ACHIEVING ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP
Italian citizenship can be acquired in two ways:
AUTOMATICALLY
– By birth (“jus sanguinis” or right of blood) if at least one parent is an Italian citizen;
– By birth (“jus soli” or right of soil) if the parents are unknown or stateless, or if the parents are citizens of a foreign state whose legislation does not provide the transmission of citizenship from parents to children born abroad, or the child was found in a state of neglect on the Italian territory;
– By legal recognition of a paternity or maternity following a judicial declaration of a paternity or maternity during the minority age of the child;
– By adoption by an Italian citizens during the minority age of the child;
ON DEMAND
– By voluntary acquisition, though descended from an Italian citizen by birth, up to the second degree, who have lost their citizenship, under certain legal requirements;
– By marriage, after two years of cohabitation and legal residence in Italy after the wedding (three for residents abroad and reduced to half in the presence of children);
– By naturalization (residence), if you live legally in Italy for 10 years;
– If born in Italian territory from foreign parents, residing legally and uninterruptedly from birth until the age of majority.
LOSS OF ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP
Italian citizenship can be lost in two ways:
AUTOMATICALLY
– By voluntary military enlistment in a foreign state or by carrying out a public role in a foreign country despite the prohibition expressed by the Italian government; or if during a state of war with a foreign state, the citizen has done military service or carrying out public role or has acquired the citizenship of that state;
– In case of revocation of adoption for reason attributable to the adopted, provided that he/she hold another citizenship.
BY QUITCLAIM
– By an adult adopted, following the revocation of adoption for reason attributable to the adopter, always if he/she hold another citizenship;
– By the Italian citizen, if he/she resides or establishes his/her residence abroad and if he/she possesses, acquires or reacquires another citizenship;
– At achievement of the majority by those who have obtained Italian citizenship during a minority age following of an acquisition or reacquisition of citizenship by a parent, provided that they hold another citizenship.
REPURCHASE OF ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP
Italian citizenship can be reacquired in two ways:
AUTOMATICALLY
– After one year from the date on which you have established residence in the territory of the Republic, except the express quit-claim by the same date;
ON DEMAND
– Serving the military service in the Italian armed forces;
– Taking or having taken a public role for the state, even abroad;
– Establishing or transferring within one year of the declaration the own residence on the territory of the Republic;
– Through the statement by Italian citizen who lost the citizenship by marrying a foreigner.
WHERE YOU NEED TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP
The application for the acquiring of Italian citizenship must be submitted:
– In the Prefectures if requested for residence or marriage (online application);
– At the Civil Status Office of the Municipality of residence if requested by birth in the territory of the Republic from foreign parents and residing legally until the age of majority;
– At the Italian Embassy when the applicant is living abroad or in the Municipality of the place of residence if the person already living in Italy in case of a request for descent of Italian citizens.
DUABLE CITIZENSHIP
The Italian citizenship law allows the possession of a double and even triple citizenship, according to the general principle of International law called “principle of respecting the sovereignty of states.”
WHAT IS THE PERIOD PRESCRIBED BY LAW FOR ACQUISITION OF ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP
The law states that the deadline for the conclusion of the proceedings relating to Italian citizenship corresponds to 4 years.
WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF PROLONGED WAIT OR REJECTION OF ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP
The prolonged wait or the rejection of Italian citizenship may be appealed to the Administrative Court in the case of request of citizenship by naturalization or to the Ordinary Court, Specialized Section on Immigration, International Protection and Free Movement of EU Citizens, in the case of request of citizenship by marriage.
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Miss. Ivana Stojanova, Barrister in Bologna, provides legal assistance on issues related to the achieving of Italian citizenship:
– Possibility or not to apply for Italian citizenship
– Selection of documents to be submitted with the request for acquisition of Italian citizenship
– Submission of the request for acquisition of Italian citizenship
– What to do in case of prolonged wait or rejection of Italian citizenship
