Becoming an Italian Citizen (in addition to being an American Citizen)

“I am a Roman citizen!”

So said Cicero, as did Paul the Apostle and so many more, oh so long ago.  My situation does not come with all of the power, force and protections of the Roman Empire, but I can say that I am a dual-citizen, Italian and American, with two passports.  In fact, dual-citizenship dates back to ancient Rome, and was a major factor in the expansion of the Empire.

Back when I applied for Italian citizenship over 20 years ago, there was a requirement of military service for all males.  In practice, men over 30 often received their uniform and walked it across the hallway to complete their tenure in the military, a formality.  Fortunately, that requirement ended just before my application was approved.  This raises the question:  Why would anyone want Italian citizenship?  And to follow: How do you go about it?  

While dual citizenship is far more common today, I am often asked many questions.

Why would anyone want Italian citizenship?  

I like to joke that citizenship is the best way to access the faster EU Citizen customs line at Rome’s Fiumicino airport, saving a few minutes relative to the “non-citizen” line.  For me, I see Italian citizenship as a way to reclaim a small bit of heritage that my great-grandparents brought when they came to this country.  It also connects me to the motherland, as I try my best to be informed when casting my ballot in Italian elections.  Of course there are other more important benefits, such as the ability to live and/or work in the EU indefinitely without a visa.  Access to social services and education are also another plus for some.

Is it worth the trouble?

The first time I checked into an Italian hotel and handed over my Italian passport, it was all worth it for me.  “You are Italian? You?”  Sì!  Yes, I am.  In the process of acquiring that passport, I learned a great deal about my family, where they were from, why they came to America, and a bit about their struggle to survive and then thrive here.  I have newfound respect for my great-grandparents leaving the Dolomite mountains as teenagers, seeing Venice for the first time as they departed for America, all just months before World War I battles ravaged their town.  Yes, it was worth the trouble.

Who is eligible?

The concept of Juris Sanguis is the foundation of Italian citizenship.  If you know as little about Latin as I did when I started the process, let me explain.  The idea is that your Italian identity and thus citizenship runs in your blood; it is your right.  Like so many things Italian, it is subject to a complex set of rules, and varies depending on when your ancestors were born and if and when they were naturalized, etc.  The key in the line of heredity is that the last ancestor born in Italy gave up their Italian citizenship after their descendant was born.  Let’s look at two examples:

Example 1

* Papa Giovanni was born in Italy in 1950.

* Giovanni’s son Mario was born in New York in 1968.

* Papa Giovanni entered the US military in 1969, thus renouncing his Italian citizenship.

* Mario and his children are probably eligible for Italian citizenship, and will retain their American citizenship.

Example 2

* Papa Giovanni was born in Italy in 1950.

* Papa Giovanni entered the US military in 1968, thus renouncing his Italian citizenship.

* Giovanni’s son Mario was born in New York in 1971.

* Mario and his children are probably NOT eligible for Italian citizenship.

Example 3

* Papa Giovanni was born in Italy in 1950.

* Giovanni’s son Mario was born in New York in 1971.

* Papa Giovanni became an American citizen in 1975, giving up his Italian citizenship.

* Papa Giovanni died in 1980.

* Mario and his children are probably eligible for Italian citizenship, and will retain their American citizenship.

For the detailed rules and regulations, go to the website of the Italian Consulate for your jurisdiction.  Also, there are many service providers that help with the process.  They can be a great resource during the process.

What is the process?

Welcome to the world of Italian bureaucracy.  Remember, it is critical to follow the rules in every way, regardless of how reasonable those rules are or are not.  The spelling of every name and every document must tie out on every document.   The smallest discrepancy will cause your application to be rejected.  

The first step is to determine eligibility by closely reading the rules on the Italian Consulate website.  Next gather the legal documents tied to each birth, marriage, divorce and death between you and the ancestor that came from Italy.  The American documents will need to be translated and then certified as true government documents with an “apostille.”  There are companies on the internet that can assist with this, for a fee.  Then complete the necessary forms from the Consulate site, book your appointment, and wait.  

Is this something for the whole family?

When I did it, I gathered the paperwork for me and 12 other family members.  If you want to make yourself crazy, try that.  More to the point, I was able to secure citizenship for my kids, but I still need to work on it for my wife, Liz.  These days there is a requirement for spouses to speak the language at a level of conversational fluency, a topic for another day.  The key here is that anyone alive in the chain of heredity between you and your Italian born ancestor will need to become formally recognized as an Italian citizen.  In my case, it was critical that my parents, my dad specifically, had to become an Italian citizen. Thankfully he was as keen on the project as I was.

How long does it take?  

It might take six months, but often takes a few years.  Gathering the paperwork is timing consuming.  Oddly, I had more trouble with the paperwork here in the US, than I did gathering documentation from Italy.  Many people have errors or gaps in their paperwork during their first visit to the Consulate.  Given the high-demand for these limited appointments, that might set you back another year — yes, a year.

Why does Italy offer  dual citizenship?

Some say that offering dual citizenship allows Italy to recruit the best soccer players for its national team, Gli Azzurri (The Blues, as in the blue of the House of Savoy, not Blues music).  Italy’s population is actually shrinking, and aging.  There is a hope that some of the dual citizens will one day repatriate and help grow the country.