The latest census data of the United States sheds light on the identity of Americans. Research shows that around 17.8 million Americans have the self-identity of belonging to Italian descent. Now that you’re an American citizen, chances are you have at least one ancestor who’s an Italian. Well, now that you’re curious about having an Italian passport- all thanks to the reputation of Italy as an amazing country to live in. But, how can you be so sure that the Italian ancestor of yours qualifies you for an Italian passport?
One such way of obtaining Italian citizenship is through a descent program- one of the best-known ways and a liberal maxim. This program is a suitable option since Italy lets you go back to three generations and more. The other countries limit the number of generations that let you claim Italian citizenship. All you’ve to do is establish a trail on paper that connects you to that ancestor. With Italy allowing the maxim of dual citizenship, what’s that clenching your hand from claiming the passport ready to be on your table? If repercussions worry you, then going through the entire process alone makes a little less sense, and having a helping hand can be a suitable option for enjoying a second option.
Italian Citizenship by Descent: What is it?
The term translates from Latin Jure Sanguinis, which means the virtue of the blood. Italian Citizenship by Descent is the citizenship law’s general principle, which determines the nationality of one or both parents at the child’s birth time. Now that you’re wondering How to get Italian Citizenship by descent, the experts claim to be following the law. Yes, the law considers children the citizen’s right from their birth when either or both parents have the citizenship of that nation, regardless of birthplace. The right expands to both the mother and father equally in today’s world. A quick example can be Italy, wherein the country grants women the right to transferring citizenship onto the children after January 1, 1948. Jure Sanguinis applies to countries’ laws only up to certain degrees, and Italy is one of the countries to recognize the same. The law recognizes a person as an Italian citizen even if one of the ancestors is Italian.
Citizenship is more than an individual exchange of freedoms for rights; it is also membership in a body politic, a nation, and a community. To be deemed fair, a system must offer its citizens equal opportunities for public recognition, and groups cannot systematically suffer from misrecognition in the form of stereotype and stigma.”
― Melissa V. Harris-Perry
and Italian Citizenship Acts provides you all you’re looking forth.
Taking the first steps: How do we apply the same?
When thinking of applying for Italian Citizenship by Descent, it becomes important to note the dates and birthplaces, the marriages and deaths of the Italian line of descent members. Find out the exact dates when the Italian-born citizens became United States’ naturalized citizens.
Now that you have the requisite information, the rule of thumb suggests finding out your eligibility. If you’re uncertain about the assessment services and your qualifications like the one the Italian Citizenship Assistance offers, the American and Italian lawyer networks can prove to be a useful resource.
Jure Sanguinis: Who is eligible for it?
A person can gain eligibility for Italian Citizenship by descent often. Some of the many can be after being born to a person of Italian descent to a person who was either an Italian citizen or has the eligibility of having citizenship. A situation of adoption also arises when an Italian parent or a parent with the Italian citizenship right brings a person into the family line. The petitioners urging upon Italian citizenship through descent would be eligible for recognition after meeting some requirements. These are:
- The person applying is of Italian descent or was brought into the family through adoption by an Italian descent person as a minor. The situation holds good before the age of 21 if it was before 1975, or after 1974 before attaining 18 years.
- The Italian born ancestor of the person was alive and was an Italian citizen after the formation and unification of the country in 1861.
- The Italian born ancestor of the person has never lost his/her Italian citizenship through naturalization in a foreign country or having it naturalized after the child’s birth. This child would be the next person in Italian lineage who then presents a demonstration of the connection of petitioner to the ancestor born in Italy.
- The person or anybody in his/her family has a family line to Italy and has the naturalization to become some other country’s citizen before the next person’s birth in the direct Italian lineage before the year 1992.
Exceptions to the Usual Cases: What are they?
Even if your first steps state your qualifications, there might be some exceptions to the general law. The very first exception can be renouncing your Italian citizenship voluntarily before August 15, 1992. Yet, some other things that can disqualify you from Italian citizenship by descent are:
- There was naturalization of your Italian-born citizen before June 14, 1912.
- The Italian woman in the Italian-family line gave her childbirth before January 1, 1948.
- The person applying was born before 1948, and the only Italian parent of yours is female.
Note: People falling under the last two categories can pursue Italian citizenship through the Italian court system.
Letters of Proof: Which documents are necessary?
Now that you have the eligibility, it is necessary to gather legal documents. This stage oversees complex things happening. The US issues records must be long-form copies, and these are the birth, marriage, and death certificates. The abstract form of the relevant documents will not suffice your needs. All the documents must bear the Registrar Office’s official seal in addition to the certification filing date. The document must have the affixation of APOSTILLE, the legalization presented by either the State Department or the United States Treasury Department.
The catch here is that you’ll never be able to get all the certificates on your own. You should always be in a position of collecting and translating the same into Italian. This information applies to all the people who hold the relevancy of transmitting Italian citizenship by descent right. The application process that goes into identifying, translating, and authenticating the documents is often the most time-consuming and complex unless you’re using Italian Citizenship Assistance’s Executive Full Service Package.
Well, the answers to the daunting questions are never simple and greatly depend upon the Italian lineage, family history, and the residency state. Another vital consideration should be whether you’re applying in the United States or Italy.
If you are issuing documents in countries other than the USA, ensure they follow the local regulations on document legalization. Translate them into Italian, and the translation you have must have the Italian Consulate/ Embassy certifications in documents issuing countries. Now, if you’re confused about obtaining the information on document legalization- you can meet the necessary knowledge from the Italian Embassy/ Consulate.
Applying in the US or Italy:
Now that you have the translation of all the requisite legal documents and have your translations hold certifications by the Embassy or Italian consulate- ensure submitting your application. You can either submit the same to the nearest legally residing Italian consulate or Italy’s Italian municipality. An Italian Citizenship Assistance will handle the application process too for you to cover the step.
The experts help you throughout the application process as a part of their multifaceted service packages, right from the documentation to set up your Italy legal residence for you to apply in Italy.
Is the Italian Passport Worth It?
Italian Citizenship by Descent is an optimal option for reaching your goals. Yes, whether you’re looking forward to it for becoming an imperative part of your financial and personal life, or you’re looking out for citizenship for being able to spend some time in the European Union or Italy. Italian Citizenship by Descent is an ideal option for you because qualifying in the same enables you to undergo the process with much ease, and is pretty cheap.
And, the best thing rests with the fact that Italy allows the provision of holding dual citizenship. It means that you no longer will have to renounce your current citizenship for claiming Italian citizenship. Yes, you have the ease of having your cake and the opportunity of eating it too.
Obtaining Italian Citizenship by Descent is a worthwhile option- all thanks to a world of benefits. Also, the experts recommend seeking somebody’s help as the process gets through much quickly and easily. They say so because your time is valuable and the experts help you keep saving it for meeting your personal as well as business enterprise endeavors. You can claim Italian citizenship by descent with much ease once you confirm your eligibility, collect documents either from Italy or your own country, indulge in the translation process, prepare dealings with bureaucracy, and prepare your file for citizenship after subsequent consultation with agents and trusted lawyers on the floor.