Frequently Asked Questions

When you have Italian citizenship, you have European Union citizenship. That means you will have the right to live, work, and travel freely throughout 27 EU member countries. You also gain access to the European Economic Area (EEA), which adds three more countries to these freedoms. You'll also gain the freedom to live, work, and travel through Switzerland, which is not an EU or EEA member.

If you have children, they will be able to easily attend university in EU countries. This is often less expensive than American universities, and provides a unique experience which opens doors not typically open to non-EU citizens.

If you are a world traveler, there are some instances where having an EU passport will get you into a country visa or hassle-free when your non-EU passport may not provide the same privilege.

The 27 EU countries are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.

The 3 EEA countries (non-EU) are: Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. Switzerland also grants similar freedoms through bilateral agreements.

Processing times vary depending on your specific case and where you apply. Applying through a US Italian Consulate typically involves a 2-3 year wait just for an appointment, followed by up to 24 months of processing. Applying directly in Italy can be significantly faster — often 45-90 days from arrival. Court cases (1948 cases or unreasonable delay) can take 1-2 years.

If you choose to apply in Italy rather than through a consulate, you must establish temporary residency in an Italian municipality (comune). This requires a proper lease — hotels and Airbnbs do not qualify. You must remain in Italy for at least 45 days, as the local police have 45 days to verify you are living at the property. The entire process typically takes about 90 days.

Before July 1, 1912, if a male Italian citizen naturalized in a foreign country, both spouses and all minor children would lose their Italian citizenship. After this date, only the person who naturalized lost citizenship.

Before January 1, 1948, Italian women could not transmit citizenship to their children. If your line passes through a woman who had children before this date, you may need to pursue a judicial case (known as a "1948 case") through the Italian courts.

If you are recognized as an Italian citizen and your children are minors (under 18), they will automatically be recognized as well. If your children are 18 or older, they will need to apply separately. It is important to register your children with your local Italian Consulate through A.I.R.E. before they turn 18.

Yes! Once you are recognized as an Italian citizen, your adult children can use you as their Italian ancestor for their own citizenship recognition. They can apply through a consulate or in Italy, using your recognized Italian citizenship as the basis for their claim.

No. DNA tests showing Italian ancestry cannot be used as evidence for citizenship applications. Italy requires documented proof of lineage through official vital records (birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc.) connecting you to an Italian-born citizen through an unbroken chain.

A comune is an Italian municipality — the basic administrative unit in Italy, similar to a town or city government. When applying for citizenship in Italy, you submit your application to the comune where you establish residency. Each comune has its own office that handles civil records and citizenship applications.

Jure Sanguinis is a Latin term that literally translates to "right of blood." It is the legal principle by which citizenship is determined by ancestry rather than place of birth. Under this principle, Italian citizenship is transferred as a birthright regardless of where a family moves or a child is born.

An apostille is an international certification that authenticates the origin of a public document. It is used to verify that a document (such as a birth certificate or marriage certificate) issued in one country is legitimate and can be accepted in another country. In the US, apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State in the state where the document was issued.

Check out our Know Before You Go page for information on SIM cards, internet providers, food delivery services, and transportation apps in Italy.