Italian Citizenship Diary: Entry #1 VITAL RECORDS OFFICE

If you are a descendant of Italian citizens and are interested in obtaining citizenship in the Mediterranean country, here are some steps for you to follow.

Before August 15, 1992 Italian citizenship was exclusive, meaning that acquiring citizenship through descent was more restrictive. However, the Italian government enacted a new law that allowed individuals of Italian descent to claim dual citizenship through the principle of jure sanguinis (right of blood).

The Italian law of Jure Sanguinis allows individuals with Italian ancestry to become Italian citizens, regardless of where they were born, as long as they can prove their relation to an Italian ancestor. This means that if you have an Italian parent, grandparent, or even a great grandparent, you may be eligible to claim Italian citizenship.

The process involves providing documentation to prove the family lineage, and meeting specific requirements, set by the Italian government. documents you will need are marriage and birth certificates. You can obtain these documents at your vital records office. If you are unclear about the dates which these events took place, I recommend using ancestry.com. They have a monthly subscription for $60 where you can obtain information regarding immigration, birthday, marriage, and even naturalization records.

it is important to note that the requirements and procedures for claiming Italian citizenship through jure sanguinis can be complex, and may vary based on factors like the generation of the Italian ancestor, the date of naturalization of the ancestor (if applicable), and the date of birth of subsequent generations.

As I am attempting to prove my citizenship status through my great grandparents, it is important to know if my great grandparents naturalized in the United States before, or after my grandfather was born. If they naturalized after, I may have to reside in Italy up to 1-3 years before I can complete my citizenship status.

Link for further info and assistance:

Finding Records

Immigration Services

Citizenship by Descent