefit of applying
with other members of your family is that you need only ONE set of certificates
for your entire family's application. For example, if I apply for Italian
citizenship jure sanguinis with my two sisters and my mother, the certificates I must
present with my application are the same as those I would have had to present if
I were applying on my own, with the exception of my sisters' birth certificates. |
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I'm in a hurry to get over to Italy/Europe. Can I do anything to expedite
this process? |
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Request the Birth - Marriage - Death certificates from Italy and the certificates from your own country IMMEDIATELY! Don't delay at any point in this process. Be prepared for the appointment with the nearest Italian embassy or consulate to submit your application, and be sure you have all your certificates, apostilles and translations into Italian in order. Tell the representative of the Italian authority that you are anxious to move abroad and ask (politely!) if there is any way to expedite the process. |
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If I work in Italy do I have to pay taxes in both my native country and
Italy? |
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The United States is one of the few countries in the world that taxes its
citizens no matter where they live. However, you can qualify for a tax
exclusion for all income earned in Italy or elsewhere in the European Union
up to $70,000 USD per year. This is called the $70,000 exclusion, and in
order to qualify for it you must establish a tax home outside of the US
and pass either the physical-presence test or the foreign-residence test.
The physical-presence test is the more objective and straightforward of
the two. To pass, you must be outside the US for at least 330 days over
a consecutive twelve month period. The foreign-residence test is more subjective
and probably easier for most Americans to pass. You must convince the IRS
that you have been a bona fide resident of Italy or other EU country for
an entire taxable year and that you plan to live there indefinitely. The
IRS considers a number of factors to determine whether or not you pass
this test. Being an Italian citizen and living in Europe will certainly
work in your favor. Remember that you need to pass only one of these two
tests to qualify for the $70,000 exclusion. You must file IRS forms 1040
and 2555 or 2555-EZ to claim your exclusion!
If you are an American who doesn?t qualify for the $70,000 exclusion? or
who earns more than $70,000 USD per year, don?t worry! Italy and the United
States have tax treaties to protect their citizens from dual taxation.
The general rule is that you don?t pay US tax on foreign-earned income
if the foreign tax rate is higher than the US rate. If the foreign rate
is lower, you will have to pay US taxes on the difference between these
rates. In any case, be sure to file your tax returns every year even if
all your income is earned outside of the US! If you are not a US citizen, it is likely you won?t be taxed for any income
earned abroad. Check with the nearest Italian authority or a tax attorney for
more information.
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Can I vote in Italy without losing my native citizenship? |
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Yes. Voting is one of your rights as an Italian citizen. |
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Has it always been possible to hold Italian citizenship in addition to a
native citizenship? |
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Only since 1992. On February 5, 1992, the Italian government passed a law
(no. 91, art. 11) stating that any Italian citizen who acquired or reacquired a
foreign citizenship after August 15, 1992 would not lose his or her Italian
citizenship. |
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How will I know when I've obtained Italian citizenship? |
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You will be contacted by the Italian authority through which you submitted
your application for citizenship. Though this may vary from country to country,
you will probably receive a package at your home address including a cover
letter stating that you have been recognized as an Italian citizen, an
application for an Italian passport and an application for A.I.R.E. If you are a
male under the age of forty-five, you will also be sent a document relieving you
of your military obligations to Italy. (Read on if you are a male under the
age of twenty-seven!) |
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What is A.I.R.E.? |
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In every city in Italy, there is a general registry office or
anagrafe that keeps track of the changes in citizenship status, address,
marriage, birth and death of Italian citizens. Italians living abroad are
registered in a special anagrafe called A.I.R.E. By law, all Italian
citizens, whether living in Italy or abroad, must notify their anagrafe
concerning any change in their status. Italians abroad do so through the
consular office in whose jurisdiction they reside. |
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Will I have military obligations to Italy? |
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On May 8, 2001, the Italian government passed a law (Art. 7 del D. Lgs. 8
maggio 2001 n. 215) making military service completely voluntary as of January
1, 2007. Females do not have any military obligations, nor does any male born on
or after January 1, 1986. If you have already served in the US military or you
are forty-five years or older, you do not have to serve in the Italian military.
