Italy allows descendants of Italian nationals to apply for citizenship in certain cases. Depending on your family history, you may be eligible to apply for citizenship if at least one of your ancestors is Italian. Make the most out of your ancestry by acquiring an Italian passport and experience the full freedom and protection afforded to EU nationals.
Home to many great works of art, architecture, and fashion, Italy’s strategic location in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea makes it an ideal place to live. Italy is a founding member of the EU and the third-largest economy in the eurozone. Italian citizens enjoy high standards of living, education, and healthcare, and a unique quality of life.
You can apply for Italian citizenship by descent if you have Italian ancestry. As a citizen of Italy, you have access to a strong, well-connected EU market and the many opportunities available in the region. You can also live, work, study, and retire in Italy and anywhere else in the EU and Switzerland at any time.
There are three ways you can obtain Italian citizenship based on family links:
The direct descendants of an Italian ancestor born after 17 March 1861 are eligible to apply for citizenship by descent:
You may qualify for Italian citizenship by descent if you can prove that your direct ancestor:
There are other cases where you can qualify for Italian citizenship if your parent or grandparent was born an Italian citizen:
Applications for Italian citizenship by ancestry must be accompanied by substantive original documentation supporting your ancestral claim:
Applicants are advised to read all the requirements carefully before submitting their application. Thereafter, they will need to complete a client intake form to check for eligibility.
Henley & Partners can seamlessly manage the entire citizenship by descent application process for you, from helping you prove your lineage to assisting you with the necessary documents and requirements, to you receiving your Italian passport in hand.
The process for acquiring Italian citizenship through descent will depend on a specific case’s complexity, but it may be completed in six months. We will be able to provide you with an expected timeline once we have had a chance to assess your particular situation.
For more information on how we can help you secure your future by connecting with your family’s legacy, please complete the Italian citizenship by descent enquiry form below.
Have one of our qualified advisors contact you today.
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