The Jure Sanguinis Process
If you've found our website, you've discovered the possibility of claiming Italian Citizenship by descent. We want to be certain we get one thing straight from the start. This is a right for all who qualify. If you qualify, it means you were born an Italian Citizen by blood, and you can go through the recognition process to have the Italian government recognize your rights. You will not become an Italian Citizen, you always were one!
What is Jure Sanguinis?
At its core, Jure Sanguinis literally translates to "right of blood." This means that for Italy, citizenship is transferred as a bloodright regardless of where a family moves or a child is born. The Jure Sanguinis citizenship recognition process was developed as a way for Italians to always be able to claim their rights, even if their ancestors seemingly forgot to register a new generation's births. Foreign born children of Italian citizens should be registered with the local Italian Consulate, but many families never did this.
Determining If You Qualify
According to Golden Capitalist, 17 million Americans could claim Italian Citizenship by descent! It is a fairly straightforward process to determine whether or not you qualify for Italian Citizenship by descent.
- The most recent Italian-born ancestor must not have become a citizen of any other country before the next family member in your direct bloodline was born.
- The most recent Italian-born ancestor must not have become a citizen of any other country before Italy became a unified nation (March 17, 1861).
Documents You Will Need
The most important part of the process is to obtain the documents required to prove you qualify for citizenship. Every US consulate has a slightly different list of required documents, so be sure to check your consulate's website for specific requirements.
Generally, you will need vital records (birth, marriage, death certificates) for each person in your lineage from your Italian-born ancestor down to yourself. These include:
- Ancestor's Documents — Italian birth certificate, marriage certificate, and naturalization records (or proof of non-naturalization)
- Grandfather's Documents — Birth certificate, marriage certificate, death certificate
- Father's Documents — Birth certificate, marriage certificate
- Personal Documents — Your birth certificate
- Apostille — All US documents must be apostilled by the issuing state
- Translations — All non-Italian documents must be translated into Italian
Did You Qualify? Here's What's Next
Once you've determined you qualify and gathered your documents, you have two options for submitting your application:
Schedule an Appointment
Apply through your local Italian Consulate. You must use the consulate with jurisdiction over your permanent residence. Wait times are often 2-3 years.
Apply in Italy
Don't want to wait 2-3 years? Apply in any town in Italy instead! You must remain in Italy for at least 45-90 days from starting the process.