Unlock Your Italian Citizenship with BIC

Are you ready to begin your journey towards obtaining Italian citizenship as soon as possible?

Italian Citizenship Assistance

Do you qualify?

To ascertain your potential jure sanguinis Italian citizenship, you must trace if either of your parents was an Italian citizen when you were born and could pass on citizenship. If the parent's Italian citizenship wasn't registered in Italy, you need to establish a chain of Italian ancestors, starting with the last known Italian citizen ancestor (LIRA), whose Italian citizenship is confirmed through official records. This process involves obtaining birth and citizenship certificates from Italy for each ancestor in your direct line, demonstrating the passing of Italian citizenship through generations. There's no limit to the number of generations, as long as your LIRA was a documented Italian citizen.

To substantiate your citizenship claim, essential documentation (vital records) is vital, demonstrating the lineage from one generation to the next. These documents establish if and when your last known Italian citizen ancestor (LIRA) naturalized, ensuring Italian citizenship was intact for the subsequent generations. Additionally, it's essential for recognized Italian citizens to maintain updated records with their hometown (comune), detailing life events like marriages, divorces, or the birth of their children.

While jure sanguinis means “right of blood”, DNA is not acceptable proof to the consulate and they don’t want to see it.

Each consulate (or comune) establishes a list of the documents that they will require to support your application. Some, but not all, consulates list these documents on their websites, but these lists are not always accurate and they are subject to change.
It may be surprising, but unlike the uniform enforcement of federal law in the USA, Italian Jure Sanguinis (JS) citizenship law lacks consistency in enforcement. This disparity is evident in the varying requirements set by different American Italian Consulates. Moreover, this inconsistency extends to the enforcement of JS law when applying directly in Italy, underscoring the critical role of selecting the right comune in your JS Italian journey. Certain comunes in Italy are openly hostile to the idea of JS law, making the choice of comune a pivotal decision. Some comunes even conduct surprise police checks post-residency establishment. While the general advice is to remain in the comune until citizenship recognition, the enforcement and reality of JS laws significantly vary across locations in Italy.

* MINOR ISSUE PASSED OCT 2024, The Ministry of the Interior has now aligned with recent Court of Cassation rulings, which state that these minors could only retain dual citizenship if they formally elected to keep their Italian citizenship within one year of reaching adulthood.

Pathways to Italian Citizenship Through JS Lineage

  • Application through the US Italian Consulate:

    You must apply at the Italian consulate that has jurisdiction over your place of residence in the US. Your specific consulate will depend on where you live.

  • Legal Action in Italy:

    If you have been unable to secure an appointment with the US Italian consulate after two years of trying, you have the option to file a lawsuit in Italy. This legal action would be based on the violation of your civil rights, allowing a judge in Italy to determine your eligibility for citizenship.

  • Establish Residency in Italy:

    By establishing residency in Italy, you can apply directly for Italian citizenship there through our residency program.

We offer assistance with all three pathways.

Read Our Latest Stories

MINOR ISSUE NOW LAW

We have confirmed new legal interpretations regarding Italian citizenship by descent, which affect administrative applications made through consulates and municipalities. Under the new guidelines, minors born in jus soli countries (like the U.S., Canada, or Australia) who gained foreign citizenship when their parent naturalized can only retain Italian citizenship if they formally elected to do so within one year of reaching adulthood (age 21). This new interpretation applies immediately to administrative cases, but does not impact judicial cases, such as 1948 cases, although some earlier court rulings have led to rejections in similar situations.

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Navigating Italian Bureaucracy

An overview of the challenges Americans may face when moving to small towns in Italy to obtain citizenship through ancestry. It covers key issues such as the requirement for in-person government appointments, language barriers, difficulties in securing long-term rentals, delays in police residency checks, and unpredictable document requirements. Real-life examples highlight the complexities of navigating Italian bureaucracy and cultural differences.

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Same-Sex Marriages, Adoptions, and Surrogacy Laws in Italy

Italy presents significant legal challenges for same-sex couples, particularly in the areas of marriage, adoption, and surrogacy. While civil unions provide some legal rights, they do not offer the full recognition or protections of marriage, especially regarding joint adoption. Surrogacy is strictly prohibited, with recent laws even criminalizing Italians who seek surrogacy abroad. For American same-sex couples considering Italian citizenship, it's crucial to understand these limitations before proceeding. Italy's legal landscape remains restrictive, and the fight for equal rights continues amidst a backdrop of conservative resistance.

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