If you are twenty-seven or older and younger than forty-five, you can avoid
military service by filling out some paperwork. If you are a male born between
1976 and December 31, 1985 and you want to live in Italy, in theory you are obliged to complete your military service unless you are enrolled
in a university. Work exemptions also exist for those who meet certain
qualifications (e.g. independent business-owners or members of a family
business). We feel that, in reality, LEVA (the bureau regulating mandatory
military service) is slowly winding down and is no longer tracking newly-recognized
male Italian citizens for military service. Nonetheless, if you were born
between 1976 and December 31, 1985 and you want to live in Italy, we strongly
recommend you contact the LEVA office of the area in Italy in which you
are planning to live for more information. |
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How soon can I move to Italy after I receive confirmation of citizenship
from the Italian consulate in my area? |
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Even if you're in a rush to move to Europe, we strongly recommend you wait
until you get an Italian passport before you go, especially if you're planning
a move to a country other than Italy. |
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How long will it take to get a passport once I obtain Italian
citizenship? |
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It depends how quickly your embassy or consulate processes passport
requests. From the moment you submit your passport application, it could take
anywhere from one to six weeks. Check with the nearest Italian authority for
more information. |
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If I have two passports, which should I use when I travel? |
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If you plan on traveling to Italy or to any other EU country, bring both
your native passport and your Italian passport with you. Show your native
passport when leaving your country. On the plane, put away your native passport
and take out your Italian passport, which you should then use when entering
Italy or any other EU country. It?s probably in your best interest NOT to
mention to customs that you are carrying two passports. It is not illegal for
you to do so, but a lower-level official may not know this, which could result
in delays while he or she confirms this. Use your Italian passport when you
travel to parts of the world where citizens of your native country are unpopular
or prohibited from entering (for example, Americans in Cuba). It?s always a good
idea to carry photocopies of both passports with you when you travel. |
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How can I find out which Italian authority covers my geographic
area? |
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If you are an American and you're not sure which consulate covers your
state, follow this
link to find the consular office in whose jurisdiction you reside.
Otherwise, visit the website of the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs at http://www.esteri.it/ita/2_11_6.asp
for a list of all Italian embassies and consulates in the world. |
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I am not a citizen of the country in which I am currently living (e.g. a
Mexican citizen in the USA). Can I apply for Italian citizenship through the
Italian consulate of the country in which I am living, or must I do so through a
consulate in my country of citizenship? |
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You must apply for Italian citizenship through an Italian consulate in your
country of citizenship. |
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Italian Citizenship jure sanguinis - Qualifying
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Do I have to speak Italian to become an Italian citizen? |
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No, citizenship jure sanguinis is your birthright. You are only
required to prove your lineage to an Italian citizen. |
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Is there a residency requirement to become an Italian
citizen? |
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No, for the reason mentioned above. |
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I?ve read on other websites that Italian citizenship jure
sanguinis is only available through grandparents. Your website says that
there is no generational limit. Which is correct? |
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We can state with absolute certainty that Italian citizenship jure sanguinis is possible through great grandparents. The fact that there is NO generational
limit for citizenship through ancestry has been confirmed by various Italian
consulates. |
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I was born in Italy. Do I qualify for dual citizenship? |
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- Italian citizens by birth who never became naturalized citizens of their adopted country are eligible for an Italian passport. Contact the nearest Italian embassy or consulate for details. If you need to order your birth certificate, you can do so here.
- Italian citizens who were naturalized in their adopted country prior to
August 15, 1992, implicitly renouncing their right to Italian citizenship, can
reinstate it by returning to Italy and residing there for at least one year.
- Italian citizens who became naturalized citizens of their adopted country
after August 15, 1992, retained their Italian citizenship unless they expressly
renounced it. They are required to personally inform the Italian consulate of
becoming citizens within ninety days, or when they reach their 18th birthday,
otherwise they risk a fine.
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If I acquire Italian citizenship jure sanguinis, is my spouse
eligible to become an Italian citizen? |
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Yes. The principle of jure sanguinis is that, if you qualify for
Italian citizenship through ancestry, you have actually been an Italian citizen
since birth. This process simply recognizes the citizenship you already possess.
The Italian law states that spouses of Italian citizens can apply for
citizenship after six months of marriage if a couple is living in Italy and
after three years of marriage if they are living abroad. Consider a person
living outside of Italy who has already been married for over three years. Once
he or she is recognized as an Italian citizen jure sanguinis, the
spouse may apply for Italian citizenship immediately! Why? Because the
Italian has been a citizen since birth and the couple has been married for over
three years. |
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If I acquire Italian citizenship jure sanguinis, will my children
become Italian citizens? |
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Yes, if your children are under the age of eighteen. If they are eighteen or
older and qualify, they will need to apply separately. |
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Is there a limit to the number of generations through which Italian
citizenship jure sanguinis can be passed? |
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According to Italian law, there is no limit, provided that your
Italian ancestor was born in Italy and emigrated after 1861 (see below) and that
you can produce documentation proving your lineage. Italian citizenship jure
sanguinis cannot skip generations; there must be a continuous link between
you and your ancestor from Italy. |
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What if my Italian ancestor was born prior to 1861? |
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Our understanding is that all residents of the territory of Italy automatically become Italian citizens when the country united in 1861. If your ancestor was born in Italy before 1861, but emigrated after 1861, he or she was an Italian citizen. If your ancestor was born in Italy and emigrated before 1861, he or she was NOT an Italian citizen. |
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I've looked through all the categories on your Qualifying page, but I?m
still not sure if I qualify. |
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Whatever your circumstances, remember that there are two principle laws
governing Italian citizenship jure sanguinis. The first is that citizenship can only be passed to a child while the parent is still an Italian citizen. That is, parents who became naturalized citizens of their new country BEFORE the birth of their children lost their Italian citizenship and COULD NOT pass citizenship on to them, while parents who became naturalized AFTER the birth of their children COULD pass citizenship on to them.
