How to apply for citizenship by descent (iure sanguinis)

Recognition of citizenship jure sanguinis is governed by Law 91/1992, as amended by Decree-Law 36/25, signed into Law 74/25. Pursuant to the above Law Italian citizenship jure sanguinis can be recognized only if:

1. The applicant was born in Italy from an Italian mother or father (art.1 Law 91/1992);
2. The applicant only holds Italian citizenship and does not and cannot claim any other citizenships (art.3-bis paragraph 1 Law 91/1992);
3. The applicant has already been recognized as an Italian citizen by 11:59 PM (Rome time) on March 27, 2025 — either through an administrative procedure or a court case (art.3-bis letters a, a-bis, b Law 91/1992), or based on an application submitted following an appointment communicated within the 11:59 PM (Rome time) of March 27, 2025;
4. The applicant has a parent or grandparent who holds only Italian citizenship or they only held Italian citizenship at the time of their death (art.3-bis paragraph 1 letter c Law 91/1992);
5. The applicant has a parent (biological or adoptive) who lived in Italy for at least two consecutive years after becoming an Italian citizen and before the applicant was born or adopted.

Those who wish to submit an application must submit the following documents:

1. 1. Your Italian parent’s or grandparent’s birth certificate (estratto dell’atto di nascita) issued within the last six months, by the Italian comune where the birth was registered;
   2. Birth certificates (in long form, duly legalized and translated into Italian), of every descendant in line, including the applicant;
   3. Marriage certificate of the Italian ancestor. If the marriage occurred in Italy, please submit the estratto dell’atto di matrimonioissued within the last six months, by the Italian comune where the marriage was registered. If the marriage occurred abroad, please submit the original certificate (in long form), duly legalized and translated into Italian;
   4. Marriage certificates (in long form, duly legalized and translated into Italian if issued abroad), of every descendant in line, including the applicant;
   5. Death certificates (in long form, duly legalized and translated into Italian if issued abroad), of every descendant in line (if applicable);
   6. Appropriate documentation issued by the foreign local authority which must certify that the Italian born ancestor who emigrated never naturalized or acquired any other citizenship abroad (in any Country where they lived). In case your ancestor emigrated to the US, you have to submit these documents;
   7. If the ancestor did naturalize abroad, the applicant must also submit a notarized copy of the ancestor’s naturalization certificate. The US naturalization certificate must show the person’s correct date of birth. Should the person’s date of birth not appear on the certificate, you must request a certified copy of their declaration of intention/petition for naturalization/oath of allegiance issued by NARA;
   8. The following FORMS (to be downloaded from our website) must be included. The forms need to be notarized by a notary public who has jurisdiction in the State of residence of the undersigned

1. 1. • “Application for Italian citizenship recognition” with applicant’s notarized signature, DULY LEGALIZED BY APOSTILLE
      • Form 1 with applicant’s notarized signature, and DULY LEGALIZED BY APOSTILLE
      • Form 2 with applicant’s notarized signature, and DULY LEGALIZED BY APOSTILLE
      • Form 3 (if your parent or grandparent is still living) with their notarized signature, and DULY LEGALIZED BY APOSTILLE
      • Form 4 (if your parent or grandparent is deceased) with applicant’s notarized signature, and DULY LEGALIZED BY APOSTILLE

1. 9. Copy of your valid passport;
   10. Proof of residence: copy of your valid driver’s license / recent utility bill /latest tax statement (please only provide the page with your name and address);
   11. Payment by money order or cashier check made out to the “Consulate General of Italy in New York”. Please include full (maiden if applicable) name on the memo portion of money order. The current amount can be found here;
   12. Printout of the appointment confirmation from the online booking system.

In order to meet the new law requirements for the recognition of the Italian citizenship by birth (iure sanguinis) the following is needed:

• If your ancestor is exclusively an Italian citizen (art. 3-bis, lett. c, Legge 91/1992) you may submit certificate/s of non-naturalization for the country/ies of emigration or relevant documentation proving their residence as an alien in the countries of emigration;
• If your ancestor lived in Italy for a minimum of two consecutive years, you may submit a certificato di residenza storico issued by the comune in Italy.

PLEASE NOTE: THE APPLICATION MUST INCLUDE ALL OF THE ABOVE DOCUMENTS. SHOULD AN INCOMPLETE APPLICATION BE SUBMITTED, IT WILL BE REJECTED AND A NEW APPOINTMENT AND NEW PAYMENT MUST BE MADE.

To submit an application for citizenship by descent (iure sanguinis), you must book a virtual appointment online. Please create an account on the Prenot@mi portal and select Cittadinanza per Discendenza “iure sanguinis”.

Appointments must be confirmed by the applicant, using the online portal Prenot@mi, 10 to 3 days prior to the scheduled appointment date.

For those who are ALREADY ON THE WAITING LIST, the system will offer you an appointment, provided there is availability, starting with those at the top of the list. IT IS NO LONGER POSSIBLE TO JOIN THE WAITING LIST. The date the system selects for you must be confirmed through the system within 5 days to secure the appointment.

IMPORTANT: Do NOT come to the Consulate on the day of your appointment. Instead, on the day of your scheduled appointment, you must mail your application to this Consulate general, including ALL the required forms and documents as outlined above, by certified mail, making sure that date stamp is clearly visible on the envelope. If an application is mailed before the appointment, it will be not be processed and it will be returned to the sender’s address at their expense.

The envelope MUST show the following information:

• Name and address of the applicant;
• Appointment date;
• Request code, which is generated by the Prenot@mi portal at the time of booking.

Please find the forms needed for the application here under “cittadinanza”

Once the application is received, the Citizenship office will send you an email confirming receipt of your payment, which is non-refundable, regardless of the outcome of the application.

Applications which meet the requirements, have all the necessary documents and show no discrepancies or inconsistencies, will be processed within 24 months.

Once the application is finalized the Consulate will notify the applicant via email about the outcome.

Regardless of the outcome the documentation will be kept by the Consulate and will not be returned.

For applications submitted upon appointment confirmed or offered within 11:59pm (Rome time) on March 27, 2025, please refer to the Check list.