The second law is that citizenship could not be passed from a woman to her
children prior to January 1, 1948. That is not to say that citizenship could not
be passed TO females prior to 1948; it just could not be passed FROM a
mother before January 1, 1948.
Citizenship jure sanguinis has no generational limit (provided the Italian ancestor was born after 1861) but may not, under any circumstances, SKIP generations.
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What does renouncing one's right to Italian citizenship mean? |
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Native-born Italian citizens renounce their right to Italian citizenship
when they become naturalized citizens of a foreign country. Persons born outside
Italy who qualify for Italian citizenship jure sanguinis renounce their right to Italian citizenship only by doing so explicitly
in an Italian embassy or consulate. |
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My Italian parent/grandparent/great grandparent was born in Italy, but was naturalized along with his or her parents as a minor. Does it still count as renouncing one's right to Italian citizenship if the child was too young to make a conscious choice? |
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Yes. If your parent/grandparent/great grandparent was naturalized as a
minor, he or she effectively renounced his or her right to Italian citizenship.
This means that your ancestor was unable to pass Italian citizenship jure
sanguinis to his or her children as an adult. Unfortunately, no exceptions
are made in these cases. |
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I've heard the law prohibiting women from passing citizenship to their
children before January 1, 1948 has been overturned. Is this true? |
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NO! This has been confirmed by two Italian consulates. There was
indeed a one-off decision by the Italian supreme court some years ago but it was
subsequently overturned. As things stand, only children born to Italian mothers
after January 1, 1948 are eligible. |
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| Q. |
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Can I qualify for citizenship jure sanguinis through my Italian
great grandmother? |
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Remember that prior to January 1, 1948, women could not pass Italian
citizenship jure sanguinis on to their children. So unless your
grandparent was born after January 1, 1948, the answer is no. |
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| Q. |
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I don't qualify for Italian citizenship jure sanguinis OR I don't
have Italian ancestors. How else can I acquire Italian
citizenship? |
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There are other ways of acquiring Italian citizenship, but none of them
nearly as easy as being recognized jure sanguinis. If you're looking to
spend just a few years working in Europe and you don't qualify for citizenship
through ancestry, you will probably want to take the traditional route and look
for a company or school to sponsor your visa. If you are truly committed to
becoming an Italian citizen, you may do so after legally living in Italy (i.e.
with a visa or stay permit of some sort) for the following periods of time:
- one year if you are have formerly held Italian citizenship
- three years if you are a foreigner with native-born Italian parents or
grandparents
- four years if you are a citizen of another EU country
- ten years if you are a citizen of a non-EU country
Note: While being recognized as an Italian citizen jure sanguinis does
not affect your current citizenship in most cases (since it was your
birthright), becoming an Italian citizen through residence or naturalization
may affect your native citizenship. Check with the nearest Italian authority
for more information.
Of course, you are also eligible for Italian citizenship if you marry an
Italian citizen. If you and your spouse live in Italy, you can apply for
citizenship after six months of marriage. If you both live outside of Italy, you
can apply after three years of marriage.
There are a few other cases in which Italian citizenship may be granted to a
foreigner, such as civil or military service or outstanding service to Italy.
For further information, contact the nearest Italian authority.
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Italian Citizenship jure sanguinis - Naturalization
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What is naturalization? |
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Naturalization is the process by which a person of foreign birth is granted
full citizenship in his or her new country. Laws governing the process of
naturalization change from country to country. In the United States, for
example, a foreigner interested in becoming a naturalized citizen must be over
the age of eighteen, live in the US legally for at least five years, have good
moral character, be able to speak English, have some knowledge of American
history and take an oath of allegiance to the United States renouncing all
foreign citizenships. |
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| Q. |
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How do I get a certificate of naturalization for my Italian
ancestor? |
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Visit: http://www.italiamerica.org/id6.htm |
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| Q. |
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How do I find out what year my Italian ancestor was
naturalized? |
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Visit this page of our site: http://italiamerica.org/id6.htm |
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| Q. |
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What if my Italian ancestor was never naturalized? |
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You must prove that your ancestor never became naturalized this with a
certification of "NO RECORDS" from the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship
and Immigration Services (BCIS) as proof that your ancestor was never naturalized.
You will also need a statement of "NO RECORDS" from the National
Archives and a survey report from a census dated after the date of birth
of your ancestor's child.
To use our Naturalization Service, visit this page of our site: http://italiamerica.org/id6.htm |
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| Q. |
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I have my Italian ancestor's original certificate of naturalization,
which is required for my citizenship application. Will the Italian consulate
need to keep this? |
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No, a photocopy of the original will suffice. Just to be safe, bring the
original to the embassy or consulate when you submit your application so that
they can confirm its authenticity. |
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